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Date:         Sat, 24 Feb 2001 18:36:54 EST
Reply-To:     KENWILFY@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         KENWILFY@AOL.COM
Subject:      Re: (costs)happenings with home engine repair: The big picture
              (par...
Comments: To: rangerbrian@hotmail.com
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

I always encourage folks to get their engines rebuilt by Bob for this very reason. I sat down when I was thinking about replacing the engine in my '91 Carat Vanagon and tallied up all the costs of the new parts that I would going to need to do the job right. It came to close to $1500. Or I could get a rebuilt engine from Bob with a warranty for around $2200 (with shipping). So by doing it yourself you only really "save" $700 and you have to factor in how much time and running around you are going to do and your down time in the vehicle (my van is our primary car so I could only have it down for a couple of days at the most). Also you have to think about the experience factor. Bob does these rebuilds all day long and has done it for years. So of course he is going to know secrets and tricks that I am not going to know (rod bolts, etc) that are going to make my van more reliable in the future (he doesn't want engines coming back).

So it makes no monetary sense in my book not to buy an already rebuilt engine vs rebuilding it yourself. The only reason I would find valid for someone rebuilding their engine themselves is if they know that it will actually be more expensive, but don't care and want to do it to learn the internal workings of the internal combustion engine.

I have rebuilt an engine or two in my day. It just makes me appreciate what people like Bob do, but it doesn't make me want to rebuild more engines (it is really specialized work that I feel should be left to the pros).

Just my opinion, Ken Wilford Van-Again John 3:16 http://www.vanagain.com Office: (856)-765-1583 Fax: (856)-327-2242


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