Oh great TLB advise me/pick my reasoning.

My van is an Auto the auto box is a bit clonky/rattley, the engine isn't the best, it's got a few leaks there's a few issues with the head studs and one of the heads has a helecoil in and i can't get the old spark plug out, it's also fuel injected and the parts aren't the most reliable and easy to diagnose/replace if they start to play up, in other words it needs work or may need work and i'm thinking of "future proofing" it a bit - do it once do it right kind of thing? now i know once i commit it's going to be big money, the engine will need stripping and due to it having been run without cooling tin it will probably have head/valve damage, now if i commit to auto box replace/repair/service and engine strip rebuild i'm probably into what? £2 grand plus? what money to convert to a manual set up and either golf diesel or scooby it? yes i know the scooby would cost "more" but the mpg/replacement if a further problem occoured would be a lot cheaper, my thinking at the moment is run it until it breaks (either box or engine) and do the bear minimum until then as it's bound to need money throwing at it if i pull it for the sake of it, what do you think people?

 

Just buy a bongo mate

 

basically i'm not really fussed what engine powers it, i don't see the "you ripped the heart out" when people say a scooby ruins it, i see a more useable van, it's not fun driving at 15mpg with an auto and although it's nice not changing gear i have no specific need for an auto, i think my van is a "keeper" now so it's time to start thinking of the future.

 

Sell the caddy for a nice profit and get a Subaru conversion

 

that is sort of part of my future thinking if i'm honest, if i can make my camper more user friendly i only need one vehicle, but the scooby conversion to an auto is mega money.

 

What's that Caddy worth, i'm after a little van

 

If I had your van Rick, I'd go diesel. Just an opinion.

 

Mines a keeper and so when this engine goes gonna get a scooby conversion , can't be arsed throwing any more money at air cooled crap.

 

Go for a scooby conversion that's one conversion I would love to do on the pick up got a mate with two split screens one with a scooby which I have yet to drive and the other with a Citroen diesal fitted.

 

2 grand hey, sign me up boss, think more like 3 maybe 4k .

theres nothing wrong with the fuel injection system, im not aware of any electrical parts that you can buy for it reasonably easily, new or used.

if you do an overhaul on the engine now and a gearbox overhaul IF needed in 2 years time say it will spread the cost, no matter how good you fuel economy is gonna be with a Subaru lump I doubt you will see any financial benefit for a very very long time

 

if you're serious that a rebuild of a type 4 and a autobox is that expensive then it's a no-brainer on converting to manual/scooby or suchlike,it's not neccesarily about the benefit in mpg making the cost back, think of it this way, if a type 4 goes pop you'll pay 2 grand? if ascooby goes pop you'll pay 500 for a whole car.....

 

Funny I was thinking about this just today......I was thinking, if I could keep the outward appearance of our van, but make driving it more like a modern vehicle, steering, braking, t.he whole lot, would I? Yep, I would. It's no more ripping the heart out of it than having central heating and double glazing in my 150 year old house.

 

^ I've thought this way since I got the van - engine gives up the ghost it gets replaced with a scooby lump.

 

I think your over simplifying fitting a Subaru engine and box, most of the cost is in the fitting and required components , modified wiring loom, fitting the cooling and heating system, brakes etc. if it was a straight swap it's another brainier, if you go to have it fitted by a pro workshop 15mpgs isn't relevant.. If you pay £6k for a conversion then an engine and box rebuild is cheaper

 

i'm not over simplifying it, i know it's a big job, especially as i'd have to convert auto to manual as well, the whole idea of this post was to bounce ideas really.

 

Ricks mate ...im in simialr postion..sell bimmers and engine and i got enuff for tdi conversion ...and make dub my dailey....dilemas....its all good fun...

 

my way of thinking is;
the vw engines are getting rarer,
and rebuilds can be very expensive for anything that has a bit more umph or reliability, and may still not be what you need /expect..
i think if you need to spend money on a keeper ,then a conversion to a more available mainstream power unit is the best move,
as a replacement will be more available in 5/10yrs time
my bus is teetering on a the edge,regarding conversion ...