vw vr6 conversion, anyone ever done it? Options

[trent1542]

possible? who's done it? Are the VW VR6's aircooled or watercooled?
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[stewteral]

possible? who's done it? Are the VW VR6's aircooled or watercooled?
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Hi Trent,

I have a V8 conversion car that I've been developing for 7 years into a decent track car, so here's my 2 cents:

-ANY conversion will be a HELL of a lot of work, so I just can't see doing it for only 200 - 250 HP. By turbo'ing a 2.0 liter 411 motor would would probably match that performance, for as long as it lasted.

-A turbo'd Subie makes sense: the power is there AND it is a LOW CG motor. I've learned that the 914 was DESIGNED around a LOW CG drive train to limit roll in corners. With any body roll, the rear suspension makes BIG changes in toe-in on the loaded & unloaded wheels (see my posting on the paddock forum on settings for V8 conversions).

-I went with a 383 Chevy to get a 5lbs/HP goal. It goes like HELL, parts are CHEAP and readily available. Summit Racing is where I live. The extra weight has made it very difficult to get to handle well as a track car, but I finally have the solution. If you are just looking for a Cheap, QUICK daily driver, it's the way to go. If you are content with "only" 300 - 350 HP and shift carefully, the 901 trans with take it and are cheap to replace/repair. For my power I HAD to go to a Turbo 930 trans.....and then the $$ start to add up.

-If you decide to go Chevy, I cannot recommend strongly enough to AVOID Renegade: They have NO engineering intelligence, they don't make any of their own parts and there fabricated stuff is junk: their engine support bar BOWS in the middle! Kennedy Engineering, Lancaster, CA are THE PROS when it comes to conversion parts: adapter plate, clutch & clutch disc (when I stopped in, they spent an HOUR talking about clutches, etc:GREAT PEOPLE). I recommend not using the mechanical remote water pump: I use the Meziere electric remote pump that gives you max flow while idling in traffic rather than the slow mechanical. The pricing is about the same for each. For the accessory parts, Desert Hybrids in AZ (http://home.earthlink.net/~adbuch/) is run/owned by an engineer and great guy who makes all his own parts of good quality. He is also willing to spend time with you to help. For a radiator, the Summit Alu Camaro radiator 9" x 31" can't be beat at $180. It "JUST" fits between the headlight boxes. Exhausting out the fenderwells works for modest power applications, but if you live in a hot climate, for the BEST cooling, venting out the top of the hood is THE ANSWER (see my post at Paddock)

-Lastly, expect the project to take a lot of TIME to build up, so be sure you are COMMITTED to take it to the end. I took my car down to the bare chassis, welded in a full rollcage, did body & paint and all the fabrication: it took 26 months. To do a simple "Kit install" should be 6 months to a year, depending on how much you have to do. If you are confident mechanic with lots of tools, especially a wire-feed welder, you will enjoy the project. If you detail questions, I'd be glad to share what I experienced and leave it to you on the decisions.

I hope this helps!
Terry