Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 20:16:05 -0500
Reply-To: ROBERT DONALDS <donalds1@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: ROBERT DONALDS <donalds1@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Boston Bob? or GoWesty?
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Fellow vanagon types
I cant tell you about what Go Westy does as I have never seen there work. I
have spoken with them on the phone they have called me looking for main
bearings and other sometimes hard to find parts. I have taken the
opportunity and asked questions about the different engines they build.
I would like to say a few words about the engines I build. Yes I
assemble every engine and I do all my own machine work with the exception of
the cam grinding and the crank grinding. I rarely use a reground crank most
used cranks polish up very nicely. I also use new lifters on every engine
and I hone each cylinder for few reasons first is that I find the piston to
cylinder fit on the all piston and cylinder sets to tight .001th to .0015th
I like to see a little more .002th to .003th. Also I have found the finish
on the cylinders to be to coarse for the rings used and I have also seen to
many cylinders that are not as round as they could be and often see that as
I am honing them . the other things I have a chance to do when the pistons
are out of the cylinder is check for broken rings, oil the ring lands and
properly clean and oil the cylinders. All this extra attention to the
pistons and cylinders is something I first started to do with the Zamboni
engines to prevent piston and ring damage and increase the chance's that the
rings will seal in what can only be called a severe duty application. Lets
face it there's no such thing as a brake in period in a zamboni they just
jump in and go make ice. The other things I would point out is the attention
to the small details such as the prep work on the engine case. I have
developed tools to bring the case into true as I bolt the case halves
together much the same as would the main bearings if they where installed.
This gives me a chance to measure the main bearing saddles, look for the
true size of each saddle to assure proper bearing crush, check each for
signs of shifting at the parting line in each saddle and align bore the case
if needed. All my cases are degreased wire brushed painted and then I debur
and repair the gasket seal surface's as needed this includes the water pump
and water jacket surface for the head this take allot of time to do
correctly.
I have a local shop that only does balancing and they explained to me
that the need to balance is minor in the WBX engine because they have found
that they are already within the specs that the balancing machine
manufacture's has listed. So if you check the piston weights, the rod
weights and you are using an unground crankshaft there is no need to balance
what is already a smooth spinning engine. The WBX engine also has the
feature of a nice heavy front pulley that adds extra weight to the noise of
the crank this smooths out the crank vibrations much the same as a vibration
dampener would in a V8. All that said I do balance engines at the customer
request at an additional cost.
Other things I do with each engine is to make oil pressure' check for
oil leaks and check compression before the engine is taken off the assembly
stand. All gaskets and some hard to find hardware is included with each
engine. I also install the front pulley and torque the front bolt to 252
pds. so the customer does not have to deal with this. I also shim the rocker
stands so the adjusters have the correct geometry for a 0 lash hot valve
adjustment.
THINGS I DON'T DO
I choose not to build engine's with welded crankshaft journals as is often
done to increase the stroke of the 2.1 cranks or to repair burned rod
journals.
I don't put used parts that should not be put back into service not all
blocks and cranks are reusable and sometimes you find this out after having
spent allot of time and sometimes money on it.
I never use rebuilt OEM heads
I build only the very best engine I know how every time without compromise
going faster miles an hour I remain
Boston Bob
http://www.bostonengine.com
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "jesse johnson" <jjmojo@BLAZENET.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 5:07 PM
> Subject: Boston Bob? or GoWesty?
>
>
> > Hey all..
> > Going to be buying a 2.1 liter engine in the spring...
> > Thoughts or comments about Boston Bob engines vs. GoWesty? They seem to
> > both have there strengths and weaknesses...
> > I am sure they are both good rebuilds.. but any real world advice would
> > be great...
> > Does anyone know if either balance all parts in the engine during
> > rebuild? I know from building inline fours.. balancing makes for a much
> > better engine rebuild..
> > thoughts?
> > thanks all,
> > jesse
> > 89 carat
> >
>