Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 09:11:04 -0700
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@home.com>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@home.com>
Subject: Re: More on rods and bolts/2.1 in '83.5-'85
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
David,
Find another mechanic, this one doesn't know what he is talking about or
just doesn't want to do the job. Either way, dump him. The cooling
capacities are identical, and Vanagon has a HUGE and efficient cooling
system that contains over four gallons of coolant, twice as much as is
typical for a four cylinder engine.
A properly maintained Vanagon cooling system (with a good thermostat)
will cool a V-8 if you could stuff one in, and someone probably has!
Even with my self-destructing engine driving through Montana in 98
degree heat at 75 mph the temp needle never budged, and I have pix to
prove it! (Boy, I was really a bad boy to do that to the poor thing!)
The only thing you need to decide is whether or not to install the oil
cooler, which I have done, courtesy of the PO of the used engine I
blew. Jim Arnot posted a link to a great description of the conversion
process, but it didn't include adapting the oil cooler, which has to be
moved to a remote location since it won't fit on the engine after
conversion. I can't find it, but I'll contact Jim today and see if it
is still posted somewhere.
I'll also send pix of the mod if some one wants to post them. Someday I
really need to set up my own site . . .
"MOST,DAVID" wrote:
>
> REgarding putting a 2.1 into an 83.5-85 vanagon, a mechanic I spoke to
> yesterday suggested that this was not a great idea because the cooling
> system in these earlier models is not as efficient. He said that excess
> heat would be created by the 2.1, and the 1.9 cooling system is not
> designed to handle it (I'm assuming that we're talking about an earlier
> water cooled vanagon in which only the internals of the 1.9 engine have
> been modified to make it a 2.1).
>
> Is the mechanic wrong on this point?
>
> David
>
> On Wed, 23 Aug 2000, Stuart MacMillan wrote:
>
> > I took what was left of my 2.1 to my rebuilder, Jerry at Northwest
> > Connecting Rod, and after close examination we determined that I had
> > "spun a bearing". This means that the rod bearing shell literally wore
> > away, leaving steel on steel, not a good thing. According to Jerry, at
> > high speeds this will generate tremendous heat, even to the point of the
> > metal becoming red hot with sparks flying off. The heat then will
> > either cause the bolts to stretch, nuts to loosen or the rod or bolt to
> > break, leading to catastrophic breakdown, which ever comes first. And,
> > indeed, the parts of the rod I recovered were "blued" from extreme heat!
> >
> > I thought he might get a couple of rods out of it he could rebuild, but
> > he tossed the whole wretched mess in the scrap barrel, salvaging only
> > the flywheel and pulley. Jerry is my kind of guy, do things right the
> > first time, and don't cut any corners!
> >
> > So, perhaps the stretch bolts themselves are not the problem, but
> > excessive bearing wear is the true culprit. That means scrupulous
> > attention to maintenance coupled with careful oil pressure monitoring is
> > the key to longevity for this engine, just as it is for any other.
> >
> > This engine works very hard to push our nearly two ton rigs around, and
> > 150,000 miles is still the recommended point to rebuild the engine.
> >
> > So, I'll reiterate my recommendation: If your engine is between 100,000
> > and 150,000 miles, install the gauge to make an assessment of the
> > bearing condition, and then monitor pressure trends if things are within
> > limits. If you are over 150,000 miles, you can do the same, but better
> > yet, rebuild the engine now and install the gauge on the new one.
> >
> > Happy motoring!
> >
> > P.S.: I picked up the new engine yesterday, what a thing of beauty!
> > New everything for $2500. I also had Jerry install the 1.25 rockers
> > with swivel adjusters and do a three angle valve grind as per Robert
> > Lilly's recommendation, which is all I had time to do. Jerry also likes
> > these mods, he keeps these parts in stock and also has a three angle
> > valve machine in his shop.
> > --
> > Stuart MacMillan
> > Seattle
> >
> > '84 Vanagon Westfalia w/2.1 engine
> > '65 MGB (Driven since 1969)
> > '74 MGB GT (Restoring)
> >
> > Assisting on Restoration:
> > '72 MGB GT (Daughter's)
> > '64 MGB (Son's)
> >
> > Parts cars:
> > '68 & '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT
> >
--
Stuart MacMillan
Seattle
'84 Vanagon Westfalia
'65 MGB (Driven since 1969)
'74 MGB GT (Restoring)
Assisting on Restoration:
'72 MGB GT (Daughter's)
'64 MGB (Son's)
Parts cars:
'68 & '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT
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