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Date:         Thu, 24 Aug 2000 10:47:45 -0700
Reply-To:     "MOST,DAVID" <most@ucla.edu>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "MOST,DAVID" <most@ucla.edu>
Subject:      Re: More on rods and bolts/2.1 in '83.5-'85
Comments: To: Pat Dooley <pdooley@gte.net>
In-Reply-To:  <001501c00d55$0a8455c0$09b8173f@patco>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

I just met this mechanic, and he's not mine, so this was just a conversation in passing. He referred to the 1.9 configuration as an experiment which resulted in the modifications that led to the 2.1. He seems to like the 2.1 much better than the 1.9. I suppose that every mechanic is entitled to his opinion.

David

On Wed, 23 Aug 2000, Pat Dooley wrote:

> Me, not being the waterboxer expert, would still say your mechanic is full > of sh*t. > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf > > Of MOST,DAVID > > Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 3:40 PM > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > > Subject: Re: More on rods and bolts/2.1 in '83.5-'85 > > > > > > 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 > > > > > >


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