Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2005 15:23:55 +0000
Reply-To: Dave Vickery <davevickery@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Vickery <davevickery@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Fix my vanagon, please!
In-Reply-To: <C18E0C9B-7366-441F-A613-047FD6D84D7B@xochi.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
No rebuilt engine installed will be in the 2-3K range. They seem to
advertise it that way, but once you start thinking about all the things you
should replace when you are doing an engine it creeps up. And the engine
alone is at least 2K.
The cheapest solution although a hassle is buy a cheap van where some had
already rebuilt engine sometime in the past 30-50K miles, where you can
listen to it run and check out out compression etc. Then have that engine
put in, and part out the good stuff on the van.
You could also buy a used engine. I see them all the time in different
places, but you would need to feel comfortable with what you are getting.
You could call a lot of the well regarded shops, particularly conversion
shops and see if they have a good used stock 1.9 or 2.1 engine. That would
be hassle free and total cost under 2K.
For Shops, there are a ton of options in So. Cal, fewer up north but still
plenty. Check out this list. http://www.roadhaus.com/shops.html#California
The next cheapest option is probably to find a local place, and have them
pull and fix your engine. If you go that way, ask specifically what happens
if things dont' go as planned (i.e. they say they are done, but it still
doesn't run right, and is the quote fixed or depended on a million othe
things they could find). I like the way VolksCafe runs their business, I
have no experience with their service.
I don' think you can get a properly rebuilt engine installed for the price
you want to spend, so I wouldn't consider that route.
Good luck, I wish I had asked before I did mine (I spent 6K installed with
ancillary parts).
>From: Michael Diehr <md03@XOCHI.COM>
>Reply-To: Michael Diehr <md03@XOCHI.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Fix my vanagon, please!
>Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2005 20:11:38 -0800
>
>Hi folks,
>
>My prior mechanic in Southern California told me that VW stopped
>making remanufactured wasserboxers, and that after that point he
>refused to put rebuilt engines in. His reasoning was that he had
>been burned by bad quality rebuilds and felt he could no longer in
>good conscience install them. Not sure I agree with that
>philosophy, but I respect it and understand it.
>
>Anyway, now I'm up here in Northern California (Bay Area) and, rumor
>is that people are a little less, shall we say, risk-averse up here?
>
>In any case, I'm looking for a vanagon mechanic around SF or Oakland
>who would be interested in (A) finding a 1.9l engine in decent
>condition and rebuilding it, or sourcing a decent quality rebuild,
>and (B) installing it, (C) for a reasonable price. I've been
>quoted about $6k for a top-of-the-line engine (souped-up 2.2 rebuild
>w/installation). I'd love to go that route, but I'm not sure I can
>afford it right now, so I'm looking for something more in the $2k to
>$3k range.
>
>The 1.9 in my van has a head leak, bad oil pressure, and just broke a
>valve, so I'm assuming it's junk at this point.
>
>If you are the right mechanic, or can recommend one, please contact
>me via email off list.
>
>Thanks!
>-mike
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