Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 01:20:27 -0500
Reply-To: wilden1@JUNO.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: Engine conversions and such...
Content-Type: text/plain
I've had what I would call 110K happy miles with my Aircooled 2 Litre
Westfalia. It had 145K one owner miles when I bought it.
I've owned it for seven years and although its not fast it has been very
dependable.
I installed pistons/cyliners at 145K and it now has 256K on it, I just
installed a new engine with all the German parts I've been collecting for
the past two years.
The engine I took out is still (was) running very good, compression
90,90,90,70 so it was time.
I've tried to keep everything original for my own convienence of securing
parts and making repairs.
In simple truth 2000cc's isn't enough engine for the weight and poor
aerodynamics of a Westfalia or Vanagon and that simply means that it has
to be driven with care and properly maintained.
I was off the list, both type2 and vanagon for two years and it was
simply because I didn't have any complains, problems or anything to brag
about. Just smooth running and a lot of camping trips averaging 250 miles
round trip at 70-75 mph.
My van has never left me stranded, I've driven 250 miles with a broken
ring on #3 and just kept pouring in a quart of oil about every 35 miles
and painting the highway with 50 wt. till iI got home.
I drove 125 miles with an injector unplugged and that accounts for the 70
psi cylinder.
All in all a 2000$ car with about 1800$ maintenance and repairs in seven
years is sort of a miracle.
If for some reason I had to do an engine swap on my van to keep it on the
road I'd definately add 100 Hp by some means so the Westfalia would at
least be equally powered as a 99% of the other vehicles on the road.
Stan Wilder
83 Westfalia Air Cooled
On Wed, 27 Jun 2001 22:42:39 -0700 Don Hundt <dhundt@PCEZ.COM> writes:
> I drive a converted bus. Maintaining it is a pain in the ass. It used
> to be
> a diesel. maintaining that was a pain in the ass. several of my
> friends
> drive wasserboxers, surprise, maintaining those is also a pain in
> the ass.
> putting in a tiico kit, a subaru, a half lilley, a full lilley or
> even a
> boston bob engine will not change one simple thing. Maintaining a
> vehicle is
> a pain in the ass!
>
> I drive a vanagon because it suits me. It hauls me, my stuff, my
> friends and
> I can sleep in it. will it one day be collectible? I don't care. Do
> I wish I
> hadn't swapped engines? Sometimes. Would I do it again? maybe. If
> you are
> happy with the engine currently in your van, Great! If you are
> unhappy, get
> a different vehicle or swap engines. I fail to understand all the
> acrimony
> and animosity this thread causes, who really cares what you use for
> an
> engine as long as it suits your needs and makes you happy.
>
> I know this won't be the last word on this subject, but this thread
> in all
> its incarnations has become really tiresome. Just shut up and enjoy
> your
> damn Vans!
>
> P.S. Terry, Stephen, et al, What is with the name calling? I thought
> that we
> had all gotten through elementary school and were above
> this...............
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Steve Schwenk <steve@syncro.org>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:42 PM
> Subject: Re: Engine conversions and such...
>
>
> > yes...you do sound drunk! and mean.
> > good night
> >
> > Terry Kay wrote:
> > >
> > > Again, you have shown that in the land of fruits and nuts
> everything is
> > > OK.
> > >
> > > And I'm happy that your euphoric trip is good.
> > >
> > > Schwenk----Hmmmmm, this is what I do after an evening of over
> > > imbibement, hanging over the porcelain Buddha----------
> > >
> > > SCHWENK !!!
> > >
> > > Now, answer I want to know, is what are you doing here, Mr.
> Personality?
> > >
> > > ______________
> > > |[ ] [ ] [ ]\
> > > | | | |
> > > ~~~ ~||-(())----(())-|
> > >
> > > Terry--
> > > 74 Campmobile- (Clementine)
> > > 85 GL- (Delilah)
> > > 86 BMW 325 ES- (Eva)
> > >
> > > -------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Subject: Re: Engine conversions and such...
> > > Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 21:24:54 -0700
> > > From: Steve Schwenk <steve@SYNCRO.ORG>
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > References:
> <7412-3B3AAF81-1613@storefull-136.iap.bryant.webtv.net>
> > >
> > > You need to visit california. you do not understand VW
> > > vans and calif. the vanagon westfalia will be around
> > > for decades, and the well kept mint ones will be
> > > collecable.
