Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 10:45:33 -0800
Reply-To: Cameron <draconn@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Cameron <draconn@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Engine Repair or Conversion
In-Reply-To: <1A921F6169B276459021A0C7585597AE82A1C6@hbgpri57>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
My thought on this one is to rebuild it as it is and keep it the way that VW
built it. I say that because I once had a 78 westy that blew an engine. I
had a connection to a garage at that time that helped me obtain an air
cooled 6 cylinder motor from a Porche 916. This was a surprisingly easy
conversion to do, however it turned out to be more trouble than what it was
worth. There always seemed to be some minor thing going wrong with it. I
did then and still do a fair amount of driving in the mountains around curvy
and unstable roads. The extra power was noticable but the handling of the
bus was still the same. The top heavy girl (since when is a top heavy girl a
problem) still had to be brought to a crawel to safely navigate the corners
of the twisty road. So it ended up taking about the same amount of time to
get to my favorite camp sites as before.
Getting parts was much more expensive. I finally ended up selling that van
when I was hard up for money. I missed it ever since for many reasons, none
of which having to do with the engine, but more for all of the work I had
done to the interior. I had completely rebuilt the interior with 1/8 inch
oak vaneer for the headliner, and all of the cabnetry. She was a beauty
when that was completed.
I recently bought a used but well loved 85' Westy. She has quite a bit more
power than I expected out of her stock engine. She seems to get up and go
better than my 78 did with her stock motor. So your 91 has to be even
better. My thought is that a well built VW engine that is lovingly
maintained performs magnificantly given the conditions required of it in the
business end of a 4500 pound steel box that it has to push around. I think
that any engine that can give an owner over 100,000 miles doesn't really owe
us much.
My thought on power is that I have bought Nissan Maximas for my wife over
the years. We are now on the third one. It has a 240 horse with a stick
shift tranny. When I feel like a race, I drive that car. Vee Wees are a
lovely breed of vehicle that teaches us wonderful patience. The Westy's
were built for comfort. If you want speed, my friend, you are in the wrong
chariot. In my busy, hustle and bustle life I really enjoy the way the
Westy forces me to be patient and to slow down and notice things that I
would be moving to quickly in anything else to see. For that, she is a
wonderful bus, even though I have to learn some new rules, as she is the
first water cooled VW product I have had. Remember, in a Westy, half the
fun is getting there!
Blessed Be my Friends,
Cam
Current father of an 85'Westy, a 67 Beetle, a 69 Beetle, and a 78 Westy have
all gone to other loving homes now.
Step father to a 1999 Nissan Maxima
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Jones, Dustin
Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 6:33 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Engine Repair or Conversion
About a month or so ago I discovered my engine was dripping coolant. The
head gasket is leaking. My 91 Vanagon Carat has 175,000 miles on it and I
imagine the heads will have major damage to them when I taked my Van to get
checked out. My questions is, would it be better to have the heads
repaired/fixed or undergo one the engine conversions such as an
audi/subaru/Golf/jetta that have been discussed before? Thanks for the help,
you guys are a great bunch of people.
===========
Dustin Jones
PA Dept of Agr.
Press Office
(717) 787-5085
dujones@state.pa.us
===========
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