Aircooled VW South Africa

sup guys
Curiosity has been getting the better of me the past week.
So, after seeing 2 beautifull watercooled bugs, i want to know the process.

1. whats needed? duh a w/c motor, an adapter for the gbox, radiator... what else?

2. Whats the procedure? a case of klippies, jack,stands, any other tools cept the trusty tool box?

3.What cc engine would fit? 1.3-2.6?? mostly without major body modifications, cept engine hood, and front valance for radiator, what engines work? know of 13b,twincam and golf mk1s. Also does the bug xhaust have to stay?

4. Approx cost for alles.. motor, radiator,pipeing etc.

5. Drawbacks and shyte to expect?

this will be done to a 1600 beetle 12v, 70s model completly stock.
kinda like the idea of a beetle body with a newer spec engine.

dont bite my head off, just thinking out loud and digitally, I know the mantra, well maintained bug engine in good tune is ultimate awesomeness.... but hey

Phone Rafique - (011) 672-5991. Tell him i said to call. He supplies and sells watercooled VW engines...all models right up to imported Golf 3 ABF 16v....

So, you want water cooled. Here, let me help you...

Somebody got it all today....

Nah pine not looking at forced induction or cooling. Thankz Zubz, was lurking the wc vw forum 4 motors. but still not sure if its gonna happen.

I've driven both a Golf powered Bug and Type 3, horrible, horrible, horrible! Upsets the handling, both cars had gear issues, you fcuk up a perfectly good car when you do a watercooled conversion. The only watercooled conversion that I would consider is a Subaru flat 4 or six or a Vw Wbx. Honestly, I would stick with a stock 1600.

Hey guys, Bugspray asked not to have his head bitten off.
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WTF, you wanna do that for Bugspray

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Okay heres my 5c. Bite my head off too, I dont care.
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My 1500 langley motor runs very smoothly on my 1600 beetle box. All you need is motor, adapter plate, modded flywheel, 32mm stainless pipe work and a radiator. Lol, but you knew all that. On the day my aircoooled overall was gonna cost me just over 5G's. My water cooled installation and parts cost me just under 5G's. All I can say is that there is a very slight difference in revs in 4th gear. (hardly noticable) BUT!!!!, tow a fully loaded trailer behind you and 4th gear is perfect.

In a beetle your radiator goes in the spare wheel well, instead of cutting holes in the bonnet for air flow, you can cut out the bottom of the well and then add a scoop under the well to assist with air flow to the radiator. The deck lid, I cannot comment,but Im sure if you used those spacer plates to let the deck lid be open at the top you should be OK.

FIRE AWAY BOYS - I DONT CARE, I LOVE MY BUGGY.

Availability of wbx motors and prices? also what handling issues? im just researching all bases atm. gearing wouldnt that be more or less taken care of by a Buggerd box? handling could be spruced with bigger tyres and a good beam refurbish and disk conversion?? how did the bug you drove differ from the og type?

LEGENDARY H.R. LEGDNDARY.

as for handling..... plenty people bitch about the poor handling of the bug or the early porsches because the engine is at the back and not the front or mid mounted..... now you add a watercooled engine which weighs about double what the aircooled engine does---- think about it

yo bugspray...if i had to do it id go suby power...go youtube a few vids of bugarus and hear the sound, it sounds just like a bug...cost involved?you'd have to speak to bugger...not under at least 20k...a nice ej20t motor in small bug must be awesome!

here is what i found on the net about subaru motors for bugs
can read up more here http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/showthread.php?p=6821796

quote Buggin_74

either EJ20 SOHC or EJ22 in a bug

both fit a bug engine bay without hacking up your body
EJ25 SOHC dont fit a but without hacking the sealing tin area and the DOHC motors take major body surgery to fit

I've got an EJ22 in mine and love it
2.5x the power of a stock 1600, gets better fuel economy and oh so smooth.

EJ22 was subarus best engine but as said they're getting hard to find in some parts of the globe
still heaps in aus, they were used till 98 and we get all the low KM jap import ones but the EJ20 SOHC is a good engine too, just try and stick with ealier ones as the electrical is far less complicated

as for gear box bugger will help

Found sop far as pricing if this still the same and remember correctly

subaru motor ej20 soch R5500 at boston engines
gearbox R9500 at bugger
then still need al the piping and adapters and so on

Had a 1.9 WBX motor in one of my bugs and it was a jol. Least hassles to do conversion, just needed a 411 flywheel if i can remember correct and used the kombi starter. Gearing was sorted with some BIG tyres at the back, but bug was good for 160kmh plus on a uphill with 4 in the car. No need for rowing on the uphill, actually eccelarated .. Just my 2cents worth. Was done on a budget too petrol consumption was good with the added torque of the motor..

bugspray wrote:Availability of wbx motors and prices? also what handling issues? im just researching all bases atm. gearing wouldnt that be more or less taken care of by a Buggerd box? handling could be spruced with bigger tyres and a good beam refurbish and disk conversion?? how did the bug you drove differ from the og type?

handling issue - the car always feels ass heavy when you are going around a corner or taking a bend, and steps out very very quickly.

Both the cars that I drove had a strange vibration and they were uncomfortably louder, if compared to a standard Beetle or type 3.

This is just my opinion based on my own experiences.

Schweet, thanks for the input guys. a scooby engine would sure rock, but deff. gonna be expensive, and added setup of a management system is another worry. thats not an option.. Thanks to a forum member that showed me a link to an awesome watercooled conversion site.

handling is the biggest concern in the end. I guess a nissan 1400 engines isnt that heavy, and a citi golf wouldnt be a major weight hinderance either.
Carb fed is the way to beat the management and fuel tank issues. and well a carb route is cheaper i seem to think. Gearing is fixable with bigger tyres (awesome 17" porsche cups can work now.) and i read that bus gears can be used to replace the std beetle 4th gear, or as stated a 1.4 is handled by the 1600 bug box.

seems pretty doable and reliable me thinks, ITHIN REASON ofcourse.

so 10k approx 4 the gearbox
whats the price range for a 1400 nissan or golf motor?