968 Engine in a VW Doka?

[keithwwalker]

This may sound crazy, but I wanted to sound this off the board and ask a few questions about fitting a 968 16v NA engine into a VW Vanagon Doka.

As you may know, there are a bunch of engine conversions for the vanagon to get more HP/torque than the stock 1.9/2.1 engines can muster. The most common are upgraded stock engines (the largest being a 2.5 stroked with 125hp/175ft.lb. torque for $7k from gowesty.com ) subarus, the odd Audi 5 cyl. and Ford Zetec's (for whatever reason).

The 968 is intriguing not for HP sake, but by the fact that it has such good torque for a naturally aspirated engine. I need the torque for climbing mountain passes and hauling a motorcycle or other loads.

For various reasons, I don't wish to have a turbo.

The basic questions are, how big is the block with appurtenances?
Specifically, what is the length of the block? The doka doesn't have a height issue as the engine deck is about 8 inches higher than the vanagon.
Can a clutch/transmission be mounted directly to the block?

I figure that compared to the gowesty cost of a 2.5, a stock 968 engine has twice the HP and substantially more torque than what a modified vw block could bring. If you think of the money, $7k for the modified vw unit could better be spent toward a 968 unit which could be rebuilt.

kw

[porsche4life]

I'm not familiar with 968 specifics... But the motors are fairly rare and they aren't cheap when one comes up for sale. Parts for the 968 engines aren't cheap either.... It does sound intriguing but I imagine there is more cost effective torque to be had....

[keithwwalker]

I am familiar with the costs, if I wanted budget I wouldn't be thinking about this.

[porsche4life]

Alright... Now where's flash... He's the 968 guru


I wasn't sure if you were familiar with the costs.... Just thought I'd give you fair warning...

[flash968]

lol

i've never heard of a vw doka, so i have no clue as to whether or not it would fit - the 968 engine is fairly large for its displacement, and not terribly light either - cost is relatively high for the torque you would gain

if a 944 engine fits though, and is the desired platform, and budget is a concern, i think a 3.0 S2 engine would be a better match - you get 90% of the torque, but drop the cost considerably, and have more things you can do to it, as well as better parts availability

[ernie9944]

[QUOTE=flash968;5549046]lol

i've never heard of a vw doka,

For your eyes only a beautiful VW Doka.

[ernie9944]

Originally Posted by keithwwalker

This may sound crazy, but I wanted to sound this off the board and ask a few questions about fitting a 968 16v NA engine into a VW Vanagon Doka

kw

Why not go with something witch has already been done & will give you as much bang for the buck. A (VR6) in a Doka.

[keithwwalker]

Its even uglier wtih a 1.9l engine that makes 85hp!

So, one question, how long is the 968 block?

[QUOTE=ernie9944;5549184]

Originally Posted by flash968

lol

i've never heard of a vw doka,

For your eyes only a beautiful VW Doka.

[Catamax944]

Its even uglier wtih a 1.9l engine that makes 85hp!

If you are referring to the vr6 that's a 2.9l 190hp and not 1.9l . The vr6 would be a much better choice,much more cost effective than the 968 engine and not much less power. Anyway some very rough measurements for the 968 engine are 30inch long including pulley's and 22 inch wide .

[flash968]

frankly, if torque were the concern, i'd go with a small diesel of some sort - vw makes some decent ones that just might work

but if the V6 there works and is cost effective, then that would be good too

[ernie9944]

[QUOTE=Catamax944;5549419]If you are referring to the vr6 that's a 2.9l 190hp and not 1.9l . The vr6 would be a much better choice,much more cost effective than the 968 engine and not much less power.

I believe is referring to this 1.9 engine making 85 hp & I'll agree with him it is an ugly baby.But never mind the ugliness of the VW DoKa ,first it's an army base vehicle witch is a very tougth cookie even in it's basic version,over the years peoples has use them for all kind of tasks & fit them with all kind of motors ,from Porsche flat six to WRX 2.0 and as seen in the pic VR6 some of those motors producing over 250 HP. Hence the reason for the op question. 1.9

[keithwwalker]

I asked Mr. Broadfoot and his reply:
The 968 engine is 26" tall, 27" long, and 22" wide from mount to mount.

Yeah it's ugly, but a good kind of ugly, here's mine:


The capacity of the doka is 1 metric ton, it needs an engine to match.

[Catamax944]

I asked Mr. Broadfoot and his reply:
The 968 engine is 26" tall, 27" long, and 22" wide from mount to mount.

So will it fit?

The capacity of the doka is 1 metric ton, it needs an engine to match.

How about this then... http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=-IIiu66Tt9A&feature=related

Yeah it's ugly, but a good kind of ugly, here's mine:

Yours doesn't look bad at all,looks very well kept.

[Rasta Monsta]

Last summer a guy brought one of those to PIR for a track day. WRX power, Porsche wheels, Brembos. Great car.



In any event, another horizontally opposed, or "flat" V6 are both better bets than a huge inline four.

[keithwwalker]

I believe that's 'Tristar Eric', he did some work on my doka. I rode in his red monster, it ate up a BMW on an entrance ramp that was trying to pass us, lolz.

I will be measuring the doka bay tonight, I think it is big enough to fit almost anything height and width wise, but length may be a limiting factor.

[Cocacolakidd]

If you need more torque to climb hills and upgrades with go Chevy - Allot of racers have been installing LS Chevy motors in the 944 space for quite some time - So if a 944 or 968 motor will fit so will a Chevy, and it has gobs more torque. The LS series are an alloy motor of about the same weight as the 4 cyl Porsche (+45 lbs.). More Horses and with the EFI a low profile for a tight install.

[flash968]

while the engine is not much heavier, all of the other stuff that goes with it ends up making the swap over 100lbs more - american engines post their weight differently that row engines, so it gets a bit misleading

as for fitting because a 968 engine would fit, are we remembering that there is exhaust on both sides of a V8?

i doubt any V8 would fit without serious modification

but if you could do it, you sure would have a torquey monster

but wouldn't it just be cheaper to grab a used ford or chevy pickup?

[ernie9944]

Originally Posted by flash968

while the engine is not much heavier, all of the other stuff that goes with it ends up making the swap over 100lbs more - american engines post their weight differently that row engines, so it gets a bit misleading

as for fitting because a 968 engine would fit, are we remembering that there is exhaust on both sides of a V8?

i doubt any V8 would fit without serious modification

but if you could do it, you sure would have a torquey monster

but wouldn't it just be cheaper to grab a used ford or chevy pickup?

LOL here come torquey

[keithwwalker]

If I wanted a V8, I would buy this and save the hassle:
Chevrolet Express
It comes free with accelerated depreciation, but that also happens when you put American iron in anything vehicle that is German.

[keithwwalker]

That photo proves the point, the rear crossmember has been cut up to fit that brute of an engine. The crossmember is a structural part of the unibody.

I wouldn't go that far, and if the 968/944 3.0l required cutting the crossmember, I wouldn't do that.

Originally Posted by ernie9944

LOL here come torquey