Date:         Fri, 21 Jul 2000 01:45:41 EDT
Reply-To:     Wolfvan88@aol.com
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Lilley <Wolfvan88@aol.com>
Subject:      Re: IMO: engine Converting = Ignorance of what is out there...
Comments: To: ldhamm@xmission.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

<< When you've got 200k on your engine, you can come back and tell us how
 it LASTS. Until then, you're just hoping.>>

Not according to Gene Berg... He builds T1 engine that routinely last 200,000
plus.



 <<We Subaru devotees KNOW our engines will last, and we didn't spend
anywhere near what you did. >>

So do I ...that is why I built it...TO LAST



<<Mine, with 30k, cost $800, and the pieces from KEP I needed to install it
 brought the total to $2000. I can buy about three more of these engines
 before I wind up spending what your engine cost; lessee, that's about,
 umm, a million miles worth!>>

Well, lets see...
My actual rebuild cost's were under 3K. I am did spend more money but to
replace worn out parts from a 12 year old vehicle. I am building me my new
vehicle one piece at a time...

I also got a me 5 speed .457 SA tranny...

My engine should last 300,000 miles or more, I followed Gene Bergs formula
for making engine last.

"Have fun always wondering where your next engine will come from...and Stay
on the highway and do not go off road lest you loose your oil pan on a small
bump in the road and do not let someone tow your van or you could loose it
there too, so much for the reliability factor...
BTW Are you getting 25 mpg at 75 mph?"

For me, I have been around T1 and T4 engines for 18 and I know what they can
do. I have nothing against the subie engine, it is just for me, when I
weighed all the options (including maintenance items: timing belt/chain), I
knew that the WBX few flaws could be easily fixed to produce a reliable
trouble free engine.  If I decide to sell my Van and put my engine in another
I can easily put a stock back in and the move mine to another one.  I might
come across a Vanagon that has cruise and be the burgundy color I also like
and be the mulitvan and would want to move my engine to it.  How easily could
you do that to your van?

Robert