Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 14:22:45 +1000
Reply-To: Chris Mundy <cwmundy@OPTUSNET.COM.AU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chris Mundy <cwmundy@OPTUSNET.COM.AU>
Subject: Subject: 1990 waterboxer heads - a popular topic....
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi Don,
I've just purchase a Caravelle GL(Vanagon)in Australia (OZ) with 200,000kms.
Before commencing on the future journey with purchasing my fourth VW, I read
the list server only to find out the potential challenges with the
Wasserboxer Engine. To me its managing the risks. My previous owner had new
heads shipped from VW in Germany when the vehicle was 112,000kms. I'm
expecting something to happen in the future so I am mentally prepared for
the challenge, financially ????
As an early on-looker it seems to me that it is popular to do an engine
conversion as a long term proposition. I may be wrong and am reading the
wrong parts of the list server messages.
The impression I get is that the guys walk away with question marks(???)
wondering if the wasserboxer engine will fall over again and seems a
possible scenario.
Technically speaking that's what you don't want 3 years after doing the
heads or motor and being 1000kms away from home.
3 options which stick out in the area of conversions ...
1. I've read about the Subaru conversion which seem quite impressive but
seem they need a little customisation (Guys correct if I'm wrong) but on the
other hand can seem to be done at a reasonable cost. From reading Dave
Marshall at www.volkswagen.org he would probably advise you on this option
with alternatives, it was through his site I found gerry@ vanagon.com list
server.
2. At the top-end the Porsche Conversion seems like a lot of fun but its
probably the "big guts-big bucks" approach.
3. The other option that seems to impress me is the VW Golf/Jetta 2 litre
turn-key conversion, brand new power-plant, new ECM system, etc. Easy for
the local VW specialist to install, the boys indicate around 20 hours of
work to install. Look at www.tiico.com or www.vanagain.com and I imagine
www.busdepot.com (sorry other vendors if I've left you off). I would feel
more comfortable with this type of solution. It seems to me that you pay the
bucks and that's all you need. I also believe it comes with a warranty as
well. I'm looking into this Overseas at the moment.
Be thankful you're in Canada. We have other issues in Australia to deal with
such as lousy exchange rates and OS freight costs. I'm about to check if
anyone does conversions in Australia. If anyone knows of anybody in this
field in OZ I'll be glad to hear from you.
Regards,
Chris
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christopher W. Mundy
89 VW Caravelle GL
Ph: 61 2 62419343 AEST
Wk: 61 2 62446749 AEST
Canberra Australia
E-Mail: cwmundy@optusnet.com.au
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Sachs" <donsachs@TELUS.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 5:31 PM
Subject: 1990 waterboxer heads - a popular topic....
Hi All,
After 240,000 km (150,000 miles for the metricly challenged :-) ), I have
seen the first coolant drip from one of the heads on my 1990 Westalia. No
other problems, runs great, only drips slightly when cold. I know the worst
is coming. Thought I would get a few opinions as to a reasonable course of
action. My oil consumption is very slight, I change it about every
5,000 - 6,000 km and use about 1/2 - 3/4 litre between changes. I have
heard new engines aren't much better. So I thought we'd park the van as
usual around Dec. 1 when the snow gets deep on our long driveway and do the
job in the
spring just after breakup (of my driveway). The cost of new heads here in
Canada is about $590 each for the AMC ones - plus you gotta buy the gasket
kits. That is just about the same as the US cost if you do the currency
conversion. While I have done mucho auto work in the past I now have two
small children and I could never find the time to do a major project
anymore so I will pay my local - and very trusty - independent VW mechanic
for labour. My options are to:
1. Replace just one head - the cheapest, but hey, if you are draining the
cooling system and the heads are the same age, how long 'til the other one
goes...(cost is about $1,100 - $1,200).
2 Replace both heads and pray that the cylinders and bottom end hold up for
at least another 60,000 km or so (2-3 years for us).... they appear to be
fine now given the good power, oil pressure, and fairly low oil consumption.
(cost is about $1900 or so if no other problems discovered..)
3. Bite the bullet and do the whole engine, bottom end and everything and
be relatively trouble free for 5 years or so. I can get a really good
complete rebuilt one for $3,000 plus about $500 labour to re and re. Or my
mechanic says he can completely rebuild mine for about $3,500 also. We are
talking new everything here. He says it is my call and that putting new
heads on my current engine might well get me another 60 - 80,000 km before
the major engine problems set in. Or, he says about 1 in 10 he has tried to
put heads on have the cylinders stuck and screwed up.
Soooooo, given all the waterboxer owners out there - and all you mechanics
on the list.... I would like to hear the various opinions. I don't know
how lucky I feel, but I am inclined to save cash now and just do both heads
unless I miraculously run into more income over the winter and hope to get
another couple or three years out of the bottom end. The body and paint are
immaculate so I am keeping the van long-term. How long have your engines
gone before a major rebuild was required? All opinions will be considered!
thanks,
don
