About Rocky Racoon Expertise Most questions that relate to interior, and exterior equipment removal, and re-installation. Also, mechanical repairs of the engine, and the axles, and the brakes.
Experience 35 years auto repair experience. 3 years specifically Volkswagen. 10 years ago, graduated from general technical college. Deans list graduate. One of several hundred, out of several thousand to compete, and win recognition within Volkswagen for knowledge, and excellence.
Expert: Rocky Racoon Date: 9/2/2007 Subject: new motor
Question Hi there this is the first time I have ever used this site but I had a question if i can. I just bought a 69 vbw westfalia and I wanted to completly restore it. I would like to put a new liquid cooled engine. I was wondering if I could put a front wheel drive engine in the back of the westfalia(i understand there would be a ton of adjustments). I was just wondering if it was possible. Or would be better to look at buying a write off porshe or something with a rear engine allready?
Answer Hello Ryan;
It sounds like you have some amazing ideas about what you want this vehicle to be for you. It is not usually recommended to start "re-engineering" a complete drive train design, and assembly, especially if that is not your expertise, or your "forte'." If you want more power for your van than you have with the "pancake" then look into some upgrades that can be done with engine you have. If they are still not enough then a "swap" to a Porsche engine might accomplish what you want. The "water-cooled" idea is simply not a viable solution if you want to drive in your lifetime. You need to decide what the purpose of this vehicle will be. Do you want to use it as a camper again? Do you want to just use for "cruise-in's" on week-ends? Do you want to drive it everyday, everywhere? Or, do you just want to go to the drag-strip and run in the 10's? For restoration purposes alone, the only I can suggest is to use the engine you have, and study some of the modifications others have made to get more power, and torque using parts that are reliable, and drivable. Good luck, Ryan. I hope to see you out, and about in it some day.
