I have got a 181 as well as the Fugitive, and Beetles and Vans etc..... :D

In the past I have always stuck with the aircooled lump, but I have the oppurtunity soon to obtain (free) a good ready to run Ford Pinto lump and I was thinking of sticking it in the 181. Any experience with Pinto to VW gearbox? And who does the adapter plates these days please ?

Thanks :ph43r:

I've seen adverts in Hot VWs for American suppliers. If no-one comes through with a UK address I'll look it out for you.

D

Cheers :D

There's an egineering shop out in Natwich Cheshire GB engineering or something like that but you could also try http://www.robinson-race-cars.co.uk/
He can build pretty much anything.
Also his work is first rate

Oh and Vulcan engineering do the conevrsion stuff for Caterham bell housing from Rover engines to Ford gearboxes and other stuff such as adaptor plates I beleive

This is them:

http://www.esslingeracing.com

Used to be called 'Pinto Beans' or somesuch.

At $340 it's not that cheap, though.

HELLO,YOU COULD TRY THE COVIN OWNERS CLUB(911 PORSCHE REPLICAS),AS THEY USE FORD PINTOS AND CVH ENGINES ONTO VW GEARBOXES IN A LOT OF THEIR CARS,SOMEONE MAY EVEN HAVE ONE TO SELL YOU,-STILL REBUILDING MY FUGIE FOR NEWARK SHOW,HOPE TO MEET SOME MORE LIKE MINDED PEOPLE THERE.

Tiggar, heres my 2-pence worth.......you must bear in mind that the VW air cooled engines weigh about 86Kg......A ford pinto is notoriously heavy......about the same as a Rover V8 about 150Kg I think.......not to mention its miles longer than a flat-4 so will probably poke out of the rear bodywork, which will look pants in my opinion.......certainly people have done it, but I'd go for something a little more modern and weight-efficient if I was you.......a subaru-Legacy 2.2 normally aspirated engine with 130Bhp is probably your best bet, a very common conversion nowdays......dont forget you will need gearbox straps, as the front mount will be under loads more strain

just found this on ebay......

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alfa-Romeo-flat-4-17...1QQcmdZViewItem

before you ask it weighs 104Kg, probably got about 130Bhp.......its well worth £300 as the ported and skimmed heads would cost that, not to mention a full re-build and twin 40 webbers.......its worth well over double the asking price.......I bought a 1.7 8v alfa on twin 40's from an alfa breaker for £150 about a month ago.......had this engine been available at the time I'd have bought it straight away........adaptor plates are available from DS tuning in germany, the cost is 260 Euros, which is about £186 which is a bargain compared to a subaru adaptor kit .......which go for about £500 ish

heres a Subaru adaptor plate kit on e-bay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Subaru-Engine-to-Vol...1QQcmdZViewItem

Really getting on with my Fug now and have re-designed all the throttle linkage,rad and exhaust because i'd at least for the time being given up on adaptor plate sourcing. After deciding I'm going to keep my 2ltr Lancia engine ,I've just been emailed about a company called kennedy engineering. They are in the states and make adaptor plates for almost any engine you could think of. I've done a little bit too much work on mine to dump the engine and put something really serious in,but i think I might get one ready for when I change my mind. Give it a look,see if it inspires you too. (or is it just me,that said i'm thinking of a exhaust gas ignition kit) And no i'll never grow up. :D

Thanks for all the input guys

I can make my own adaptor, engineering is my line of business you see and the Pinto was free.....but perhaps I'll use a 2 litre aircooled type 4 instead. I dunno maybe like the Rail I just wanted to do something different B)

Just for info, Kennedy Engineering in the US make many types of adapter plates. Details at...

http://www.kennedyeng.com/

Also lots of useful info on engine conversions can be found at...

http://frost.bbboy.net/vwengineconversions

Wankel rotary engines (Mazda RX8) are very compact engines with good power to weight ratio :D

Tigger, you are an engineer and you want something different, here's my two penno'th...Apologies to you Pinto boys but I think a dune buggy with a radiator is like a girl in big pants, it's just not right, Get hold of the engine from a 80's Tatra, 3.5 litre fuel injected 200 bhp AIR COOLED V8 !!!!

Imagine what that would sound like with a set opf dual cannons welded on..go on you know you want to...

hey rick - nice to meet you..........looks like a nice fug in your signature area..........so you gonna show us more pics in the gallery section?........what you got?......a fug-2 or fug-4?

Nice to 'meet' you too :)

There are pictures of my Fug-2 at http://www.shining-wit.net/rick/buggy/fugitive/

And more stuff about the Doon buggy I'm building at the URL in my sig below.

Only had the Fug about a month; bought it off eBay; no screen; done over 1000 miles in it so far :)

I'll be in the buggy hall at BVF with the Fug on Sunday 2nd July (tomorrow!). Perhaps see some of you there?

Rick.