Date:         Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:43:37 -0800
Reply-To:     Matthias Kuster <choreboy@CNMNETWORK.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matthias Kuster <choreboy@CNMNETWORK.COM>
Subject:      Re: This guy again (3000 mi trip yada yada)
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Soooo,

I dropped the engine and tried to get the heads off without the liners-the
devil puts on mittens and a snowcap before that was gonna happen. I dropped
it off at Fast German Auto on Sat and got a call today from them with the
bad news: Both heads are cracked, crank and camshaft endplay beyond
anything. I am getting it rebuilt-$2439.00, tax and everything included,
with replacement, redone heads. Ouch.
It seems like a lot of money, but I am wary of buying somebody else's can of
worms if I buy another, newer Vanagon (1988 and up). After all, the brakes,
the tranny, suspension, cooling system, fuel supply, clutch are in good
shape on this one because I have fixed it over the years. I am sticking with
her, although her body and interior are rough. Maybe a medal is in the ranks
for saving her? Anybody?
I'll keep her for maybe two more years, and then get a newer one, and then
drop a Soobie into it, or shoehorn a 911, or a Maserati V8...yummy
More realistically:
How complicated would it be to convert a 2.1 back to a 1.9 ???


Matthias Kuster, L.A. CA--
1984 WBX 1.9 Wolfy Manual
Thanks for all the input and answers to my desperate calls.


Cheers