Need a new motor? Vanagon engine conversions

This is the most common solution we offer. We build these engines in-house as well as source from the best rebuilders.

To be transparent, we tend to be a bit more expensive than other shops - our estimates often include what we consider to be critical and necessary additional work to make sure your new motor not only runs right but is surrounded by functional support systems, most notably your coolant system. We communicate these costs upfront instead of during the process - or worse, telling you owe us an extra 15% when you pick up. We also only buy motors from rebuilders we have a proven track record with, and these motors tend to cost about $1,000 more. For us, this is a "no-brainer." Some of the more popular rebuilders have failure rates approaching 50% - and we experienced that before we stopped doing business with many of them. It is simply not worth the cost savings.

Pros

• Keeps it all stock and original. There is something beautiful and romantic about keeping your 30-year-old vehicle stock and authentic. If you think of your van as a future collectible, this is the most prudent course.

• It's about the journey, not the speed of getting there. Sure, the stock motor could be considered a bit underpowered, but there is something nice about being in the slow lane and smelling the proverbial flowers.

• Ease of future work. It will be easier to work on an all-stock system. Whether this translates into lower costs or not remains to be seen.

• Extended Warranties. Most rebuilt waterboxers qualify for a 4-year/48,000-mile warranty ($500 charge).

• Sound. We think it's the perfect sound for travel...

• Cost. By far, this is the most affordable option we offer.

Cons

• See "underpowered" above. Even with the higher compression rebuilds, you'll still be at 50-60 over the passes. 70-75 on the flats, no problem.

• It is a 30-year-old technology. Not lousy technology, but it is old.

• Even with a fresh rebuild, we are still dependent on the quality of new parts we install and this has been trending downwards for some time.

It is possibly one of the most hyped conversions in the Vanagon world but with good cause. We take great care in doing these conversions; your engine bay will look meticulous, you'll have a perfectly crafted wiring harness, and the motor will always be "zero miles" freshly rebuilt. However, because we take no shortcuts on this conversion, it's going to be expensive and more expensive than the competition. It's not unusual for these conversions to cost $20K or higher when all is said and done. We know we lose quite a few jobs on price, but we simply refuse to do this conversion with short cuts or by not replacing everything. At this price point, you deserve something perfect and that is what we are interested in delivering. Also, our philosophy on these conversions is to adopt a “best of breed” approach. We aren’t beholden to products we manufacture or a proprietary supply chain—we are constantly adapting and implementing the best solutions into our Subaru conversions with the best vendors and partners.

Pros

• Power. Short of the TDI, this conversion offers the most significant jump in HP and torque. You will cruise over the passes at 60-70 mph.

• Ecosystem. For a "franken-motor" setup, there is a large support ecosystem ranging from vendors to Facebook groups. The days of mechanics running away when they see a Subaru in a VW are long past.

Cons

• Subaru+VW. For the purists, even though it fits, it doesn't. Our conversions are designed for any tech, anywhere, to be able to see what is happening. But we see a ton of conversions we simply can't work on due to poor workmanship.

• Longitudinal data. There is very little long-term, statistically reliable data on this conversion. We think it's okay; we're not too worried, but there simply aren't a lot of 100 K-mile Subaru conversions on the road. Although we are getting there and the trend is good.

• Transmission Stress. Driven responsibly, you will not stress your transmission. But, for those that abuse the newfound power, expect to rebuild your transmission at a slightly more compressed interval.

These motors are delivered to us brand new, and they fit perfectly into the Vanagon (they are motors typically used in the Passat, Jetta, and Golf). They offer about 40% more horsepower and a similar bump in torque. They also come with an engine management system and modern electronics. We are doing more and more of these conversions and are big fans.

Pros

• Brand new motor. No rebuild, nothing reconditioned. Brand new, factory crate motor. Everything matched from the factory - wiring, ECU, etc.

• Modern electronics. ODB2 connectivity for modern engine management and data.

• Power/Torque. It is a very nice bump from the stock power. These motors move along at a great clip. Don’t expect to be blown away by new power and speed, but you should notice a difference.

• Quieter. This conversion runs a bit quieter than the stock motor.

• Engineering. We partner with Foreign Auto Supply in Maine to deliver a best-of-breed set of highly engineered conversion parts that run flawlessly.

• AC, Cruise Control, etc. These features are easy to get working on this conversion.

Cons

• Cost. You are starting to get up there in price. If you need additional work (e.g., transmission, brakes, coolant system), it's not unusual to end up over $20,000.

• Performance for Cost: If you graphed by power per $ for this conversion vs. a Subaru, you’d make a rational decision to spend a bit more to get a Subaru. But, for many people, “keeping it all VW” is an important consideration.