Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2002 09:24:26 -0800
Reply-To: Edward Nutter <eanutter@POSTOFFICE.PACBELL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Edward Nutter <eanutter@POSTOFFICE.PACBELL.NET>
Subject: Re: Subaru wbx reliabilty
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I'm with Mike re. junkyard engines. I'm gonna pull the ECU and wire
spools (if I can find 'em!) from a junkyard doner. However I intend to
spring a little extra for an engine that's been gone over some. There
are a couple of sources in my area, and more within easy shipping
distance. Replacing a WBX with another still gets you a used engine, or
unless you really know that the rebuilder knows his stuff and is
contentious, no guarantee of any better out of a rebuilt.
Consider this. Subaru Legacy 2.2L engines have spent their lives
pushing around roughly 2500 lbs. Vanagon 1.9 and 2.1L engines have been
pushing at least twice that. Which do you think would have more
stressed cranks, rods, & pistons? Legacy 2.2L are 4 valve per cylindar
engines while WBX are 2 valve. How much more corrosive gas flow will
have gone by any given point on a VW valve & seat than on a Subaru? I
think that the chances of finding a decent Subi engine aren't all that bad.
Ed Nutter
I apologize (1 Peter 3:15)
KENWILFY@AOL.COM wrote:
>I really feel that the Subaru (sp?) conversion is for those of us in the
>Vanagon world who actually are more sado-machistic (sp?) than normal. I mean
>all of us own at least one Vanagon which shows that we enjoy pain or perhaps
>just the occasional adventure. However the folks with the Subie motors take
>the cake as far as I am concerned.
>
>1. You have this crazy complicated wiring harness which is like 12 feet long
>that you have to unravel first. Many of the weak never make it through this
>initial rite of passage. You see their shattered dreams in a FS post to the
>list or on ebay.
>
>2. After you get past this first hurdle, you still have a used engine.
>Unless you actually drove the Subie, who knows what abuses it has already
>endured. At least you knew the problems that your waterboxer had. Now you
>have someone elses problems.
>
>3. Many of the folks that I have talked to who have done this conversion do
>not describe their ownership of a Subie powered Vanagon as "carefree", or
>"low maintenance". Two folks I have spoken with had their great, reliable
>Subie-boxer lock up on them due to lack of oil. Several others have
>described exhaust crack chasing, and the idea that your conversion is never
>really done, you are always tweaking something or redesigning something.
>
>4. In spite of all of this none of the people who I have talked to, who have
>done this conversion were really unhappy with it. (Which just goes to show
>how warped we all really are:-).
>
>So if you enjoy tinkering, or adventures and want more power, then go for it.
> But the reliability is really just an illusion. Just my opinion. Feel
>free to comment.
>
>Thanks,
>Ken Wilford
>John 3:16
>http://www.vanagain.com
>Phone: (856)-327-4936
>Fax: (856)-327-2242
>
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