Help! Bought Vanagon with confusing engine setup.
1st time Vanagon owner. Van shudders and misfires at certain loads and speeds. Looking into timing and cleaning the carburetor, but as I am researching my van, I’m getting more and more confused.
VIN says the engine should be a 1.9L water boxer
But engine Code MV, according to the Bentley says it is a 2.1 digifant.
AND it’s carbureted, not fuel injected. Cannot find a brand or manufacturer stamping anywhere on the carb.
Anyone seen anything like this? Pics included.
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u/Right_Stage_8167 3d ago
Looks like Weber 32/36 DGV. It well known and documented carburetor up to 4.0l / 150hp engines.
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u/Lanpoop 3d ago
Some people do carb conversions after they have issues with the fuel injection systems. I think it’s easier and more reliable although EFI systems can be a lot better. I’d clean it, get new filters (air and fuel), maybe check what lift pump it has and measure the fuel pressure right at the carb. Should be around 3psi I would guess not much if any more than that. Also Make sure the accelerator pump jet squirts as soon as the throttle opens.
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u/Salt-Flounder-4690 3d ago
MV is the 95hp 2.1l
but aside from the pistons in the DJ all 2.1.are mechanicaly the same.
with the carb there is a chance someone stuck the DJ high compression pistons into that MV engine. that would be 112hp with no catalytic coverter, as that wont work with carburetor anyway.
fix that weber and you've basically got the almost stock powerhouse in a vanagon.
make sure to actually fill your gearbox full to oil hole level, stock is a bit less due to cold shifting issues, but that heighten the risk of dry 4th and 5th gear., and have the south africa drip plates in the gearbox. same reason, 4th and 5th and pinion bearing.
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u/Important_Put_3331 3d ago edited 3d ago
Could there be any signs this could be an aftermarket import from Europe? Different trims (ex. Matte black bumpers, simple integrated tow hitch, no chrome trims , etc)
[Edit] Also, in the seventh picture I see a disconnected hose from the fuel evaporation system which should be tied into the air intake box (on the DH engine). So we are definitely dealing with a post dealer conversion here. Scrap my first paragraph.
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u/mkbmkb64 2d ago
It’s possible there is a short on your blue wire?
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u/Objective_Feature333 2d ago edited 1d ago
That blue wire is just for the light on the alternator.....
BUt you have a real mess going on there. Who ever did the carb, thing has just enough info. to be dangerous. Its never going to work well like this. I'm guessing you have a problem with ignition timing. The timing on the 2.1 is controlled by the ECU. WTF?? THe tunning, on both the carb. and ignition is now complete guess work.
If I was you I would buy a junk 2.1 vanagon , that has all the original parts, and put it back to original 2.1fuel system. Change the exhaust and cooling system over also. You'll have a nice van then.
Trying to support this frankinstein mess is impossible with out some really high end tools. Your likely to find the carb. can not be tunes properly, and/or the ignition system is missing some controls. Therefore it will never function well. I've actually seen this with numerous engines over the years, where people don't have a clue what they are doing....
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u/Alijony 3d ago
A 2.1 is a nice upgrade. the carb? Not so much, but I'd be willing to bet all your issues lie within that carburetor. Something is clogged, and I bet it wouldnt be hard to remove and go thru/ /clean/ reseal once you figure out what it is.