Hey Guys, new here, but a mate and I are helping someone do a conversion into a 60's Kombi Camper.
We have a few ideas on what engines we'd like to consider (subi is one, but a couple other not as common ones) .. what I'm trying to get my head around is what can be used as a transaxle (and what needs to be done to use them? - Adaptor plates getting made if needed isnt too much of an issue)
Conventional Transaxle setup would need to hold 300hp/280ft max on the safe side
Subaru 5/6 Spd - With Subarugears ring gear & pinion
Porsche G50 - (Hurts the wallet)
Porsche G96? (Boxer t/a? .. can they be inverted?)
Audi 01E? - anything needed?
Rebuilt VW Box
Also any auto's that are/can be commonly used?
Another couple of idea's have been utilising a transverse mounted V6 or similar, using a FWD box? .. is it as simple as making sure the engine is oriented the right way for forward drive? ... havent seem to have seen this much in the research ive done .. any reason?
Karmann, thank you, I have been talking directly with Subarugears, their option is one for sure, ... all depends on room with the engine conversion we wish to do 🙂
Bizzare, yep, G50's are an option, but not sure if an option that is within the budget of this conversion for the client, ... although the (cant remember) G97 or G96? maybe a bit more affordable option, but dont know too much about it.
Have sent an email today and got a reply to Rob Penrose? who did advise (depending on year model, ... client is still getting us details on the exact yearmodel) that he can help with a manual box, or offer advice otherwise, which was greatly appreciated such a reply at this time of year.
Really interested in any Auto boxes tho that can/have been successfully used if there is such a thing?
What you need is a type 3 swingaxle transmission from pre 65, it has the bigger brakes and wide 5 stud pattern, get the adapter plates off Bernie at Munster garage in perth , 0438892472 that way all you have to do is cut the shock mounts off the axle tubes use the nose cone and hockey stick off the busses transmission and it just bolts in, very easy, lowers it about 75mm
That's for manual, don't know about auto
No chopping or welding to bus, so if you want to go back to factory it's easy.
Going back to original I dont think is too much of a concern for our client as the Kombi is going to be used as a promo / mobile work vehicle for him.
Bigger brakes / suspension isnt a big concern as thats one of the major things I retail, so will all be a custom setup, probably with some Sumitomo 4 pistons. Looking forward to getting this Kombi here to start planning ideas
Mistake in my first post, with regards to nomenclature of the Porsche transaxle, but looking into also now the Porsche G86/00 and G86/01 as a manual option in an inverted setup.
Any one on here know much about them? .... apparently they are effectively a 911 G96 transaxle which has been inverted for the mid-mount boxer setup?
I put a Subaru motor and subarugears box in my wife's Kombi last year, 10,000km on it now and no problems. We love it. Welcome to come inspect/drive if you want.
Ideally we want something thats a bit more of a "common" motor. So if something breaks down, and he's not local to us, in theory going to be easier for someone else to get him back on the road if necessary.
Engine ideas have come down to (in terms of common motors)
1UZFE
L67
EJ2XXX
I also like the idea of the ABZ Audi 4.2L, and APB 2.7 Bi Turbo Motors, but not fitting with the common motor theme
there is a chev or general motors transaxle from some front wheel drive cadillacs that has been used in a VW...chev engine pattern...some info on this forum somewhere
Actually I didnt even think of it, its the Caddy Northstar motor I think you are referring too. Plentiful in the US, not much known about them here though
Porsche G50s are big boxes and about $5k start.
Later Porsche Boxes are HUGE.
Seen plenty inverted in ultimas and GT 40 Replicas but it's a whole new can of worms. Tapping the case for oil squirters, adding oil pumps to the box etc etc. They CAN be run inverted but were not designed to.
Weddle in LA sells many parts for vw gearboxes.
You can blow 4 to 5 k on parts only for a proper built VW type 1 box. They offer a few aftermarket boxes starting with Mendeola which begins at about 8k I think.
Ive run type 1 boxes (currently on my 3rd) in front of an ej20t for many years on the street with only vw parts and they hold up well. Id expect a properly built type 1 with all aftermarket HD parts would take 300hp all day if your not drag racing it much.
Ok well the beast is here, but havent got close to being stuck into it yet, and probably wont for a couple more weeks (as I have broken the 01L in my A8 that needs to be rebuilt first)
Have come up with some crazy and some not so crazy ideas in the last few days, .. tending towards the "not so common stuff" as our client has in a way given us a Carte Blanche approach to it.
Are the old VW trans are there adaptors available to bolt up 5-10yr old VAG motors?
I know everything is budget based but why go the same old crap thats been done for the last 30 years, yeah its proven but so was the vdub motor it replaced, albeit slower, go porsche awd, electric, mid mount v8 or something, f@#k subaru.
How far does the owner want to go? http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/05/race-taxi-the-porsche-bi-turbo-bus/
