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Date:         Thu, 28 Jun 2001 21:49:46 EDT
Reply-To:     CMathis227@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chuck Mathis <CMathis227@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Engine conversions and such...(Long and rant like)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Oh if ever there was a subject that needs a separate list it is conversions. A nice safe place where people can argue and hurl insults freely. On this list we are driving wedges right and left.

Me, I've got a solid low mileage original 1.9L that's working just fine. Some folks would advocate tearing this miserable piece of junk out and replacing it with another engine. According to the Subie guys I need to use a Japanese engine cause it is way more powerful, economical and dependable. According to the I4 guys I should use a Golf engine cause it is way more powerful, economical and dependable. According to the Lilley-ites (I am a semi practicing one) I should balance, polish, coat, tweak and tune my WBX because it is way more powerful, economical and dependable. Michael Haywood-Sullivan is doing (maybe is done with) a fascinating 1.9L TDI conversion that is way more powerful, economical and dependable. According to the WBX crowd if I put anything other than a dead stock WBX in it I will ruin the collectible value of the vehicle not to mention trashing its precious German heritage.

I'd really like to see some good side by side comparisons of the Subies, I4s, TDIs and Lilleys -- solid comparisons not a lot of "My <insert engine of choice> is way better than your <insert other engine of choice> 'cause I said so." Would any of you guys really fess up if you spent $4K to $7K and ended up with a piece of crap? Some times I think I spent way too much on my van but I'm sure as hell not going to say so.

I've wanted a Westy since the first time I saw a '67 model way back when. First time I saw a Vanagon Westy I fell madly in love with it. Took quite a few years before I could afford one but now I have it. Collectible value? Don't care cause I'd have to sell it to collect. When my 1.9L gives out I will look at options -- facts like weight, horse power, torque, fuel enconomy, dependability, maintainability and availability will be very important, unsubstainated opinions will not. I really could care less if a converted van will go 85+ mph -- I don't need to do that anymore (I went 90+ mph once in a '67 Deluxe -- scared the hell out of me). I will keep this vehicle until we are both worthless pieces of junk. What engine I decide to put in the back is not worth fighting over.

We all have strong personalities that's why we have these vehicles not a Dodge or a Ford or a Winnebago. We're not quite the same as other people. If we spend a lot of time and energy alienating each other this list will get real small and we'll all be a little lonelier. Our vans probably won't run as well either.

Chuck '85 Wolfsburg Westy - 'Roland the Road Buffalo'

In a message dated 6/28/01 7:55:21 PM, korkwood@SURFREE.COM writes:

<< > FWIW I get tired of the my-Subie/I4/WBX-can-kick-your WBX/Subie/I4's-butt debates too. Probably quite a few of us out there since there are still a lot of posts dealing with WBXs.

Don't blame Suby or I4 for it, it's some of the WBX devotees that can't leave the issue alone.

Can't figure out what exactly irritates them so much about conversions so they keep attacking anyone

thinking diffrently...

Leon

85 Subwagen Westy >>


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