> > >
> > > If you have such a low opinion of them, what are you
> > > doing on this list?
> > >
> > > Alright, Kay. What a cute girl's name. i think it
> > > fits you!
> > >
> > > Terry Kay wrote:
> > > >
> > > > (x)
> > > > Right !!
> > > > I wasn't even getting close to Split Windows, or Baywindows,
> which are
> > > > very collectable.
> > > > I was talking about mechaniclly taxed, rust bucket Vanagons.
> > > > The only possible collectable, maybe possibly, would be the
> Syncro,
> for
> > > > being the ultimate morphodite of all time.
> > > >
> > > > 2wd Vanagons might be collectable as an example of one of VW's
> biggest
> > > > errors, in the year 3000 right with the Yugo's, and the Vegas,
> and the
> > > > Love trucks.
> > > >
> > > > The yokes on you Schwenky.
> > > >
> > > > ______________
> > > > |[ ] [ ] [ ]\
> > > > | | | |
> > > > ~~~ ~||-(())----(())-|
> > > >
> > > > Terry--
> > > > 74 Campmobile- (Clementine)
> > > > 85 GL- (Delilah)
> > > > 86 BMW 325 ES- (Eva)
> > > >
> > > > -------------------------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Subject: Re: Engine conversions and such...
> > > > Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 21:07:00 -0700
> > > > From: steve@syncro.org
> > > > To: Terry Kay <CTONLINE@webtv.net>
> > > > CC: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > > References:
> <7412-3B3AAA3C-1576@storefull-136.iap.bryant.webtv.net>
> > > >
> > > > Syncro westfalias are already collecable. And there are
> > > > at least two splitties within a mile of me that are 40
> > > > years old. There are easily a hundred busses within
> > > > 10 miles of me that are 30 years old. Judging by the
> > > > condition of most westy vanagons around here...and
> > > > there are tons of them....1/3 to 1/2 will still be
> > > > around 10 years from now.
> > > >
> > > > Perhaps the laugh is on you!
> > > >
> > > > Terry Kay wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > 10 to 20 years from now?
> > > > >
> > > > > Bwa, ha, ha ah, ah, Ah, Ha Ha, Ha, !!
> > > > >
> > > > > Regardless of what is transplanted or not,
> > > > > they will all be in buried, and be in the big Vanagonland,
> in the
> sky.
> > > > >
> > > > > I have a hard time believing that these exercises in lunacy,
> will
> ever
> > > > > be collectable, stock or otherwise.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks for the laugh.
> > > > >
> > > > > Later,
> > > > >
> > > > > ______________
> > > > > |[ ] [ ] [ ]\
> > > > > | | | |
> > > > > ~~~ ~||-(())----(())-|
> > > > >
> > > > > Terry--
> > > > > 74 Campmobile- (Clementine)
> > > > > 85 GL- (Delilah)
> > > > > 86 BMW 325 ES- (Eva)
> > > > >
> > > > > -------------------------------------------------------
> > > > >
> > > > > Subject: Re: Engine conversions and such...
> > > > > Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 20:33:52 -0700
> > > > > From: Steve Schwenk <steve@SYNCRO.ORG>
> > > > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > > > References: <004f01c0ff7e$447ed9a0$38271b3f@5mw3v>
> > > > >
> > > > > If my comments seemed acrimonious, my apologies. I was
> > > > > just thinking about 10-20 years from now after many of
> > > > > the vans have changed hands and they are basically
> > > > > antiques. Given a choice, would collectors/enthusiasts
> > > > > opt for the stockers or the conversions to restore?
> > > > > Those that don't get restored (again) will get probably
> > > > > junked after some point...within 30 years, say, given
> > > > > that most are well cared for. That would make them
> > > > > 40-50 years old!
> > > > >
> > > > > And there is no hostility here. Maybe some nostalgia
> > > > > and some hope that not everyone will convert their vans
> > > > > and some will see the value in keeping them stock.
> > > > > BTW, why is this such a touchy subject??? I guess
> > > > > because it costs a lot of time and effort to do a
> > > > > conversion.
> > > > > Peace!
> > > > >
> > > > > "Christopher T. Berchin" wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Hi everyone. I've been following the thread about the guy
> with
> the Tiico
> > > > > > engine troubles, and I was pretty surprised at the
> animosity
> towards
> > > > > > converted busses here.
> >
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