Idea for a crazy build...? Old Chevy Suburban + COE Hood + FWD Diesel

I don't know about Europe, but here the Eurovans are all junk and frequently break. My VW mechanic buddy hates them. When was the last time you even saw one? I'd find another power plant unless you like camping wherever you break down.

 

I believe the "cabs " are the same for the coe and a truck /burb ...should bolt up

 

Another

 

Why not just shorten the wheelbase of a coe, or get a Divco.

 

Sorry, no more info on that truck,
I took some pics of it at the the LA roadster show last year
just really liked it

 

This one was at the 2000 KKOA Spectacular in Wichita. Unfortunately, that's all I know. I haven't seen it since.

 

I owned this COE panel for a short time around 2000. Originally built by a fellow in Madison, WI. It was put together exactly as the shot Moparron posted above. everything lines up perfectly at the windshield and floor. I'm surprised more haven't been built.

As for using it as a camper...it's really pretty small for camping, but great as a people & camping gear hauler.

 

Look in the Back ground of this pic. Its alittle newer but its cool.

 

I like most of the COE builds, but they are just too tall (It would be a problem getting them into most parking structures here). That Ford is so cool, but like I said I want the motor outside of the cab.
Thanks for the inside pics Ron, that thing is awesome!
And Eurovans are EVERYWHERE here, there like Honda Civics in the US The motors are great, they run forever and are cheap to run and maintain.
Duramax would be $$$ to get parts for over here. Basically I would have to ship them in from the US...
Thanks guys for all the brainstorming, looks like I need to look at another vehicle... too bad, I really liked the 'Burb but I don't have months (prob years in my case to fab it all together...
What I want is something bigger but similar to the Ford Thames E83W:

But man those things are REALLY small inside!!

 

Hoe gaan dit, DaMeat?

I know spark-ignition VW EA827 engines fairly well, and physically the turbo-diesel is about the same shape as the carburettor versions, as the turbocharger is about the same bulk and location as the carburettor. On my Golf Mk1 the firewall is 250mm aft of the front-wheel centreline, and I know a TDI will fit. It's a swap I've been considering of late.

The 1968cc TDI is basically similar to a 1781cc block with a long-stroke crank. Personally I'd lose the common-rail gubbins and run a Bosch-style piston pump, though the drive is a challenge in itself: the old 1471/1588/1715 diesels ran the pump off the back of the cam belt, which led to gradual timing shifts. If there's room I'd run a second cogged belt off the crank nose. Otherwise, on a 16V head one can run the pump off the back of one of the cams, as the distributor is on some SI versions. I'd pick a larger-capacity pump than was used on the old diesels. Later TDIs have the turbocharger integral with the exhaust manifold, but I'd go for a separate unit with an adjustable waste-gate. An intercooler would not be a bad idea. The idea is to pump more fuel and more air than is usually the case.

The most powerful stock 1968cc 16V TDI makes 177bhp. It's common-rail, but the same can be done with a mechanical pump. It'd be more expensive but more durable in use: the OEMs use electronics for cost and legal-predictability (i.e. type-approval) issues more than performance. With due attention to exhaust temperature 200-300bhp might be possible.

I've thought of making both boost and injection volume adjustable from inside the vehicle. One would need some sort of instrumentation like an O2 gauge to help with getting the adjustment right. One could do it electronically but I wouldn't want to (hence my username!). But all this is as yet untested.

Lastly, I'd run it on home-brew biodiesel - which a non-electronic system simplifies considerably. Here's how to make the stuff: http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html

The bottom line: if the firewall in what you end up building is more than 250mm behind the front-wheel centreline, you should be fine.

 

The motor in the Mercedes A and B Class is leant forwards under the foot room. It could be a very good bet. Pic is (I think) some fancy fuel cell version, but the motor is in the same place.