Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2001 22:59:49 -0400
Reply-To: mayfly95 <mayfly95@PAONLINE.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: mayfly95 <mayfly95@PAONLINE.COM>
Subject: Re: New to List, Best Bus?
In-Reply-To: <004201c14fa2$5cc20540$76e879a5@here>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
At the risk of lengthening this thread - I have to agree 100% with unca
Joel, his wisdom (and whim) has been bluntly on the mark for the past 5
years I have been on the list. And I like him have yet to have the head
gasket leaking situation yet and I attribute some of that to diligent
maintenance including the antifreeze 2 year flush - cheaper then new heads !
; )
I also subscribe to the "Lilley-ized" theories of improving the engine we
currently have rather then adopting a new set of problems to become
acquainted with and deal with 2 Bentley's open at once to address engine /
electrical issues.
VW was never perfect but this list wouldn't be here if we all weren't at
least somewhat satisfied with our choice in vehicle ownership, and keep in
mind the "age" of the vehicles we are driving - even with out any
modifications.
My thoughts - they are worth what you paid for them...
Mike
87 westy
87 wolf
85 gl
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Joel Walker
Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2001 10:39 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: New to List, Best Bus?
> I think that 90% of knowledgeable Wasserboxer owners look at a
conversion.
> We all balance the cost between a rebuild and the conversion. If
there was
> a boxer engine that would drop in easily, we would all convert.
i disagree ... i don't think anywhere near 90 percent of wasserboxer
owners, knowledgeable or otherwise, would necessarily convert. i think
most of us are quite happy with the engine we have ... not too crazy
about leaking head gaskets, but compared to some conversions, it's a
liveable aspect of the bus. i would prefer the engine NOT leak, and so
far, mine have not .. but then, i've changed the antifreeze every two
years. it seems to work.
i personally don't want more horsepower. i could probably do with
less, except with the whole department wants to go to lunch with me.
:) i'm not even crazy about the idea of 15" wheels.
remember that there are about 1000 folks on this list .... and far far
fewer than that post about anything, much less leaking gaskets or
engine swaps.
for me, ANY conversion means that i have to become a great deal MORE
mechanic than i already am. and that's not why i drive vanagons ... i
drive them because i like DRIVING them. i fix 'em cause i have to. and
to put anything other than the standard engine into one means i have
no documentation at all to reference when i am fixing them. the
Bentley book isn't perfect, but it's better than nothing. and there
are other British and German books available. there's nothing out
there, last time i looked, that helps me at all with a Tiico or Subaru
or any other engine swap ... i'm on my own or at the mercy of some
local mechanic.
i'm sure there are advantages to all sides of the question ... but
there are equally some large DISadvantages. and unless you have the
time, money, and workspace to work on the engine yourself (or the time
and money to pay someone else to do it!), an engine conversion is not
something you should undertake.
unca joel