Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 12:12:40 -0800
Reply-To: Walter Evens <wrevens@MYEXCEL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Walter Evens <wrevens@MYEXCEL.COM>
Subject: Re: Using American engines for Vanagon swap - why the heck not? -
Long
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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
>
>
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