I'm looking at a few T3 vans at the moment to buy. I have owned a T3 before a 91 watercooled 2.1ltr but, after it blew the head studs and gasket years ago I am thinking about this time buying an 82 fuel injected aircooled 2.0ltr.
My thinking is this would be easier and cheaper??? to maintain i.e. no coolant hoses running the length of the chassis no rediculously difficult radiator to access either
Another problem I remember with my watercooled was the incredibly hot cabin floor on a hot day and the droaning whirring thermo fan What do you guys think?

Cheers

Greg

Quote:

Originally posted by Mountains Greg I'm looking at a few T3 vans at the moment to buy. I have owned a T3 before a 91 watercooled 2.1ltr but, after it blew the head studs and gasket years ago I am thinking about this time buying an 82 fuel injected aircooled 2.0ltr. My thinking is this would be easier and cheaper??? to maintain i.e. no coolant hoses running the length of the chassis no rediculously difficult radiator to access either Another problem I remember with my watercooled was the incredibly hot cabin floor on a hot day and the droaning whirring thermo fan What do you guys think? Cheers Greg

air

i had an 82 air-cooled bus as did Bizarre ,they are great i really miss mine at times ,just make sure the engine is in tip top condition as mine wasnt as when it got hot it wouldnt start or pull up hills properly,but go for an air-cooled

Thanks for the replies guys,

I'm inclined to go with a aircooled this time... I posted the same question on the samba with differing answers for and against such as the 2.1 ltr wasserboxer being smoother, quieter and more powerful then the aircooled and poor demisting/heating from the aircooled 2.0 ltr

I think that is my main concern is demisting/heating with living here in the mountains... Nothing worse then a foggy windscreen that won't clear my 1200 bug's demister is useless!

Another thing is can I bolt-on any go faster parts onto the fuel injected aircooled for better hill climbing? And will an aircooled happily cruise the motorway at 100 - 110 kmph?

Cheers
Greg

Have you thought of a Subaru EJ22 engine conversion in a watercooled T3. Heaps more power and quite reliable.

Sorry to be the egg in the custard but I think the 2.1 water is a great little motor(I 've been weaned onto them through necessity and can see the quality involved in the design,making allowances for some of the stupid design features in the cooling system),as much as I love the 2.0 litre air cooled it does struggle in these bricks. the 2.1 is marginally better power wise and does cruise with a little more ease particularly when the air conditioning is on. As a lot of people say the Suby conversion does have a lot more grunt but it is not a VW.

I've worked on both for years, owned only air untill recently, and am stoked with my new wbxr, and she's got only 342 000 k's on the clock. Aparently the fuel these days is the reason they are now more reliable as far as the head studs are concerned, and I figure you can go the subi route for the 'disposable' engine, if everything turns to pooo.

Whilst I agree with the VW engine in a VW, I personally would opt for the Suby for power and reliabilty in a bigger bus. In a Beetle I would go air cooled all the way, as hp/ reliability for $ ratio they are great. A reversible conversion in a T2 bus. That's my own feelings.

Just for interest I have an EH Holden as my own car (The VW's are the wife's). I have a supercharged Holden 6 cylinder in it instead of a Chev V8 conversion because again for hp/ reliabilty to $ ratio it is good value and I do actually prefer original engines modified rather than extra terrestrial engine transplants.

I had thought of a Subaru conversion but, I remember a guy I met at Nambucca in 2006 who had a T3 with a Subaru coversion and while it had more power he said it was not as good torque wise for hauling the car trailer. May have just been his opinion but, I must admit I would find it hard to have a VW with another powerplant other then VW in it.

I've got a few T3's to check out and I think I will in the end just make the decision when I see the right van.

Cheers

Greg

i have had both - 2.0L air and 2.1L water

While the air cooled was great there were problems getting decent heat out of it
And i dont believe you can get power steering in the air cooled.

My 2.1L has central locking, power steer, air cond and power mirrors

Both cars were auto and in a bus i reckon the auto is brilliant

Bang for buck - i reckon a 2.1L is the go

As for the subi conversion there are some cheap ones out there but i would be wary of anything that didnt have a NSW engineers certificate.
And they are too dear to get the conversion done your self

Enjoy whateer you buy

go with the water boxer
the air cooled engine is no good in a heavy T3 van

go the air cooled, my family has owned (and its now mine) an 82 T3 since new, we bought it with us from germany straight out of the factory, and has gone round the clock more times than you could think, sure they dont have alot of power, but are a 1 tonne vehicle (weve tested this many a time in the old girl). when the engine was fresh it went quite well. shes a bit old and tired now after a few refreshes and cam grinds, but still running strong, still does 110-115 up the warego highway for hrs on end and does around 11-12ltr/100kms. as for power steering... why? they are lighter to steer than a small car of the same era, no need. and i love the noise of the air cooled, plus the biggest bonus of them all NO WATER, which means no leaky hoses, no air locks, no coolant problems. go the air cooled anyday. if the right amount of money is spent keeping the motor alive and running well (which is still less than a subby conversion by far), it will go up ranges, cruise on the highway non stop, carry anything you want and do it happily for yrs, what more do you need? more power is good but not needed, these things do only wieght 1400 odd kilos dry. only problem they really get is the old mechanical AFM wears a track in itself, $275 gets it rebuilt like new.

oh and on the demisters, if all your pipes from the heaters work the aircooled will demist like crazy, not that you really need it so much in this size van. the beetles are terrible, the moment you get in or put a pizza box in the car it fogs up, but the t3, with a bit of rainex, and the rainex (fog) for the inside and you shouldnt have any real problems, i dont think ive ever used the demister in my van

Brian don't be a jerk...the guy was stating his opinion. I have an Air cooled and happy with it also. I have a mate with a WBX and he's happy.
So each to their own. But i must bow to obvious world experience on everything.

I stand by my previous remarks
I am entitled to my opinion
if you don't like it then
bad luck
tuffin up Princess

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your entitled to yours, as are we WITHOUT critisism.........if your gotta undermine people, do it somewhere else. Volkswagens the word.