Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2004 19:49:52 -0800
Reply-To: rcampbell-vanagon6706@MAILBLOCKS.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Campbell <rcampbell-vanagon6706@MAILBLOCKS.COM>
Subject: Re: small car VW engine conversion
In-Reply-To: <BC6001B3.245%bduggan@mindspring.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Bryan,
I'm researching an engine swap... in fact, I've got dibs on a '91 Subaru as I write this, hopefully I can get it cheap (like $150!). First, do a search on the archives (http://gerry.vanagon.com/archives/vanagon.html) and you'll find a wealth of info! Also, there are groups on Yahoo that focus exclusively on this very subject (the urls escape me).
By my estimates and research, Small Car has what amounts to a fair price and a pretty good reputation for a completely turnkey operation. The key phrase here is turnkey, drop the van off, pay them and pickup an finished product. There's a lot of work here, but in the end (and this in >>MY<< opinion), you end up with a great van running a modern engine that, in all likelyhood, will last a long time. I have friends who have had to get engines replaced and did so via the dreaded dealer method, even with warranties, they pay many thousands of dollars -- the total bill was listed as well over the $10,000 mark (they didn't pay that entire bill because of warranties).
So, if you wanna do this yourself, you'll need and engine (think salvage yard, and you'll probably want to put some parts and money into it, ~$1000), then you'll need the adapter kit (Kennedy Engineering and Small Car offer these, ~$1500). More money will be needed for the hoses and various fabrications needed to make this work. Figure you can probably do the parts only for less than $3000 if you plan it out. People have chimed in recently stating that they have done for much, much less. The hardest part from what I can tell (I've not yet done this), is the making of the engine harness -- adapting the Subaru harness to the Vanagon requires many hours of work (and significant quantities of coffee, beer, tequila, etc. from what I've heard/read/seen). So, add that all up, and the price that Small Car charges appears, in my opinion, pretty fare. And, with no intent to start any sort of holy war, the SVX motor is overkill, the 2.2L 4-banger does the job very well by all accounts and gives you the added bonus of better fuel economy. I'm getting to see my first this coming weekend, 29 Feb. over at Ft. Desoto here in FL. All of this is my opinion based on several months of investigation. I'm very much in the state of mind that I can, and will, do this myself. Also, I'm planning on another $1000 to replace my entire drivetrain (Automatic and transaxle) -- thus, when done, I basically have a new set of wheels should last at least another 144,000 miles (as the current has and is continuing to do).
-----Original Message-----
From: bryan duggan <bduggan@MINDSPRING.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Mon, 23 Feb 2004 19:14:59 -0800
Subject: small car VW engine conversion
Hey there
What does anyone know of the Tacoma WA "Small Car" VW engine conversion
business? Their website (www.smallcar.com/vx.htm) offers an impressive 6
cylinder subaru engine conversion for a wooping $9,000-$12,000.
Where do they get off charging so much? Does anyone, or has anyone ever done
business with them especially this 3.3L SVX engine conversion? Are they
worth it? Why? How can someone face their friends and family after spending
$10,000 on an engine. I want to, but why sould I?
I have a hole in my 89 westy wasserboxer the size of a golfball, after only
60,000 on a rebuilt. I've had it with the wasserboxer and want to put in a
different engine. I want increased horsepower and improved gas mileage. Can
you suggest a conversion. Perhaps one that doesn't cost $12,000.
Thanks
Bryan
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