Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2001 23:38:54 -1000
Reply-To: Mick Kalber <hotlava@INTERPAC.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mick Kalber <hotlava@INTERPAC.NET>
Subject: Re: New to List, Best Bus?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>i think most of us are quite happy with the engine we have ...<
I agree with Joel. But I can only speak for myself. I have had three WBX
vanagons. An 86 GL which I sold to buy an 88 Wolfie. I ran the 88 til she
had about 85K on the ticker (about five years). The I sold her. I changed
the oil and coolant regularly and never had a leak. Now I have an 89 syncro
westy I bought with only 38K on it a year ago... she now has 54K. No leaks.
I have also done the half-lilley, a simple conversion that will increase the
horsepower and gas mileage at the same time and I love the results. I think
the secret to the WBX (like any engine) is to take good care of it. The
problem I guess since we can't buy them new anymore is to find one with low
miles that has been well maintained and then continue keeping up with it.
Maybe I've been luck, but I've also been diligent. I also haven't run the
WBX over 100K, so time will tell, eh?
Mick 89
Syncro Westy
Hilo, Hawaii
----- Original Message -----
From: Joel Walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2001 4:38 PM
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
>
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