Was surfing the net the other day when I came across a site for type 2 kombis. It was a company known as Danbury and I think their web site is just Danbury Motorcaravans. They are an English company specialising in all things VW and one branch is the type 2. Here they have imported type 2's from brazil , add their own interiors - you can chose from the diamond or upgrade to the rio and for a whole bunch of extra $$ it can be yours for the princly sum of 21000 pounds.

But it was the next bit that caught my attention and i quote

"The new world famous Volkswagon type 2 is manufactured by VW Brazil and is powered by a 1390 cc fuel injected, water cooled engine.This is fitted with electronic ignition and a catalytic converter exhaust system. The result is that your engine will always run beautifully no matter the weather conditions. Front servo assisted disc brakes and rear drum brakes are now also standard"

It all came with pics etc but i was wondering, since my type 2 is an 1800 standard and potters along (sort of at the moment) how much better is the smaller engine going to be in getting the vehicle from A to B and is this available in Australia? If not how come, are there laws governing this kind of engine for vw's in Aus?

Any way, i thought it was interesting and as i am the most unmechanical being to whom god gave breath, i thought i'd ask.

cheers
ned

The engine is used the same used in the Brazillian Golf? Fox? Rabbit?... whatever they call it over there, and can run on either straight ethanol, straight petrol, or any blend in between.

WHat one has to remember is that this engine replaced the 1600 type 2 motor which Brazillian Kombis have always used (no type 4's in Brazilian ones). Chances are it will rev somewhat higher than an aircooled 1600 and therefore assuming similar gearing to thye aircooled ones, give slightly better top speed and pulling power as a 1600, and with far less emissions... therefore making it a vast improvement over the earlier brazilian engine.

I am not sure how it would stand up against an 1800 or a 2L tho... wouldnt be a great deal of difference I would imagine, as it is only 7-10hp up on the aircooled engine (78hp quoted for the 1.4 total-flex vs 70hp for the 2L and 68hp for the 1800). I would think the type 4 engines would still have marginally better low-end torque...

I personally think that the money used for a conversion (supposing that is what you had in mind) would be better spent on aftermarket carbies and a rebuild of the existing aircooled engine.

As for the Kombis themselves, they don't comply with current Australian safety laws applicable to a new car, and havent for quite a number of years, which is why we dont see any of them here... same deal with Mexican beetles.

Not to say they couldnt be registered here with a bit of... well... you get the idea

or you could spend your hard earned on a subaru conversion no issues there!!