Westy conversion

Post by **IMPI** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 7:07 pm

Hi I swopped my Impi pickup for a westy about 3 years ago. As the westy was ford powered I got a lot of ribbing from people who know me. I must add in the fords defence that it has been completely trouble free and I never even added water But it wasnt my style so I decided to do another conversion: this time to upright 2 liter type four. I have yet to add one of my uprights to a type four so now is the time. some shots so far

I still need to complete the new cross member wiring exhaust etc
Armand

Post by **jolas** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 7:47 pm

COOL !!!! Just love that colour red on a westy

Keep the pics coming

Klaus · Post by **Klaus** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:47 pm

Cool bus, cool retro fit and Cool colour

didi · Post by **didi** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:00 pm

Did you get those passat mountings to fit the cross bar? The engine bay looks real nice.

Drusky · Post by **Drusky** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 2:43 pm

:sigh:
I would love one of those but am already over vehicled. I had heard that the upright aircooled motor would not fit into a bus engine bay. Was I misinformed or is this bus hacked from the ford mill that was in there?

vuyo · Post by **vuyo** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 8:31 pm

camped out in that bus cool stuff

Post by **fig** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 11:01 am

Drusky wrote::sigh:
I would love one of those but am already over vehicled. I had heard that the upright aircooled motor would not fit into a bus engine bay. Was I misinformed or is this bus hacked from the ford mill that was in there?

Misinformed. The upright engine is the type 1 engine. The type 4 is sometimes called a "pancake" engine as it is lower profile than the type 1. A stock type 4 engine won't fit an early bay (pre-72) engine compartment without some hacking (it is longer and wider). Armand does a custom upright conversion for the type 4 engine, which is what he is fitting to his westy.

Drusky · Post by **Drusky** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 2:30 pm

Thanks fig. Those few words were a revelation to me! So pine... how much hacking did this require? Edit: If any?

Post by **IMPI** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:44 pm

Hi the whole idea behind aan upright conversion in a type four engine is to be able to fit a physically larger (typically 2 liter) engine into the type one engine compartment with minimal modifications.

A small amount of cutting is required to allow the std type four cooler to fit

Drove it today
Armand

didi · Post by **didi** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:04 pm

Awesome. Interesting rear cross brace. Was the passat brackets a straight bolt on?

Post by **IMPI** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:17 pm

The cross brace was made from a type four cross member turned 180 degrees and then the ends were made from 50 x 8 mm flat bar to the profile of the passat mounts. the bus mount you lent me will also fit perfectly. I could have made the whole thing with square tube and flatbar but the type four part just made it easier
Armand

Post by **retrovan** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:33 pm

Well done Armant,
Will be needing a set shortly, Please......
Herman

Drusky · Post by **Drusky** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:16 am

You drove it? How did it go? Do you think you'll be doing a gearbox mod for lower highway revs?

Drusky · Post by **Drusky** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 1:55 pm

IIIIIIIMMmmmmmmPPIIIIIIII, where are you? How is this bus running? Have you done any long trips with it? Have you any reservations or concerns about this mod?

I am toying with the idea of taking my little 1600TP out of my bus to be refurbished and then stored. A bigger mill would then slip in there to keep me happy. The idea being that I can go back to original if I want. I would of course have to by some tin from Splitbusaholic to preserve my original bits.

The concept of a 2L conversion like this appeals more to me than a bored and modded 1600. I imagine it would be more reliable. Of course balancing bits and polishing bits and porting things would be nice.

Reply from this thread:
http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... =3&t=32125

Hi the upright conversion worked very well but as the engine had a very hairy cam (it was built to test a certain combination)it was not entirely suitable for a bus. To its credit it never overheated (one of the tests) the installation was easy. I could return to stock easily.
I decided to return it to stock as I believe that with a classic bus that would be the right thing to do.
Would I do it again
Yes
cam selection is critical for a heavy bus.
Smallish carbs
std two liter will put a smile on your face
it fits easily.
Armand

Aircooled VW South Africa