Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2000 09:37:26 -0800
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@HOME.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@HOME.COM>
Subject: Re: please, please, advice....
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Yes, the Vanagon is not the first engine R & R a novice should attempt!
I cut my teeth on a Chevy 283 V-8, MGBs, and numerous air cooled VW
engines before working on the Vanagon. Even now I won't mess with
rebuilding the waterboxer myself. Too much to go wrong, and I'd rather
have a warranty that requires someone else deal with problems. Those old
engines are much more tolerant of the inevitable mistakes a novice will
make (or at least much easier to R & R in the air cooled VW's case) and
over the years my collection of tools was built up.
This may well be a "cut your losses and get out" situation. There is no
way out without spending more money unless you can find a buyer who will
take the whole mess as is. This is probably what to try to do first
since there is no longer any desire to own the vehicle.
If that is not possible, sell the engine on E-Bay or something, and the
van to a junk yard.
Last, and probably least desirable, start calling all the independent VW
shops within 50 miles and try to find one who will do it for the
accepted price of $600-$800. The problem with this is a new engine
would need to be broken in, and the installation work needs to be
"shaken down" for 2000-3000 miles to uncover all the inevitable problems
that the installer will fix under warranty. It would likely take a
knowledgeable Vanagon fan to accept this degree of risk.
The main problem with installing the engine is that there will most
certainly be many parts (exhaust, clutch, t-stat, water pump, hoses,
etc.) that will also need to be replaced, and that will probably put the
cost closer to the $1200 his mechanic quoted in the first place.
Since this van is to be sold and not kept, cutting losses with one of
the two first suggestions is probably the best route.
CTONLINE@webtv.net wrote:
>
> Stuart,
> Boy, you said a mouthful!
> For an inexperienced person to even think about R&Ring any engine, let
> alone the likes of a Vanagon, would be psychological suicide!
> Problem is, where does an inexperienced, person go, with a situation
> like this, and not get screwed, due to lack of knowledge.
> This could very easily wind up to be another nitemare !
>
> Later,
>
> ______________
> |[ ] [ ] [ ]\
> | | | |
> ||-(())----(())-|
>
> Terry 85 GL
>
> --
> Stuart MacMillan
> Seattle
>
> '84 Vanagon Westfalia w/2.1
> '65 MGB (Daily driver since 1969)
> '74 MGB GT (Restoring sloooowly)
>
> Assisting on Restoration (and spending OPM):
> '72 MGB GT (Daughter's)
> '64 MGB (Son's)
>
> Stripped and gone but their parts live on:
> '68 MGB, '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT
| 
