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Date:         Fri, 21 Jan 2000 10:03:07 EST
Reply-To:     Wolfvan88@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Lilley <Wolfvan88@AOL.COM>
Subject:      This engine or that engine or that...BUT What is most
              practical...18K and going.
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Given enough time AND money ANY engine can be put in ANY car.

But the question is "what is practical for most drivers?"

On the list I hear a lot about being on a budget, low cost, etc.

What I choose to do, as what many VW drivers do, simply rebuild the stock engine. But with the elimination of the problem areas of an otherwise good engine. These engines last routinely over 100,000 miles.

The engine is simple and quite easy to rebuild contrary to other reports.

I wanted to choose options that WORK and can be done by most people building their own engines AND do not cost gobs of money. For instance FG big valve heads do add power, in the upper RPMs 4K+ (Where I seldom regularly drive) decrease MPG and cost a whopping $689 EACH x 2 = $1378 That is almost the cost of ALL my upgrades COMBINED. I wanted the most bang for my budget. If the engine is built by the owner the cost of the LABOR can be PUT into the upgrades.

First I determined the problems, then the practical solutions.

Head corrosion and lack of power.

1) Head corrosion, overheating = "Thermal Barrier" ceramic coatings

Benifit= barrier between head and rubber head gasket, head gasker will have longer life due to reducion in heat exposure, ALL rubber parts in engine compartment have longer life

2) Lack of Power Instead of trying to do one or two major change- I chose a holistic approach. I wanted to eliminate the typical T1 engine problems (The Wasserboxer is Basically a T1 engine with a T4 crank) Because with the added power other parts could fail.

I did not go into changing engine dimensions because of time and money, But it can be done for even more power.

I have over 18,000 miles on my engine with no major problems. The main problems I have had are with the FI system that had some damage due to shorts in the wiring harness and lighting damage (which burned my ear slightly). I have ended up replacing most FI parts, plus they are over 11 years old.

Robert


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