Has anyone heard of putting a diesel engine into one of the older model vw buses? Not the vanagon or the eurovan, but a classic vw bus?
I was thinking a rabbit diesel might fit into to, cause they're both small, but it would be a nice way to burn clean and in style. :)













29 comments
1. an Anonymous Greaser (18 June, 2007 - 07:11) says:
I've been wondering the same thing. Haven't found an answer though, let me know if you do!
2. an Anonymous Greaser (4 February, 2009 - 09:17) says:
You can put a 1.6 or 1.9L vw diesel motor back there, mechanical injection turbo charged... all you need. The input shaft on the tranny is different but you get a special clutch for that. You also need a bell housing from a diesel tranny, or an adaptor plate (engine/transmission). If it is a turbo you should not have to worry about your gearing, perhaps some bigger tires to heighten the ratio. Don't forget about the radiator, and you will need to figure a return line for your fuel system... allot of work. Good luck
3. an Anonymous Greaser (10 February, 2009 - 15:22) says:
I was wondering if anyone knows who I could take my VW bus westfalia 74' to in the Seattle area to have my 1800 cc engine replaced with a diesel, one that I could run off from vegtable oil prefferably. Contact me at thorshammer74@hotmail.com. Thanks!
4. an Anonymous Greaser (28 November, 2009 - 07:14) says:
We are converting a 1978 Bay Window camper to 1.9 TD to run on SVO.We are working on the Cooling system, all other things needed are worked out.Let me know if we can help
5. an Anonymous Greaser (16 February, 2010 - 02:26) says:
What a great idea. My wife had a bay window camper when she was a "kid" and didn't know any better, and now we want to get another one and do a diesel conversion. What sort of mileage do you expect you will get once the conversion is done? Thanks. Bob
ltlredwagon@earthlink.net
6. an Anonymous Greaser (25 February, 2010 - 03:13) says:
hey brother
im looking at converting my 73 bay window this spring and have found little on the subject. in regards to what and how this can happen.
so i am stoked to find you here....i have lots of questions.
like what year engine are you swapping out and pretty much a list of steps and gadgets that might be needed to make this happen. i wont blow you up right now just making contact and hope this worked out for you. onelove anthony excited to talk with you.
7. an Anonymous Greaser (10 July, 2010 - 15:24) says:
there's someone ein Hamburg, germany, who does it:
http://www.birkmamero.de/news.htm
8. an Anonymous Greaser (2 July, 2007 - 07:55) says:
I am actually researching the same thing but with a TDI diesel. The TDI (turbo direct injection) has basically the same 1.9l block as the TD(turbo diesel-technically IDI(Indirect Injection)) however has the injectors spray into the cylinder because it has a better head design. The TDI is the engine that will give you the most tangible results as far as power and efficiency and emissions. You will need of course the engine, harness, pcm, motor mounts, and also a way to move the power. I want to try it with the whole powertrain out of a late model TDI golf or jetta, but that would make me need to either A) fabricate CV axles that are the correct length or B) get lucky on a match
Also, the suspension is not satisfactory to me, so really i would need the whole car to part from.
If you want to run the TDI on the stock tranny, the input shaft is different for gas and diesel transaxles.
I'm not a professional, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
9. an Anonymous Greaser (19 July, 2007 - 01:39) says:
smellygorman@yahoo.com $$$$$$$$$$
10. an Anonymous Greaser (16 July, 2007 - 06:07) says:
I really want to do the same thing and have been wondering if it's possible and how expensive it can be. If you or anybody on here knows how, please contact me: randompat@hotmail.com
thanks!
- pat
11. an Anonymous Greaser (28 July, 2007 - 07:11) says:
In our 1982 VW bus which we converted to run on bio-diesel and waste vegetable oil. So, I think it is possible... We’re now just mostly working on small things to get the Volkswagen bus parts ready for our trip: fixing the curtains, replacing the interior upholstery, deep cleaning the inside, and working out the last kinks in the grease system and new engine. We’ve got a few more weeks before we hit the road, and were very happy that this test run of the grease system did so well. Yay for the volksvegan! May there be many more greasy miles ahead…
12. an Anonymous Greaser (14 December, 2007 - 02:44) says:
just wondering what sort of siesel will fit into a 1979 type 2, and perferably one that can do bio...? saw one at burning man and it was a 1979 or older, purring away on biodiesel...so cool...also it had hammock chairs hanging from each corner of the roof...hjahhahaha
im at kingpinbelly@yahoo.ca
13. an Anonymous Greaser (7 December, 2007 - 03:24) says:
if it is possible, could you put it in a type 3?
