Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2006 06:39:18 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Average life on a 1.9L 2.1L Rebuild
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2006040221053706@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
There is no better way to get your significant other to hate Vanagons
then to have the engine fail while on a vacation. Then when she finds
out you spent the family money and time to have a rebuild, and then not
install it things will not be pleasant. Any engine that has trouble
getting adequate oil pressure can be problem. Not just a Vanagon engine.
Consider the risks and costs. Getting a flat bed in the middle of
nowhere can cost more than paying someone to do the engine swap for you.
Going rates are $65-$75 for the pick up, $3.50 and up per mile. Never
mind the increased motel and maybe rental car costs. Miracle stuff in a
can is not going to make it last. If the engine was healthy, I would say
it should be good for a trip. I just drove my Syncro Westy from Florida
to NY with 235K on the original engine. But it still holds 40-45 psi oil
pressure. If you know you have a problem, you should swap the engine
out.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Jonce Fancher
Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2006 9:05 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Average life on a 1.9L 2.1L Rebuild
Hi Dennis
I agree with the rebuild.
what i did for the 1.9L on the stand was when removed it had a coolant
leak on the #2 and #4 cylinder head. Beyond that it had a stripped A/C
bracket
bolt.
this was the issue of the 1.9L that i pulled and rebuilt on my stand
right now. so what i fully did to the rebuild was:
* Complete tear down and inspection ( everything in the short block
looked great as did the P&Cs ( but i had a new set of cofaps that went
on)).
* checked all clearances and tolerances had everything fully cleaned and
inspected by mini performance in Toledo ohio.
* they spun balanced the whole shebang and gave it back with new
bearings and all. Balanced the rods, pistons, crank, flywheel. etc. etc.
* Case did not need a align bore or anything (straight and true and
within tolerances)
* heads came from another motor that had about 1300 miles on it and
where new when installed. they were taken apart. checked valve guides
and
touched up the valves and seats. once complete and cleaned, assembled
and installed. Just the way it should be.
* i assembled it with great attention to detail and followed all torque
specs as usual
* now it just sits on the stand in need of a oil bypass screw gasket
that is like 25mm dia that didnt come in the kit.
* but laziness and playing with coolant are a factor on R/Ring the
motor. if it where air cooled it would have been in in a heart beat. But
the water factor
makes me not want to do it at all. so im playing with the 1.9L that is
in the westi now. Even though i need to just plain ol fashion pull,
jerk, drop and stuff. I
just hate dealing with the sticky coolant mess.
The reason i asked about average life is so many persons knock the 1.9L
and 2.1L. is it a granade at 50k like a bastard 40hp from 1960? or is it
just lack of
power? alot of times people just dont do what is needed to be done till
it is just to late or wait to long to do what should have been done and
expect way to
much from a 20 plus year old van.
again i fully agree that the engine and van are only as good as the
weakest link. But to Trust a 20 year old vanagon for more then just
around town is that
smart. Heck i think so ive gone through it from 1 end to the other. I
also drove my single cab, 66 bug and square from san diego to michigan
in the early 90s
after of course i went though them.
Thanks for your and others input. I guess i have to just drain the
coolant and just do it. But for now im still going to play with the oil
pressure on the one and
hopefully not toss a rod. even though i dont think it will. at least not
the way i drive. Thanks Jonce
>If the overhaul truly restored the dimensions and tolerances intended
>for new, then the expected life is really related to engine usage, care
>and unforeseen events such as cooling system or lubrication failures.
>Both engines, properly cared for should go 160k to maybe 250k miles. If
>the overhaul consisted of replacing the obviously worn or damaged
parts,
>then the life is limited by the next part to fail. If you did not do a
>proper align bore and check all the case dimensions, than the case will
>be the next problem. Internal head gasket leaks and low oil pressure
>will be the concerns.
>The Lucas oil stabilizer is a temporary fix at best. Low oil pressure
is
>caused by excessive clearances. Too much space on one side means there
>is too little space on the other side under load. The only exception is
>if the low oil pressure is caused by a restricted inlet screen. If you
>have oil pressure concerns with local use, it will only get worse under
>extended highway or mountain climbing operation. At some point the
>failure will be sudden and if not caught in time catastrophic. Your
tool
>kit will not help when the rod goes through the top. Mount Rushmore
will
>be a strenuous trip. If you suspect a problem, that trip will finish it
>for you. Make sure you have a good towing plan.
>Also, you don't just replace bearings in 1 1.9 case. If the bearings
are
>worn to the point that oil pressure is affected, the case journals are
>also shot and an align bore at a minimum will be required to even
>consider it as a rebuild.
>Dennis
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>Of Jonce Fancher
>Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 4:39 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Average life on a 1.9L 2.1L Rebuild
>Ok
>So What is the Average Expected life span on a 1.9L Stock rebuild with
>all the attention to detail and all that BS?
>Ive Recently put together my 1.9L to replace the 1.9L that is having a
>low oil pressure issue but doesnt leak or burn a ounce of oil or
>coolant.
>So im experimenting with the 1.9L that is in the van with low oil
>pressure but has excellent compression and of course no leaks in or
out.
>the T-stat has also just
>stopped working so it takes a bit of time for it to warm up but warms
up
>and doesnt overheat. I hate to rip it down to just swap main bearings
so
>i am playing with
>a product called Lucas oil stabilizer and im not sure if it will do
more
>harm then good. Last night i drained off 1 Qt of oil and added 1 Qt of
>Lucas. Man is this stuff
>thick. It was cold so im sure it had something to do with it but it was
>like elmer glue.
>Im going to mount rushmore From Ann Arbor Michigan this summer with the
>wife and 2 kids and im torn if i should just leave this motor in or rip
>out the one for the
>other. Any suggestions? Ive gone through pretty much the whole van and
>it should be in good shape for the trek. a bit slow but hey its a vw
and
>its vacation
>right. at least it is faster then the 57 single cab at 60 mph at 4200
>rpm.
>Any insight would be great. also any of you on the list in route to
>mount rushmore and back that would be willing to help in case of
>emergeny aka spare parts. I
>will carry my standard vw fix all kit so i should be fine for most of
>the basic tools. Thanks Jonce
>Jonce Fancher
>57 Single Cab
>66 Sunroof Bug
>66 Variant Squareback
>71 Sunroof Bus
>75 911S Sunroof
>84 Vanagon "Godfried"
>85 Vanagon Westi
>2003 10 Passenger Sprinter
>Fancher's Upholstery Inc. - www.fanchers.com
>Not-A-VW Club- http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jaransont3/notavwclub/
>--
>No virus found in this incoming message.
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3/31/2006
Jonce Fancher
57 Single Cab
66 Sunroof Bug
66 Variant Squareback
71 Sunroof Bus
75 911S Sunroof
84 Vanagon "Godfried"
85 Vanagon Westi
2003 10 Passenger Sprinter
Fancher's Upholstery Inc. - www.fanchers.com
Not-A-VW Club- http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jaransont3/notavwclub/
