Date:         Mon, 16 Dec 2002 13:47:38 -0500
Reply-To:     Robert Donalds <bostneng@FCL-US.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Donalds <bostneng@FCL-US.NET>
Subject:      Re: Top Overhauls
Comments: To: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

John
Top end over hauls are a repair not a rebuild and the only way to see what
the lower end looks like is to open it up. I cant say if you do this and
check that the engine is good for x number of miles each engine has lived a
differant life. That said the con rods are the same on the 1.9 and the 2.1
the differance is the bolts both distort but the 2.1 is by far more likley
to fail. The 1.9  rod bolt is no longer availible at the dealer and so I use
rebuilt 1.9 rods on my rebuilt engines. The problem of the rod distortion is
seen on 2.1 engines with over 100 K and as time goes by the distortion
increases as does the bearing wear. The two points I make thats most often
missed is that you need to measure the heck out of the engine parts and then
instead of shopping for price find somebody that can get you the right parts
and provide you with tech support.
its always cheaper to go this route

going faster miles an hour
and standing by
I remain
Bob Donalds
http://www.bostonengine.com
as always
all rights reserved



> Bob, if the 2.1L engine has the problem of having the crank end of the
> rod go out of round, in your experience what would you say the average
> mileage of the 2.1L has on it before that problem shows up causing a
> problem, ie, knocking, throwing a rod, whatever. It would seem that some
> kind of average could be obtained to establish a time line to top
> overhaul. That is something I would be very interested in. does this
> start to show at around 75,000 miles. If caught early could you
> reasonably expect to go to 150,000 miles without cracking the case for
> new main bearing, IF a top overhaul was done at 75,000 miles to correct
> the increasing elongation of the rod end and bolts ( as well as a valve
> job, rings, head reseasl, etc, etc.)
>