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wierd VW stories: 1.6-l. Bus non-type 3 pancake engine (was: Type III Vanagon)


We tend to only recognize VWs that were sold in our own countries. Because
many books have been written by American authors, the US models are very
well known. Nowadays, the South-American models have also been covered in
magazines etc. 
What often does not get covered are "VW's" not built by VW or one of its
overseas subsidiaries. I read an article about a 4WD jeep-type vehicle built
in Brazil with VW components. Last summer, I also spotted a couple of weird
"VW's" in Turkey (no photos, sorry). It was a pick up type vehicle, with a
cab that resembles the '50s Willys Forward Control Pick Up. Its driveline
was definitely VW: 5-lug wheels, type 1/2 engine etc. Never seen it before
or since. I don't think VW itself built it, must have been done by a local
assembler/manufacturer.

Re. the 1.6-l. engine in the late Busses:
>>Not meaning to butt in but the nonUS vanagons had a optional 1600cc engine
>>it looked like a type 1 case but had a full flow oil  filter like a type 4
>>the cooling system was similar to type 4  and it had a single 34 pict
>>carb.

Yes, in Germany (and other European countries) the post '79 Bus (Vanagon)
could be ordered with a 1.6-l. or 2.0-l. air-cooled engine. Both had
hydraulic valve lifters and electronic ignition. The 1.6-l. engine was
mainly intended for export to countries with low grade petrol. From '81 a
1.6-l. diesel engine could be ordered, and from '82 both air-cooled engines
were replaced by the 'wasserboxers'.
This 1.6-l. pancake engine is not a type 3 engine, it's basically the
upright fan engine found in earlier Busses. It had to be pancaked to fit in
the approx. 20 cm. lower engine compartment of the late Bus.
I want to get one of those 1.6-l. engines to put in my Bug, I like the idea
of hydraulic valve lifters, full flow oil filter, etc. Who knows if it can
easily be converted back into the upright fan configuration?


Hanno Spoelstra <H.L.Spoelstra@WbMt.TUDelft.NL>
Bloemendaal, The Netherlands



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