Date: Sun, 1 Aug 2004 14:41:56 -0700
Reply-To: mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: diesel conversion
In-Reply-To: <7281.69.35.193.187.1091389117.squirrel@69.35.193.187>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
The cheapest and most expedient path is to replace the bad engine with a
rebuilt of the same type. Why do you think otherwise?
You are greatly underestimating the trouble involved in properly
converting not just from gasoline to diesel but to watercooled from
aircooled.
I am no stranger to diesels or conversions. I have some diesel Vanagons
now that I expect to keep for a very long time.
The only feasible way to do what you desire is to start with a fairly
complete watercooled donor Vanagon to get the many needed cooling system
parts from. You will also need the instrument cluster and LOTS of wiring
parts to make the wiring modifications that will be needed. I don't mean
to say that any of this would be that difficult for a professional, just
time consuming and costly. To do the conversion in a hurry and without a
complete parts donor will result in a cobbled together mess that will be
likely to develop many minor problems in short order. It would be
foolhardy to take such a machine on any long trip before spending at
least a few weeks or months driving and fixing these problems. Even
minor problems will become costly disasters unless detected and fixed
before major damage occurs. If you can't find and fix these problems
yourself you will spend lots more money paying someone else to try.
Since you won't have a stock vehicle it will be harder for anyone to
figure out what is wrong.
There is a place near Las Vegas that has everything you would need for
the conversion as well as the knowledge and experience to pull it off.
They are not known for speed and cheapness. I hope you have patience and
deep pockets in any case.
VanaMania
VW/Audi/Mercedes Benz Specialists Since 1982
(775)537-0576
www.zsimports.com
Why condemn a great Westy to a life of misery and heartbreak? Fix it
back to a healthy stock condition. Forget the pipe dream diesel conversion.
.
Mark
Skip Emmert wrote:
>Thanks for the suggestions that we scrap the van, but this 1980 has 80K
>original miles and is in great shape other than the engine. I suspect
>that we wouldn't get much for it, though, without an engine. With another
>van costing $7000, I'll come out cheaper replacing the engine and I won't
>have to find out that the 'new' van had an impending engine failure. Not
>to mention that selling mine, buying a new one, and getting everything
>registered would take maybe as long as fixing this one. Keeping this one
>really appears to be the cheapest and most expedient path. Besides, now
>I'm emotionally attached. :)
>
>So, back to the question at hand. Does anyone have a reliable source to
>do a gas to diesel conversion in the Southwest that could start sooner
>than three weeks? Any additional info from diesel owners would be
>appreciated as well.
>
>Thanks,
>Skip
>
>
>
