VW Kombi 4AGE smallport HELP!!

[IWL_86]

Hi All,
I haven't been a big poster here, but from what i've seen this is the best place for good honest BS free answers!!
I have a kombi Panel van and I put a small port motor in!
I ran it at first on a single weber carb, but now its back to the stock EFI setup.
Im at the point where i need to decide to pull the motor and go back to aircooled power or to continue with the 4AGE.
Currently I am running a honda civic aloy radiator between the chasis rails with a scoop and cowling to duct air to the radiator which is at an angle. The temp hets to 210F fairly quick then the stock thermo turns on. Is this a bad way to run A 4AGE?
I should note I have not got the factory oil cooler hooked up yet? will this bring the temp down enough or bigger radiator time?
Secondly I am running a tall ratio kombi gearbox(3200rpm @110kms), would it be better with the shorter box and just limit my highway speed? considering the kombi weighs more than the rolla?
The other problem I am having is that im leaking oil from the header side of the head at the gasket. Ive changed it twice now, maybe a warped head?
Anyways.. I really just wonder if the 4age is up to pushing along a 1200kg brick without too many problems? Give up or push forward!!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Isaac

[wa5]

I couldnt think of a worse application for a 4age.. put the Dak Dak back in. or something with a little more bottom end grunt. 7A maybe

I have seen a V8 (P76) powered Kombi, with two radiators beside the engine... car had extra air ducts (same as the ones in the D pillars) moulded lower down the body...

[otakuraver]

I would have choosen a 4agze over the 4age, just because 4agze has the supercharger to give it more bottomend power and torqe to move something this heavy a long

[thechuckster]

Kombi's have the aerodynamics of a brick wall - you could EFI and/or turbo the factory donk and get a lot more torque than a humble 4AGE.

Have seen (in the past) more than a few kombi's with oil coolers mounted right up the front of the car or on the roof at the rear (feeding the oil lines up the air ducts in the rear pillars).

[IWL_86]

Thank you for all the good replys. My Kombi originally came fitted with a 1600cc dak dak motor, so I figured the 4age with the right gearing might work. But you live and learn I guess. What if I was to build up a 7AGE? would I get better tourqe response? Im $3500 in deep with the conversion now it would be sad to throw it all away. What is a small port converted to RWD worth? could I sell it easily?

[Harreh]

Not worth that much. Your best option to get out of it cheaply would be to get a SC12, run it at low boost on the factory SP pistons, plenty of guys over the states running 10PSI on an NA engine with little concern

[IWL_86]

I have a SC14 laying around, would that go on easily?
Thanks again

[Harreh]

SC14 will go on relatively easy, you need to custom fab mounts though, however the SC12 you do not. SC12 would be better for a low blow application

[wa5]

Turf it, and put a V6 Commodore motor in...

[IWL_86]

So I changed the gearbox today!!

It feels strong now! and runs cooler. It makes sense these small engines need low gearing to work well.

Might consider gze or gte build up soon.

Thanks again!!

[Shakotan_Aaron]

a subaru EG33 or EJ25 would have been nice?

Did you replace the gasket with genuine or aftermarket? I ALWAYS use genuine toyota seals, aftermarket are shit. Also im not sure if 4ag's are the same but some toyota valve covers recommend putting a dot of gasket goo on the corners.

[IWL_86]

I really wanted to do something different, there is too many subaru powered volkies. I would much prefer to build a tough aircooled motor than go subi.

[the_random_hero]

Oil cooler, plumbed correctly, will work wonders for your water temps. Find somewhere with a bit of airflow to place it, if you can put a small thermo fan behind it and fab up a shroud it would be even better.

If you have relatively short gearing, considering a basic turbo setup over the GZE (IMO). Much more efficient and if you size your turbo correctly, lag won't be an issue. Small W2A mounted near the oil cooler instead of a A2A and intake temps should remain low.

[IWL_86]

Thanks for the great advace!!
I installed a 48 row 8pass cooler today and the temps have dropped.

I also purchased a porsche 996tt radiator to run in series with the honda civic one im running.

Id like to go turbo when I sort all the little issues out. Is there any back yard way to run a small turbo, low boost and just a bosst sensitive reg on stock ecu?
or do i need to go gze pistons, injectors, loom and computer?

I know there is lots of threads here but just interested in the dodgy setups not often bragged about, lol!!

Thanks again for all the help, ill put some pics up when i get a chance.

isaac

[ballpencil]

Thanks again for all the help, ill put some pics up when i get a chance

Pretty please do. Especially on how you managed to mate the motor to the gearbox. I saw one kombi with a Toyota K series motor and it used a thick adapter plate between the motor and the box. Engine mounts are welded to the chassis rails. Is this how you do it as well? How do you mate the gearbox input shaft to the flywheel? Methinks of doing the same conversion to a bettle.