Date:         Sun, 8 Apr 2001 21:48:16 EDT
Reply-To:     Trawlertom@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Thomas Ryan <Trawlertom@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Rebuild, Replace, or Start From Scratch? (Long)
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Jim,

Speaking only from my own experience and that of my friends, I offer the
following.

My 89 GL had 300k on it, was getting weak, one quart of oil per 1000 to 1500
miles and had to make two trips per year south into the desert. I decided to
buy a new engine so that I would feel better. I went the cheap route and
ended up with a GEX  'cause that's all my mechanic could find. (I wasn't on
this list at that time). The cost was $3K for the motor plus installation
plus another $1K for all of the stuff you have to do "'cause the engine is
out of the car, right?"

The engine was crap.It generated all sorts of problems over 15 months and
another $1500 in mech bills. Finally, GEX said that they would consider an
engine replacement if I ship this engine to them for inspection. That's $150
in labor and $250 for shipping, right? With no guarantee of positive results.

So I trashed the whole deal; charged it up to experience and am currently
buying another engine from a local (Seattle) rebuilder that I found through
this list. That's costing about $3K. If I'm lucky I'll get back a car that
ran OK before I started messing with it. And for only about $8500.00.

Smart huh?

Meanwhile my best friend in Denver with similar concern about his high
mileage 91 GL had his original engine removed, rebuilt and re-installed (with
new heads) by the same local and highly experienced mechanic. It cost  $4K
and he has had no trouble with it for 40K miles and 18 months.

In summary, my advice is: don't let your ego dictate maintenance action and
if it's not broken don't fix it. Drive that nifty little sucker 'till it
stops. Then you can rent a car at $20.00 a day until you decide what to do.
Then keep all your maintenance actions local and don't let short term penny
pinching bite you in the long term.

Good Luck,

Tom Ryan