Watercooled VW / Audi motor swaps?, it IS a VW afterall, right?.... Options

[2mAn]

My searching hasnt gotten me very far. Im sure most of you hate the idea, and thats fine. I am in the research phase and havent done anything yet, but I am close to purchasing the 914 and want to have a solid gameplan prior to purchasing the vehicle.

SO whos done it, I know of a 20v turbo here on the board, but havent seen any others.

Thanks
-Simon

[2mAn]

So Ive been chatting via PM with rohar who has done this swap before and he suggested something I was trying to avoid, but its a much more logical choice for those considering swapping this engine in the car; using a Passat/ Audi transmission VS a Kennedy adapter

The cost is very similar, where a Kennedy adapter is ~$400-$500. The Passat/ Audi FWD transmission can be found for around the same price. Also, because you can shop around and find the transmission in boneyards now, you can get one for less than the price of the adapter. My quick searching on car-part pulled up many in the $300-$500 range.

The transmission code to look for is one of the following DHW, DVX, EHV

Im sure there are plenty of other ones that will work, as Mike Bellis started with a Passat transmission IIRC and now is using a Boxster transmission

The part that confused me (and Im waiting for a clarification) is that rohar suggested using a transmission from a " 1.8t Variant (wagon) because the output flanges match up to 944 . Do a 5 lug conversion using 944 stubs and a pair of sway away half shafts and you're done. " This makes the conversion simpler in that there is no custom parts and forces you to convert to 5lug, which is not a bad thing.

I'd like to add more knowledge to this thread so when others decide they want to do something similar this can help guide them in the right direction.

[rohar]

So Ive been chatting via PM with rohar who has done this swap before and he suggested something I was trying to avoid, but its a much more logical choice for those considering swapping this engine in the car; using a Passat/ Audi transmission VS a Kennedy adapter

The cost is very similar, where a Kennedy adapter is ~$400-$500. The Passat/ Audi FWD transmission can be found for around the same price. Also, because you can shop around and find the transmission in boneyards now, you can get one for less than the price of the adapter. My quick searching on car-part pulled up many in the $300-$500 range.

The transmission code to look for is one of the following DHW, DVX, EHV

Im sure there are plenty of other ones that will work, as Mike Bellis started with a Passat transmission IIRC and now is using a Boxster transmission

The part that confused me (and Im waiting for a clarification) is that rohar suggested using a transmission from a " 1.8t Variant (wagon) because the output flanges match up to 944 . Do a 5 lug conversion using 944 stubs and a pair of sway away half shafts and you're done. " This makes the conversion simpler in that there is no custom parts and forces you to convert to 5lug, which is not a bad thing.

I'd like to add more knowledge to this thread so when others decide they want to do something similar this can help guide them in the right direction.

Sorry, slightly before morning coffee when I responded to you. I'm working too many cars and my brain doesn't work without caffeine. I was thinking 911 stubs not 944. My mistake. 944 half shafts may be just long enough. I haven't measured them. My mess is using the large output flanges with adapaters so I've got no choice but custom half shafts.

That said, I think there may be a way to use 944 stubs and flanges, but I haven't proven it yet. Just grabbed a new '44 parts car and haven't torn it down yet, stand by for more on that front.

Oh, and the other thing about the Audi/VW trannies, the boxster shifters/cables bolt right up for about $100 if you shop hard. No fabrication needed.