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Date:         Fri, 16 Aug 2002 14:41:20 -0700
Reply-To:     Bill Kasper <dragonlist@IPMTS.UCSC.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Kasper <dragonlist@IPMTS.UCSC.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Need advice with buying a westy. have a couple in mind (new
              to list)
Comments: To: laurence@alanasmith.com
In-Reply-To:  <NBBBLKPACPEEKLBIBDMMOEMCELAA.laurence@alanasmith.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

i hope i wasn't too heavy about it...i've just done the rumination that led me to my own decision to go with the subie, and even to install it myself (well, with subaruvanagon@yahoogroups list help, of course!).

best, bill

On Friday, August 16, 2002, at 02:34 PM, Laurence Smith wrote:

> your main point and theme... > > "...and though there may be problems they'd be different, not > necessarily worse, > than those encountered with a wbx (or an I4, for that matter)"... > > ...is well taken. I learned something and I agree. > > Thanks. > > Laurence Smith > Hamilton, ON > 90 Westy (fanumbos) / 2.2 Subie - real soon now > > > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Vanagon Mailing List >> [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf >> Of Bill Kasper >> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 5:24 PM >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >> Subject: Re: Need advice with buying a westy. have a couple >> in mind (new >> to list) >> >> >> i dunno, laurence. >> >> my subaru engine and harness are in two crates in the >> galley of my van, >> so i may not be as qualified as others to comment, but i >> don't see that >> the points you raise are any different than life with a wasserboxer. >> to wit: >> >> On Friday, August 16, 2002, at 01:54 PM, Laurence Smith wrote: >>> A local mechanic would have to go through a unique learning >>> curve every time you need service - and this would be expensive. >> >> depending upon where you live, this could/would be the same with the >> wbx. and if the horror stories of vw dealers are true (i know, they >> are), i can't imagine a subaru mechanic/dealer would be much worse. >> remember, the 2.2l engines are pretty simple, even for an advanced >> engine. >> >>> Examples: >>> * timing belt replacement - needs mechanical aptitude >> (eg. the custom >>> cooling system may be in the way) >> >> true about the cooling system, but any competent mechanic >> ought to be >> able to do this pretty simply. yes, the cost of the parts is there, >> too, but what do you pay when the wbx hall sender goes bad? or the >> ecu? or the icu? >> >>> * custom cooling system - not easy to bleed the system, (eg. >>> thermostat sometimes needs a little wee hole drilled in >> it, the custom >>> heater lines may need TLC at some point) >> >> well, having experience with the vanagon cooling system, i >> can say it's >> just about the most complex thing i've ever encountered to cool an >> engine. the subaru system (custom though it may be) is >> much simpler; >> i've looked at a number of solutions to this and unless it >> was hacked, >> it's an easier system to troubleshoot than that of the >> vanagon. many >> fewer connections, for one thing. and tell me, just how >> easy is it to >> bleed a vanagon, anyway? >> >>> * custom wiring - makes electrical / computer problems harder to >>> diagnose (eg. fuel pump and ignition relays are from >> Subaru, there >>> are more use of shielded wires - which is voodoo to lots >> of people) >> >> this is the worst of it, i think. if the PO gives you the wiring >> information and the schematics, then a good auto electrical mechanic >> ought to be able to straighten things out...if not, then the subaru >> dealer (it's reading fully subaru for the error codes, for example). >> >>> * custom exhaust system - may eventually wear out, custom >> hangers are >>> needed (muffler shop will make you bend over) >> >> i believe all these are available from smallcar.com. and >> again, given >> the system on the vanagon, they can't be any *worse*, can >> they? i saw >> gary trovinger's subaru'd syncro westy last week, and i believe his >> muffler mounts were stainless, anyway. >> >>> * custom air intake system - need to remember to buy certain air >>> filters >> >> well, if one writes down the necessary information in the owner's >> manual, mileage book, or somewhere easily found, you don't have to >> remember any more than for the wbx. and if you get a k&n >> filter, you >> have to remember *much* less frequently. >> >>> If you are not into mechanics so that you can take care >> of the above >>> yourself then I think the conversion would be painfull >> and costly in >>> the long run. >> >> i don't believe the original poster is doing the >> conversion. i believe >> it's completed, and it's a question of which would be less >> of a problem >> for the non-mechanically inclined. i believe the subaru >> isn't as bad >> as you've made it out to be, and though there may be >> problems they'd be >> different, not necessarily worse, than those encountered >> with a wbx (or >> an I4, for that matter). >> >> best, >> bill kasper >> '87 syncro westfalia >> soon to be subaru'd >> > >


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