I have a old 1969 vw bus with no engine, whats the cheapest engine i can put in it to get it up and working?

I dont know anything about cars, but my girlfriend really wants to get this bus up and working again... Someone stole the original engine and i cant find a vw bus engine to replace it, will any engine work? I really want something lower priced that wont explode on meI have a old 1969 vw bus with no engine, whats the cheapest engine i can put in it to get it up and working?Try to get a used one from salvage yard,- or on Craigs list, -- then install and cross our fingers! Will probably be more expensive for a "new engine" than the bus is worth, good rebuilt is going to run you around $1000 or more for engine, and then you still have to install it!



Installing engine is not hardest job in world --- I used to remove or install one in 1/2 hour (right tools equipment and experience helps a lot!) You can probably do it first time in about 4.... You will need concrete floor, "floor jack" (also referred to as a trolley jack),-- Jack stands, and a good creeper, --- as well as proper tools!



As for what fits car,---- same as van, even Karmann Ghia uses the same engine! Also same engine used for about 6-8 years, so there were lots and lots of them out there! You just have to have the same fan,-"fan box, and generator as original for the van! -- If you plan on having heat, you need the same junction boxes on exhaust pipes, -- (or maybe you have gas heater in this one?) And of course you are going to have to hunt up all the parts they damaged getting it out of van! If this was a "thief in the night" type "stolen",-- then a lot of stuff was probably damaged, as thieves don't care how much mess they make, as long as they get the engine and get away! *** Only different engine in that era, was if you have a "notchback", -- and not a whole lot of those were imported! , and even then I think it was same block, but a whole lot more things to change to convert to fit the van!



My memory a little foggy, as that was in the 70s when I worked in the foreign car garage! In those days we rebuilt engine and installed it for $400I have a old 1969 vw bus with no engine, whats the cheapest engine i can put in it to get it up and working?
Yes, you can bolt in any VW engine, but you'd be wise to get one that has the oil cooler set up away from the cylinders. In the older engines (probably through '70) the oil cooler was in the way of cooling air to the #3 cylinder, leading to exhaust valve failure. The valve head would break off and put a hole in the top of the piston. Not a problem if you have the heads rebuilt at 100,000 miles. As far as I know, the engines are all interchangeable.



'68 was 1500cc, then it went to 1600. Single port went to dual port at some point, and horsepower climbed a bit more. The super beetles had a slightly more powerful engine. But in a bus, you're not likely to notice a few horspower more or less.



As far as exploding on you, if you buy a '68 or later engine and it hasn't been abused too much, and if you take care of the exhaust valve problem that I mentioned, and if you change the oil regularly (3,000 mi.) and don't let the oil go dry, there's not much to go wrong. They're heavily overbuilt.I have a old 1969 vw bus with no engine, whats the cheapest engine i can put in it to get it up and working?Apparently these are still manufactured in Brazil, and I think they were manufactured after 1974 in Mexico.



You may have better luck trying to find a Mexico or Brazil sourced motor for one than to find one from the USA, where the air cooled motor was last in 1974 due to higher emissions.



Brasil is still making VW Kombi van like your 1969...



http://www.automotiveworld.com/WAM/conte鈥?/a>



Checking eBay..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOFOCO-16鈥?/a>I have a old 1969 vw bus with no engine, whats the cheapest engine i can put in it to get it up and working?
The tranny may be bad.The new engine will run about $2,550 fully equiped or a little more.It is a cool lil bus.These vehicals produce 10 to 20 times the smog of a newer car.The engines need a lot of tune ups anI have a old 1969 vw bus with no engine, whats the cheapest engine i can put in it to get it up and working?any of the old vw bug engines will fit and wire up. its the exact same 1600 to 1800cc four cylinder air cooled engine. i believe any vw four cylinder from 67 to 76 will bolt up. good luck!I have a old 1969 vw bus with no engine, whats the cheapest engine i can put in it to get it up and working?
You are looking for trouble with no end. A car like this would never be reliable - besides it would not pass a safety test unless you put some serious money into it.