14. an Anonymous Greaser (7 January, 2008 - 07:24) says:
I saw a karman ghia with a 1.6l turbo diesel engine. They used the vanagon stuff to put it in. I can't imagine why it can't be done on a bus. You need the input shaft or diesel trans, bellhousing adapter, vanagon oil pan and pickup, may have to fabricate the engine mount to clear a jetta turbo diesel manifold, much easier if you use the quantum setup. Exhaust can be homemade and the little stuff always adds up. The parts mentioned above will run about $750 or so. A good used diesel turbo engine with low miles usually goes for 1500-2000. These guys have vanagon install kits as well as used and new vw diesels motors. MY rabbit has been very happy with one of their 60k mile used 1.6l turbo diesel engines.
http://zs-imports.com/Mechanical/hardware.htm
15. an Anonymous Greaser (14 April, 2008 - 15:16) says:
I saw in a VW mag about this time last year, a conversion utilizing a 1.9L Jetta TDI. Very tight fit, but very clean. I believe it was a '78-79 bus.
16. an Anonymous Greaser (14 May, 2008 - 02:52) says:
go to kennedy enginering. they make an adapter plate and flywheel setup that uses a factory baywindow bus transaxle
17. an Anonymous Greaser (8 April, 2009 - 16:01) says:
you cannot run waste vegetable oil directly with a TDI you need an IDI
18. an Anonymous Greaser (10 April, 2009 - 02:43) says:
Sure you can, I've been running a 03 Jetta on svo for years. Check out greasecar.com
19. an Anonymous Greaser (5 September, 2009 - 03:36) says:
I have a 1971 bus with 1.9 turbo diesel engine, it is possible to convert it :) my email is akoltowski@yahoo.com if you have any questions let me know
20. an Anonymous Greaser (28 November, 2009 - 07:20) says:
Check ELSBETT.COM out they have all kinds of SVO conversion kits and the 1.9 D / TD is an ideal engine.
We do the installation in California,if you have questions call us:925 447 8224
21. an Anonymous Greaser (7 September, 2009 - 22:59) says:
i have a 69 Vw transporter bus... i want to convert it to diesel to get it running on veggie oil. What exactly do i need to get the diesel in there? engine? trans? engine mount? radiator? email me at brandonreynolds85@gmail.com
22. an Anonymous Greaser (28 November, 2009 - 07:22) says:
Yes you need all of the above and a conversion kit,check out Elsbett.com or call us for more info.
925 447 8224
23. an Anonymous Greaser (12 September, 2009 - 23:26) says:
you can run grease in a TDI as long as it was manufactured before 2002 (fussy injector pumps)
24. an Anonymous Greaser (28 September, 2009 - 18:26) says:
http://www.tsrengineconversions.co.uk/products.aspx?1=2...
25. an Anonymous Greaser (12 January, 2010 - 05:31) says:
My daughter wants to make an electric vw bus. All electric. I figure there is lots of room for batteries on the floor. Golf cart ones o something like that. Any one know abut an electric motot to mount to the transaxel in the bus???
26. an Anonymous Greaser (25 February, 2010 - 03:39) says:
hey brother you can google for electric motors, and electricbus blog exist as well. It is possible and fairly easy im goin with the diesel engine option...i feel as though electric or veggie diesel is the way for sure, electric for round town and diesel for the long haul. well i hope this helps good luck with the project onelove
27. an Anonymous Greaser (2 February, 2010 - 20:31) says:
I would like to take a VW trike and put a 23 hp Kubota diesel motor on it and then build a lightweight shell over it. Anyone do anything like that? Let me know frankcitino@gmail.com
28. an Anonymous Greaser (4 February, 2010 - 00:46) says:
Yellow stone diesel parts plant is one of the leading manufacturers
of engine parts, in particular diesel fuel injection system
accessories for replacement, such as Fuel injection Nozzle, Plunger and
Delivery valve, ETC In south of china .
for more detail please visit our website : www.yellowstonediesel.com
www.dieselinjection.cn
Yellow stone diesel parts plant was founded in 1997.Over the years,
Yellow stone has grown and gained a reputation for producing
high quality products and delivering them on time.
29. an Anonymous Greaser (30 April, 2010 - 16:14) says:
Frankcitino:
http://www.rqriley.com/xr3.htm
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