Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2003 11:11:48 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Compare & Contrast: Diesel Westy vs. 2.1 WBX Westy
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Sam Payne wrote:
>Ladies and Gentlemen of The List,
>
> Here I am, stuck on the horns of another dilemma which is rapidly
>becoming as much a marital issue as a mechanical one....
> You see, 2 months ago SWMBO and I took the plunge. our very first Westy, an '86 2WD manual
>
> I'm unwilling to rebuild my 2.1. Call me fickle, but I'm
>dead set on an I4 conversion.
>
Bottom line......you really don't want to do that!!
First, and in short order, the marital issue will far outweigh the
mechanical one.
Second. - if you get a good overhaul on a WBX 2.1L (Bob Donalds engines
is first choice), break it in properly, drive it right and service it
right, you will get upward of 200,000 miles Plus out of it.
I have an 88GL. When I got it it had about 86,000 miles on it an the PO
had run the life out of the thing. When I got it - unknown to me at the
time, it already had a second engine in it. And shortly after my
purchase theat second engine burned a hole in the piston. The damage was
already done before I got the thing, but not obvious, and it just let go
after my purchase. So, I had the tranny rebuilt, and in my case I bought
outright an engine rebuilt by a trusted local oldtime VW mechanic. I now
have 40,000 miles on it with not a lick of trouble of any kind and I
don't expect any.
If you will go to Bob Donalds website -
http://www.bostonengine.com/home.html - you will get the lowdown on what
he does and why, and have a selection of excellent engine rebuild options.
If you want to get more in to custom rebuilds on the WBX, contact
Robert Lilley on this list, and find out about the "Lilley" engine
rebuild. He did a specialty rebuild with the specific goal of increasing
the longevity of the WBX. Things like cam changes, porting the water
pump and the oil pump, ceramic coating the piston skirts, and the mating
faces of the heads, etc, etc, He also changed his transmission to a 5
speed to give him a wider range when crusing on the open road versus
driving in the mountains in the Carolinas.
Although I have looked at the various engine conversions myself, I keep
coming back to the keeping the WBX 2.1L. The biggest change I would make
at this point would be to put in a 5-speed tranny conversion, or get a 5
speed SA tranny.
But I would stick with the WBX. Take care of it, and it will take care
of you.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver.
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