Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 14:47:56 -0600
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: Using American engines for Vanagon swap - why the heck not? -
Long
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Bravo Astro Vans.......... tough little buddies.
I drove one for about two years as a delivery truck that was overloaded
most of the time.
By the time I got out of it the mileage was well over 150K and 65K of
that I can claim.
The reality is that every now and again GM, Ford, Chrysler Corp. let a
good vehicle slip off their assembly line. There are good and bad years
for Astro Vans, it appears that 89 was one of their good years except for
that front engine yoke that failed with vibration cracks.
I'd never consider putting a Vanagon of any year to the abuse that the
AstroVan endured.
Hay! I could even pass other cars with the Air Conditioner running.
With my Westy I have to make an appointment to pass.
Stan Wilder
On Fri, 22 Mar 2002 12:12:40 -0800 Walter Evens <wrevens@MYEXCEL.COM>
writes:
> I think you may have it wrong. It should be the other way around.
> Why
> settle for a baboon heart (1.9 or 2.1 Water Boxer) when you could
> have a
> human heart (4.3L Chevy V-6). I know I'm going to tick a few people
> off
> with this. I've hesitated posting it for the past couple of weeks
> now.
> Even after some one bashed the Astro Van during the Eurovan thread.
>
> I had to go out and purchase a reliable van. We settled for a Chevy
> Astro
> Van (seats 8) with a 4 speed overdrive automatic transmission and
> the only
> engine it comes with is a 4.3L V-6. Mine is used so it has Throttle
> Body
> Injection and 165HP. This years models have Multi-Port and 190
> ponies. I
> had a Ford Escort once that had over 200,000 miles on it before it
> was
> totaled. It also had TBI. All I did was brakes, timing belts,
> clutch,
> tires, fluid and filter changes, tune ups, belts and hoses.
>
> I really didn't want to as I detest car payments. The last car I
> had
> payments on started wearing out half way through the payment book.
> Luckily
> I put enough down that I'll only pay on this one for a year. Yeah,
> I know I
> could have put that money in my Vanagon, but I was renting a car and
> had to
> have something quick. Besides the guy at the Bone Yard told me most
> Vanagon
> owners have a second more reliable vehicle. He drives a T-Bird to
> work.
>
> Don't get me wrong Volks, I love my Vanagon. I love the
> configuration. I
> love the engineering. I love the quiet ride. I love the interior
> room,
> especially the leg room (which is seriously lacking in the Astro.
> The only
> seat I fit comfortably in is the driver's seat). I just got tired
> of
> worrying about making it home if I drove it somewhere. Every time I
> fixed
> one problem some other problem would develop. However, when it ran,
> it ran
> great. Once you got it up to speed, it cruised fine. I even found
> myself
> having to back off the pedal on flat spots on the freeway. I was
> starting
> to enjoy it and then bam, now it's sitting in front of my house
> waiting for
> me to fix it (the weather has been cold and windy here in So Cal,
> believe it
> or not).
>
> I have been on this list for about a month and a half. I have read
> posts
> from people with similar problems, fix it and then something else
> breaks.
> People taking a trip (or even afraid to take a trip) and then
> complaining
> about some sort of mechanical problem they encountered on the way
> home or
> sometimes barely making it home. People stuck in places like
> Northern
> California or Texas because their Vanagons broke down.
>
> I wanted to keep mine and fix it up, but now I'm having second
> thoughts. My
> current plan is to rid myself of all foreign cars and just buy
> American with
> TBI. If mine was a Syncro Westy, I'd probably keep it as there is
> nothing
> else on Earth like it.
>
> My father-in-law has had Vanagons for years and hasn't really had
> all of the
> major problems I've read about on the list. The other one sitting
> in my
> drive way never gave me a bit of hassle except that it wouldn't
> start after
> my wife accidentally bumped the automatic into low coming up a
> grade at
> 45mph in second gear. Before that it started every time and ran
> fine.
> Although I did have to replace a leaky water pump once, but I had to
> do that
> twice on a Ford I owned. Any way, my Astro Van has twice the
> displacement,
> twice the horse power and get this, the same gas mileage as my
> '85GL. The
> parts are more readily available. The TBI system has less parts
> (one
> injector, no AFM, etc.) There are several companies who make
> performance
> chips and parts for it. If I could find a way to put a 4.3L Chevy in
> my
> Vanagon, I'd most definitely keep it.
>
> Lastly, the Eurovans look more like a Dodge Caravan or Plymouth
> Voyager than
> an Astro Van in my opinion (I didn't get a chance to comment on that
> one).
>
> Walter Evens
> Hesperia, CA, USA (altitude 3200)
> 2-85GLs
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "phil stanhope" <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2002 8:45 PM
> Subject: Re: Using American engines for Vanagon swap - why the heck
> not?
>
>
> > If you need a heart transplant why get a baboon heart
> > when you can get a real thing?(human heart) Volkswagen
> > baby!!
> >
> > Phil
> >
> >
> >
> > --- Marshall <mjruskin@SHAW.CA> wrote:
> > > Hi Volks:
> > >
> > > My question is, other than possible height issues
> > > (too tall for the engine
> > > lid) - why are American engines not used more widely
> > > in swaps?
> > >
> > > American engines have so much power, and are so
> > > cheap. Big engines for $350
> > > available in every state and community.
> > >
> > > I know that Kennedy Engineering makes transmition
> > > adapter plates for them -
> > > so at least they can be linked into the drivetrain.
> > >
> > > Parts are available everywhere. And if the lid needs
> > > to have a mod to it to
> > > cover the engine - that's so easy to accomplish, and
> > > you could just make the
> > > mattress thinner over that area.
> > >
> > > Comments?
> > >
> > > Marshall Ruskin
> > > 84 Westy - (BTW: It's amazing how well a bottle of
> > > gas-line anti-freeze can
> > > cure bucking/no-start problems in spring)
> > > I
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
> > Yahoo! Movies - coverage of the 74th Academy Awards®
> > http://movies.yahoo.com/
> >
>
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