Mating Type4 VW 2.0L engine to 901 Transaxle

[Carrera RSR]

Hi, newbie here looking for help

Have a 1970 911 2.2l with matching 901 transaxle. We are looking to attach a 1979 VW 2.0L bus engine to the 901 transaxle and run the vehicle while we rebuild the 2.2L engine, which due to costs will take several years and a lot of $$. We are located in Canada and face a brutal exchange on our devalued Cdn $ Plus face severe Duties and Taxes on all USA parts with the latest bonus of 25 percent Tariffs.

We are hoping that someone out there in the community will have performed this conversion so that we are not re-enventing the wheel. We realize that there are a few issues to overcome.

We cannot use our bus Flywheel as it requires shaving the 901 Bell housing so far as to severely weaken the casing.

Next, is the reach depth and mating of the starter to the ring gear. We need enough Flywheel mating face for the clutch to handle the 125hp of the type4 engine. The 2.2L Flywheel and Clutch Assembly are 225mm. The Type4 Flywheel and Clutch assembly are 228mm but the hump with the ring gear make the diameter larger.

Next are the issues of the Pilot Bearing and the thickness of the Pressure Plate and which ones will work with the unique Release Bearing setup used only in 1970-71.

We believe that longer Studs may be required on the Type4 engine to attach to the 901 casing.

There may be other considerations that we are not aware of. We don't know if the 914 215mm Flywheel would work.

We also wonder if there were a VW Vanagon setup - Flywheel-Pressure Plate and Clutch setup that could work to keep costs down and make parts more readily available.

If anyone has done this conversion or can provide any assistance, we would be extremely grateful. Thank you. C

[jmd88]

Quick question, have you considered going with Suby instead? You can use a suby NA or Turbo engine with a reversed 5/6spd suby trans for much less initial investment. The addition of 2 water lines and a radiator is minimal in cost and complexity.

I've linked a 901 to suby, but not to the bus engine. You'll want to talk with Kennedy Engineering as they likely have that solution for you (adapter plate/clutch & pp package).

let me know if you have any questions about the suby stuff.

[Magyar Kiwi]

Hi
Your 1970/71 901 transaxle with its pull clutch set up is a significant problem.
Can you source an earlier 901 transaxle ?

A 914/4 uses a Type 4 VW Engine and what is essentially a 2 litre 911, 901 Transaxle, with different ratios and a swapped over crown wheel and pinion.
They are mated with a 215mm push diaphragm clutch.
The 914 Flywheel and 215mm Clutch should work well with a pre 1970 901 transaxle.
Cheers

[stownsen914]

Not familiar with a '79 bus, but if it's a type 4, a 901/911 trans bolt right up.

As mentioned above, the challenge with a 70-71 911 trans will be pull style clutch. I'm not aware of a type 4 flywheel that fits a Porsche 225 mm pull style clutch. If anyone makes one, it would be Kennedy.

A 901 trans would work with the push style clutch that you need for a type 4. Note that the bus type 4 flywheel is not the same as a 914 flywheel, which you'd need in order to bolt up to the Porsche transmission.