bluesbug

My 60 VW panel van has an EA81 engine and it fit EASILY in the engine compartment,and I used the KEP adapter. The radiator, a stock 80's suby was put in front of the engine cover,on hinges so it can tilt out, and a modified engine cover was installed.It has 2 cooling fans(electric) that pull air in from the back.It cools fine,but restricts engine access somewhat. Look at my other posts for pix and more info.

Thanks, I love the yellow/gray combo on vw busses,but my second choice was yellow/white.Looking foreward to the pix of your bus.

total cost about 1200. weber hooked up to stock throttle cable.no xmember reqd. pix on some of my previous posts,feel free to paste em here. bluesbug

I've got an EA-81 in a 61 split window panel bus,and it's great. Progressive weber,custom exaust,kennedy adapter,and suby dual fan radiator in the rear sucking in.Cools great and plenty of ponies for the stock tranny w/reduction boxes.Very straightforeward swap and easy to work on too. bluesbug

Check out the latest hot vw's magazine.Nice wrx powered Karmann Ghia.No info on radiator mounting etc.. but one way cool car!

Dont give up! You'll get there.We're dying for an update.

I agree . Go with the weber.. The intake and carb can be found in the marketplace sxn..The motor is so much cleaner and easier to work on and the power increase is substantial.

Shawn, You might try an electric temp guage.Mine in my EA81 powered 61 vw bus works pretty well and they can be han on ebxx pretty reasonably. nice project

Put a wanted to buy add on the marketplace on this site.You can probably find a good used carb/manifold.Search in the older suby area for WEBER and get addl info....For my exaust I cut off the two pipes about a foot down from where they bolt on the engine,and later had a muffler shop add a Y pipe,a flange,a turbo muffler,a u turn and a side exit with a chrome tip.It looks and sounds great and was $150 well spent..

I highly recommend going with the weber carb conversion.My 61 panel van has an EA-81 weber setup and the power band is great.Easy to work on too! Bluesbug

Havent had a chance to road test much yet,but the power band is excellent.Got wheels powder coated and new tires on and they look niiice.All windows are now in,though there aren't many as it is a panel van.

Thanks guys.The Subybus may travel to Dallas(Ennis) in May for the VW show.Someday there may be a 300HP bus in my future but not for a while...

Well the bus finally got some paint on her and we've been trying to finish up the outside.. Right now it's still lacking a windshield, engine cover, tires&wheels, exhaust and a few odds and ends.. Pictures are in the gallery and hopefully in this post. Thanks for all the positive comments and feedback, keep em comin!

The adapter bolts to the engine and the whole assy then bolts to the transaxle just like an engine bolts in on any beetle or other air cooled VW.I built a jack cradle to avoid the oil pan while jacking the motor in place. BTW the subybus is now painted and going back together,and PIX will be posted soon.

The radiator is a stock 82 suby that cost $129/w a lifetime warranty.Top hose is extra long to facilitate opening.Fans are both stock 80's suby and have plenty of clearance. Tranny supports engine fine,but a xmember could be fabbed easily enough if needed. Now if it would just warm up so I could finish painting my subybus!

Hey that is a new radiator man.Orilleys doesnt paint them that well. The original engine cover will not be used,but I have some ideas about fabbing one with angle iron and some special expanded metal.Always open for ideas though.

The crossmember I was referring to is actually the rear apron,a body part that was modified to lower the radiator.The engine with kennedy adapter installed into the VW transaxle with no modification at all.It went in in about an hour,not counting wiring,exaust,etc...The oil pan isnt even all that much lower. Wiring was pretty simple,but I had to run extra wires for the water temp and oil pressure guages which are electric units.

Correct. Hinges on bottom,and bolts with big washers thru the rad that pinch the bulkhead on top.Had to refab the lower VW crossmember to lower it for clearance,but plenty of room now.Two pix posted in the gallery. Today I painted the cargo area and did some adj on the front doors. Thanks for the interest

I think...Therefore I am....

I got pix,but cant get them to post.I can email them to y'all if you would post them for me. Thanks derecool@odsy.net

Update. Got it running last night and fixed a pesky water leak.This weekend it may actually come out of the shop under it's own power.Fans come on at 210,and the temp never gets above that.Starts easy,idles perfect ,and has plenty of power.Do I sound EXCITED!

The buddies are very supportive . No pix yet but the new rad is now installed.I have looked for this panel for years,and it's like a dream come true.Suby engines are great!If ferdinand would have lived long enough he would be proud.This is the best of both worlds.A flat four with power and dependability.

Got my EA81 installed in the 60 VW panel van.Still waiting on a new radiator,but wiring,brakes etc are all done.Rad is mounted behind the engine and electric fans pull air in from the back.Thanks for all the helpful advice from bugaru and others.I can't wait to get this puppy on the road. I saw a complete Legacy engine at the junkyard this weekend...Hmmm.. One project at a time I guess. BTW if aanyone needs a complete 82 GL less engine in west Texas come and get it.. Later, Bluesbug

Got my EA81 installed in the 60 VW panel van.Still waiting on a new radiator,but wiring,brakes etc are all done.Rad is mounted behind the engine and electric fans pull air in from the back.Thanks for all the helpful advice from bugaru and others.I can't wait to get this puppy on the road. I saw a complete Legacy engine at the junkyard this weekend...Hmmm.. One project at a time I guess. BTW if aanyone needs a complete 82 GL less engine in west Texas come and get it.. Later, Bluesbug

What a score.Today I recieved my ea81 motor from California today,complete with Kennedy VW adapter,weber carb,and all the trimmings.It's ready to go in my 60 panel van project. Does anybody have the instruction sheets that come with a Kennedy Adapter(Bugaru where are you)? Thanks to everyone for all the info I have lurked info from on the board.Y'all(Texas word) have been more help than you know. Any suggestions on performance mods etc always welcome!