Date:         Fri, 21 Jul 2000 12:30:56 -0400
Reply-To:     Steve Grayer <sgrayer@abwatley.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Grayer <sgrayer@abwatley.com>
Subject:      Re: IMO: engine Converting = Ignorance of what is out there...
Content-Type: multipart/mixed;

Ken- Way to go.....
c'ya tomorrow with a 2.1 engine for my '86GL
Steve

KENWILFY@aol.com wrote:

> I think the most telling thing about whether the conversion option is a good
> one or not is what VW itself did in South Africa.  Here in the US they were
> basically hounded by problems with the waterboxer even to the point of folks
> banning together and winning a class action law suit against them (see
> vanagon.com for details) because of the poor design/high failure of the head
> gaskets on this engine.
> So when they started making Vanagons in SA (which on the whole is a much
> harsher environment than the US) they ditched the boxer and started putting
> in the in-line 4 and 5 cylinder engines.  So I really wouldn't get to upset
> with people "descrating" their vans by only doing something that the VW
> factory does now as stock (I think this is more like a retrofit), and what VW
> dealers in SA do to all the waterboxer Vanagons that come in with problems
> (change the motor to an in-line 4).
>
> Finally, I deal with Vanagons every day, and, sadly, almost every van I get
> here needs some type of major repair (head gaskets, blown engine, etc).  Some
> of this is caused by abuse, but most is simply the poor design of the engine
> rearing it's ugly head.  I have a van here now with only 60k miles on the
> original engine with head gaskets leaking so bad they are peeing all over the
> place just sitting there.  I have another van here that has only around 65k
> miles that just blew it's second engine and now is awaiting a in-line 4
> conversion.  I think it is sad to find perfectly good Vanagons in the junk
> yard, and I really think that anyone, who, by whatever means, keeps this from
> happening, is doing a good thing.  They are preserving our Vans for the next
> person to enjoy.
>
> Sorry about the rant but it is Friday.
>
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> http://www.vanagain.com
> John 3:16
>
> New Phone (856)-327-4936
> Shop: (856)-765-1583
> Fax:     (856)-327-2242

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