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?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

nothing?

give it time you posted it one christmas day. you were never going to get a big response then.

And still nothing?

Maybe you should talk directly to:

"dangerous" - Dave Butler
"subarugears" - Todd I think
and possibly John Sherman - Volks Conversions

For what my comments are worth - I dont have a conversion

I have seen a few G50's but in a beetle involves cutting torsion bar tubes

Have heard the subi box is a good thing but have not seen one

A well built Quaife VW box in a 400 rear wheel HP Type 3 Subi conversion works well from the one I have seen

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?

Aaron Roberts is your man if you're after an auto option.

He a member on here? ... or runs a business? .... first foray into the VW world

Aaron Roberts - "20bkombi" on here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Li_gVVfV9U 

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=97112&page=1 

Thank you kind Sir

I've owned my fair share of crazy rotors in my life, .... I'll send Aaron a PM, thank you.

Please anyone still have manual ideas/options used before, please keep them coming.

it's all up to my client as to the eventual setup

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.

That looks interesting, thanks Splitbus.

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.

Jetta engine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr5Z1ymbajY 

Wow what a build - so much more than a Jetta engine. Imagine just finding a original rust free bus.

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

Had a search but couldnt find much apart from the Corvair setup.

Subaru / G86 / VW Built box all seems to be a lot more well known, just in the instance of an "oh shit" moment and something breaks.

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.

Birdman are you talking about the G86/87's?

The Camper should be here with us within a week and then the real discussions start

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.

I'd go Subaru driveline,tried and tested,many different engine options,parts not a problem,reliability excellent

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?

IF your using a suby motor use the suby gearbox mines been great

Subi motor isnt even in the equation anymore

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/