Date:         Thu, 21 Feb 2002 01:37:18 -0800
Reply-To:     Matthias Kuster <choreboy@CNMNETWORK.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matthias Kuster <choreboy@CNMNETWORK.COM>
Subject:      Re: `Cont'd:  After 3000 mi trip: 84h2o overheating,
              grinding gears(manual trans
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi everyone,

So, I got the new radiator from bus depot yesterday and installed it tonite,
put in a new thermostat, too. I have also replaced the water pump, flushed
out the lines.
The engine is still overheating, and the radiator doesn't get hot. I ran the
engine with the coolant hoses on top of the engine bay(thick ones, the rad
supply and return hoses) disconnected, and the water pump seemed to work, as
coolant was coming out of the bottom one. Very low pressure, though it
seemed. I didn't want to run the engine for too long, or create a huge mess,
so I shut it off after 5s.
I drained the oil (engine cold), and the oil seemed "weird" (hm, I
know-weird), I mean it looked very thin and almost creamy. Would that be
coolant mixed with oil?
Does, when the head gaskets fail, internally, coolant get pumped into the
engine, and there's not enough pressure to get it up to the radiator??
Anyway. I have browsed through the archives and have been following the
posts recently about Suby and VW I-4 conversions. The compression test I did
checked out at 165-175 psi thruout. This seems outrageously high, as opposed
to 135 spec. Does that tell me anything?? I use my van mostly as a work
horse, for different projects(remodelling, ski trips, some camping) It is
not my primary transportation, and I am happy with the limited bhp the WBX
puts out. I will go with rebuilding the WBX 1.9 engine.
I saw an ad that said "$975.00, installed" for a 1.9s. This seems awfully
little. How long  would such last?? I don't want to spend too much money on
this van, but if I can get it rebuilt for about $1500, plus me myself
pulling the engine, etc., I go for it.
Any recommendations for shops in SoCal??


Cheers

BTW thanks for all the input...



Matthias Kuster, L.A. CA--
1984 WBX 1.9 Wolfy Manual