The worst Vanagon was the diesel (1.6 liter, 48hp non-turbo same as the rabbit engine). They were dangerously slow accelerating and people often blew up the engines trying to drive them faster than they should.
I would guess a 2.0l TDI would do quite a bit better, I think they make about 140hp? The waterboxer in my Vanagon was just OK, it would do 70-75 on the interstate but not really any more than that without getting pretty close to red-line. It was pretty torquey though, and around town it was fine, at least with the manual transmission. On Tue, Jan 31, 2023, at 14:00, MG via Mercedes wrote: > never having had one of those, how good would they > be pushing something as heavy as the Vanagon? > > MG > > Curt Raymond via Mercedes wrote: >> There's a guy putting 2.0l TDI engines in. The Grind Hard Plumbing Co guys >> had one done. >> If I were going to do it that's what I'd want. >> >> -Curt >> >> On Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 12:40:17 PM EST, Allan Streib via Mercedes >> <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> >> >> Yeah the waterboxer engines were prone to head gasket leaks. Though I drove >> mine to Florida and back at 70 MPH with no issues. >> >> There was a kit to put a Ford Focus (Zetec) engine in a Vanagon. It seemed >> well done, but not cheap -- $7,900 and that doesn't include the engine. I'd >> probably do that over a Subaru conversion. Based on my experience with my >> '03 Focus, the Zetec engine is bulletproof. >> >> >> https://www.bostig.com/bostig-vanagon-conversion-2022-2023-kits-20-deposit-total-price-7895/ >> >> >> On Tue, Jan 31, 2023, at 09:31, MG via Mercedes wrote: >>> That's what interested me. The original engines on >>> those were always a bit unreliable. I can't see a >>> problem with it as long as it isn't hanging too low. >>> >>> MG >>> >>> Curt Raymond via Mercedes wrote: >>>> Did you guys notice the GM engine? >>>> >>>> -Curt >>>> >>>> On Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 08:45:47 AM EST, Allan Streib via Mercedes >>>> <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Yeah that’s pretty cool. I had a Vanagon GL that I really liked but sadly >>>> it was totaled in an accident. I’m guessing I’ll get another one some day. >>>> >>>> On Tue, Jan 31, 2023, at 08:31, MG via Mercedes wrote: >>>>> I'd rather get this. >>>>> >>>>> https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-volkswagen-volkswagen-t3-transporter-doka-syncro/ >>>>> >>>>> MG >>>>> >>>>> OK Don via Mercedes wrote: >>>>>> This one would be more fun --- >>>>>> https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-volkswagen-thing-90-2/ >>>>>> >>>>>> On Mon, Jan 30, 2023 at 2:24 PM Curt Raymond via Mercedes < >>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> What a beauty! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> A little bit of work cleaning up things, like the gross shifter surround >>>>>>> and it'd be fantastic. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Price is crazy for the lack of detail put into the ad though. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Here's a nice looking fastback for way less: >>>>>>> https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1970-volkswagen-type-3-fastback/ >>>>>>> >>>>>>> My mom had a fastback when I was born. Interestingly Angie's did too. >>>>>>> Type >>>>>>> 3 is on the list of cars I'd like to own. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -Curt >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Monday, January 30, 2023 at 03:06:27 PM EST, Bob Rentfro via >>>>>>> Mercedes < >>>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/5825792714154644/?mibextid=6ojiHh >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Or is it reasonable? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> AZBob >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> >>>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>> >>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>> >>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> _______________________________________ >>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>> >>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>> >>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________ >>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>> >>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>> >>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________ >>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>> >>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>> >>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> >> >> > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com