Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 08:11:49 -0500
Reply-To: Kenneth Madsen <ncc0778@CORP.ATTCANADA.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kenneth Madsen <ncc0778@CORP.ATTCANADA.CA>
Subject: Re: Subaru conversion
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-2"
My Golf Diesel has 450,000 km and still pulls like a champ! Original
alternator,clutch, pump and starter. Haven't touched the block except for
glow plugs and a minor pump adjustment. Will cruise at 120 km/h all day.
Another testimony to VW's bulletproof inline 4 design.
My secret: regular oil and filter change.
Ken Madsen, Toronto, Ontario
87GL
87 Golf Diesel
95 Jetta GLX
-----Original Message-----
From: David Marshall [mailto:vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG]
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 2:16 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Subaru conversion
Leon,
I tend to be very realistic too. Many many people and you seem to be one of
them feel that Volkswagen can't make a decent water-cooled motor. Well, you
are wrong - very wrong. The wasserboxer was not one of Volkswagen's best
achievements - we all know that - that's why the wasserboxer lived less than
10 years in total, but the Inline four and five cylinder engines are totally
fantastic and are about one of the best engines out there - I have a 1.5L
Audi Fox engine here with 500,000+ km on it and there is still 140PSI on all
four cylinders and it is still revved up to about 7000rpm on a weekly basis!
Why do you think Volkswagen didn't change the design of the I4 from the Audi
50 in 1973 to the end of the Jetta A3 series in 1999 other than bore and
stoke - the engine worked very very well and it lasts a long time. The new
Jetta A4 series engines are the same design as the older series engines in a
lot of respects, just that things like the motor mount bolt bosses are now
all different as VW no longer needs to bolt these engines into an A1 chassis
nor into a T3 chassis like the older engines.
My reasoning to stay with a Volkswagen engine does have sound merit other
than being a VW "purist" which I am not. The number one problem I have with
installing a "foreign" engine into your Vanagon is who is going to do the
servicing? For some people out there, they are going to do their own
servicing so this leaves this wide open to whatever they feel they can
service the best back there, which is great - more power to them and if
things go wrong they have themselves to blame. For MOST people out there,
they want something that works and if it breaks they want to take it to
their friendly VW mechanic who serviced their VW in the past [prior to the
engine conversion] - be it the VW dealer or the VW guru down the street.
Most mechanics who are good a VW mechanics tend to specialize in only VW /
Audi stuff and don't get into other makes [yes there are exceptions to every
rule]. Say you loaded up your family into your Vanagon and decided to head
across America in the ultimate road trip. For most Vanagon owners this is a
regular occurrence and is not out of the ordinary. Say you run into
problems and your engine isn't running quite right or one of your water
hoses failed or this or that or what have you. Where would you take your
van? Don't tell me you would fix it there on the spot with the big box of
tools and spare [custom] parts you have under your seat - it just isn't
happening. Your significant other will want you going as soon as possible
with the least amount of hassle - so what if the Visa card takes a hit -
she/he just wants to get going as soon a unhumanly possible. So, you would
take it to... the Subaru dealer... no, they'll look at the boxer engine back
there and say... who put that in Volkswagen? We're not touching that as who
knows what were getting ourselves into! Don't say it doesn't happen as many
Subagon owners have told me this same story - the official Subaru line is
the engine doesn't exist if it is not installed in a Subaru. If you took
your van to the VW dealer or just the VW guru they would say - why is a Golf
engine in the back of this Vanagon? Well, it is all VW stuff, all VW
wiring, all VW FI all VW hoses and all setup exactly the way it should be in
a VW Golf... so hey - no problem! We can deal with this!
Also, it looks like you have a power fetish happening there... most people
are VERY happy to have 105 real hp in their Vanagon instead of what ever
their worn out boxer gave them - or if you are on a real kick a 2.0L 115hp
engine will do quite well too. My 105hp 1.8L Westfalia can do 75mph all day
which is good enough for a speeding ticket any day of the week. Speed is
NOT what a Vanagon is about! If it is, install a Corrado G60 engine in
there are have 158hp the way Volkswagen would do it.
So, I don't think you are being totally realistic here... yes the Subaru
engine gives you more power and no doubt you can look after it yourself and
it is suiting your needs, but for the average Joe out there who is looking
to get their beloved Vanagon rolling again for under $2000 think the VW I4s
are a very nice solution to their problem. No ground clearance issues, no
smog issues if done right, no low slung exhaust systems, no funky cooling
systems - just a simple, inexpensive, serviceable, reliable power plant that
VW should have installed in there to begin with - heck it even has more
power than the boxer - go figure!
David Marshall
Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning
4356 Quesnel Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3
mailto:info@fastforward.ca http://www.fastforward.ca
Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160
. Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions
. Transporter, Unimog and Iltis Sales
. European Lighting for most Audi and Volkswagen models
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf Of
Leon Korkin
Sent: March 28, 2001 9:48 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Subaru conversion
David Marshall wrote:
> I think Chris Stann has my feelings at heart too! Keep it a Volkswagen,
or
> at the least keep it German with an Audi engine.
David,
It appears you are suggesting that in our modern world there is advantage to
keeping vehicles all-german or all-american, or all-japanese at any cost?
American classic Harley-Davidson should get rid of their parts made in
Japan?
Are we making desisions using our heart feelings only? Volkswagen quality
and
technology in Vanagon was way behind other european and japanese brands.
After
so many blunders they finaly got their act together and make competitive
cars.
When we make decisions about what parts to put in our Vanagon we need to use
our
brains and what's the best to keep it running. Those who are "purists" will
stay
in slow lane with original engine. Those who have Subaru engine will be
staying
with traffic, moving at an average 80mph now days and passing when needed.
Why
bother with gaining mere 10-15 hp when you can have extra 40! It is worth
extra
effort!
I may ruffle some feathers but prefer to be realistic
Leon
85 Subwagen Westy
>
>
> I have not personally installed a Subaru engine but I have a fair idea
what
> is required. I feel the I4 engines are simpler to install especially if
you
> get someone [like us] to do the wiring harness for you - both KEPs and
Fast
> Forward's kits require minor fabrication of some parts - it takes a little
> thinking for installing both. BOTH conversions have their pluses and
> minuses. I openly state that I am biased towards the I4 conversions, this
> is what I do during my evenings and weekends! I am sure by the end of the
> day you will see arguments for both.
>
> If you have any questions about I4 conversions please let me know, I will
> try my best to assist you.
>
> David Marshall
>
> Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning
> 4356 Quesnel Hixon Road
> Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3
> mailto:info@fastforward.ca http://www.fastforward.ca
> Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160
>
> ? Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions
> ? Transporter, Unimog and Iltis Sales
> ? European Lighting for most Audi and Volkswagen models
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of dawn
> Sent: March 28, 2001 9:41 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: subaru conversion
>
> Is the subaru conversion easier than the i-4 conversion? I can get a
> legacy motor for 375.00
> Darrel 88
