KEP adapters: with which VW diesels they work?

[metalpecker]

Hello everyone! last week i got verdict from my fellow vw lawn mower engine specialist about engine from my '79 bus - it's worthless to rebuild (and it's a big problem to rebuilt it here, in Russia due to the lack of parts!) because of worn out crankshaft seats in the case and decided to quit air-cooled community. it's cool to be air-cooled, but not good to stop with broken engine during 6000km trip i planned, like guys on T3 bus from Holland did now on their way to Mongolia.

after some search through the internet i came to your nice site with lots of information about vw diesels-to-bay swaps. i chose to use KEP adapter and wrote 'em an email with the question if their adapter will work with 1Y, but they do not know what 1Y is (reminds me Pulp Fiction movie with "metric system" conversation ) and said it works with engines from VW Rabbits/Jettas.

so my question is: from your experience - with which VW diesels you can mate KEP adapter to work with '79 T2 1.6L bus transmission? Will it work with 1Y (1.9L) diesel?

THANKS in advance!

[metalpecker]

Well, after some conversation they said "Yes it will work. All of the 1.6, 1.9 Jetta, Golf, Rabbit, etc. are the same engine adapter."

Hope it's true, but i want to double check if their adapter will fit 1.9L 1Y engine and '79 bay window bus transmission combo, so please anyone who has experience with that - tell me!

[richbaker78]

well i dont know for sure about KEP but i can tell you this much

the t25 diesel belhousing will accept the 1Y engine. It will also accept the GTi engine.
so from that i can verify that the 1Y and the GTI have the same bolt pattern so if its the one that they are suggesting fits the GTI engine you will probably be OK by my logic. however this doesnt account for the flywheel / clutch options!

Why dont you just use a t25 diesel bellhousing though? are you trying to avoid having it tilted right over?

[metalpecker]

Thanks for reply! T25/T3 diesel box alone cost not less than $300 - junkyards i called tried to sell me whole transmission and they doesn't have just bellhousings. For $600 (including shipping) i'll receive a kit which will bolt right on, with no need to hacking a body to install a starter (which is strangely mounts on the top of T25's bellhousing), tilt transmission and engine backwards, decreasing vehicle's clearance.

[72panelvan]

yeah, the kit bolts up fine with an AAZ and i'd imagine the 1Y's identical, along with all the 4 pot vw water cooled engines! They give you a flywheel so, it's effectively 1 flywheel bolt pattern fits all cranks. I did find I had to clear a small section of the cross member for the td starter solenoid! But only a square inch. If I had all the parts to hand, the T25 bellhousing route would be a no brainer, but starting from scratch i'd say the KEP kit's a more straight forward, and probably cheaper if your going TD, install. And the ground clearence with the KEP kits pretty impressive - looking at it today the sump is higher than then bottom of the gearbox. probably more room than a flat 4.

[13 window deluxe]

the 1y crankcase is the same as the rest of the 4cylinder engines my mate had one in his diesel t25 with standard gearbox
_________________
1964 rat 13 window deluxe 1Z tdi,
1975 rhd twin slider tintop (TBA)
1991 golf 2 gti with tweaked AHU tdi,

previous tdi swaps: gone but not forgotten
1979 rhd twin slider tintop bay ahu 1.9tdi
1990 T25 1Z 1.9tdi
1993 suzuki samurai with 1Z 1.9tdi

[metalpecker]

Thanks guys! Sorry, i noob to v-dubs - i have much more experience wrenching/modding 4x4 toyotas. I'm waiting till next salary to order KEP adapter! Btw they started to offer me their 285mm flywheel - will it work ok with my existing starter?