What engine can I put in a 1973 vw bus?

With regard to radiator, you have a large vehicle that wasn't designed to hold a radiator, so you need to either externally mount a radiator and electric cooling fans for it, or find a place where you may cut and fit a radiator.

This guy with a '71 VW van with a TDI diesel has pictures of how he fitted the radiator in the engine compartment, along with stories about how it won't really stay cool actually climbing hills or driving hard...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...

A manual tranmission is more reliable.

And the bell housing is removable, with different bolt patterns for all VW engines available.

Out of VW South Africa, you can get a bell housing with the modern water cooler VW engine compatibility.

The slant version of the diesel is also available.

That allows the common conversion to a TDI engine, or even a VR6.

Kennedy Motors of AZ is the most common, but many people make kits.

The main buyers are of the wasserboxer Vanagon, but your 1973 uses the same transaxle as the Vanagon, so can do the same modification. You actually can put a Porsche 6 cylinder in if you want. (same bolt pattern).

From 1975 US VW buses came with a 1970cc engine developed from the 411,412 Varient models. This engine continued until 1982 in the Vanwagon with tinware mod's. No cooling mod's required with this engine with 4 speed transaxle. Has dual carb's (as old engine) or fuel injection depending on spec. Do make sure engine surround foam(or supply ducting/boot) is in place as these suitcase Varient engines have a bad reputation for drawing their cooling air from over the hot exhuast silencer.

Vw Van Engine

Radiator ? 73? Really ?

check out www.thesamba.com, you need to use the trans from a type 2 and the engine from a bus and as for the radiator, need to use an engine oil cooler with a fan summit racing sells these use one for the transmission cooler with -6an fittings.and if you have the money check out the suburu engines.and they also have a electric motor conversion for the vw now if you want to go electric 100% no more gas and oil???

If it was me I would look into the modified engines and transmissions built for that van. Yes they are still air cooled but in some cases a turbocharged motor can produce 20-30 more HP. These vans where never made to go fast at all. You can put whatever motor you want into it as long as your pocketbook is big enough. yes any motor that isnt air cooled will need a radiator. Unless you can get ahold of one of the old Porsche air cooled or I think checy put a v6 in the Corvair at one point.. to replace the motor with something that wanst supposed to be there is going to cost well more than 3 or 4 times what the van is worth. keep it simple and get a bored over VW baja motor with a larger carb and turbo all should fit pretty good and this has been done hundreds of times at works well..