Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2003 10:27:12 -0700
Reply-To: Larry Chase <roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Chase <roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM>
Subject: Eurocars 2.2L Engine - another catastrophic failure
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Volks,
I have had another failure with the Eurocars 2.2L Revision "E" engine
The RoadHaus was at Competition Egr here in PHX for A/C repair and a
Transmission leak.
Picked her up and got 10 miles before catastrophe.
As I was tooling down the freeway at 65 mph ... she suddenly lost power.
Glanced over and noticed the High Temp Red LED was on "solid".
Shut her down and found coolant boiling and lots of oil on the ground.
Back to the shop on a flatbed she went.
After tear down we found that the number one piston had failed.
BTW .... Dan Larson owner of Competition Egr is working on the engine
now. Has an awful lot of experience building Vee Dub racing engines ...
so hopefully I'm in good hands.
Surprisingly I was able to contact Ken Morgan of Eurocars and get "the
last set of 2.2L Revision "E" pistons" in existence sent out via
Overnight Fed-Ex.
Over the phone Ken stated that the pistons he was sending had a slight
design change from the ones currently in my engine.
The difference "supposedly" .... he moved the ring position down lower
to create more mass at the top.
However .... based on a visual inspection upon receipt .... they look
identical to the old ones with the exception of some weird slots in the
top.
The slots concern me as a potential weak point in a high stress area.
But other than a complete engine rebuild ... it's the only option at
this time.
With any luck ... RoadHaus will be back on the road by tomorrow.
After a couple of hundred test miles I'll resume my"North American
Roadtrip" with an engine I have no confidence in.
As you are driving down the highway ..... please occasionally glance to
the side of the road.
You may see me with a portable blender making Margaritas as I wait for
the next tow truck :)
Stop by for a refreshing libation.
Here's a link to pictures of the failed piston and one of the new
"redesigned" replacement pistons.
http://www.roadhaus.com/images/Eurocars%202.2L%20Engine/Sept%202003%20Fa
ilure/index.htm
P/S,
One of the future engine options I'm considering is the 2.4L engine
being marketed by Go Westy. If anyone has "direct" experience with this
engine .... please contact me.
"Don't let your Dreams be Dreams."
- Jack Johnson
Larry Chase
Email: RoadGuy@RoadHaus.com
Web: <http://www.roadhaus.com/> www.RoadHaus.com
Cell: 480 620 8966
What: North American Road Trip
How: RoadHaus - 1990 White VW Westfalia Syncro
Today: Arizona
