Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2006 08:51:51 -0700
Reply-To: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: What would you do
In-Reply-To: <57DAA45518967B49931D2122BA96E6A7017C1D02@hsnc-mail.hazenandsawyer.com>
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David, you could join the subaruvanagon group and post your question
there. There is a member going through an air-cooled conversion now, and I
believe there is at least one running conversion.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/subaruvanagon/
Jake
On 6/8/06, Higginbotham, David A. <dhigginbotham@hazenandsawyer.com> wrote:
>
> I am considering either the Subaru conversion, which I favor at this
> point in my decision making process or the Zetec conversion. I like the
> Zetec engine for a number of reasons but I have a lingering fear that
> any in-line engine mounted at an angle is going to produce some amount
> of vibration. I'm not trying to open another discussion on the merits of
> one conversion over another, unless anyone wants to take it to p-mail in
> which case I welcome all comments and suggestions.
>
> I have a lot of respect for the air cooled engine, and it has been
> reasonably reliable considering the age of the technology, with the
> exception of this recent FI problem. The FI problem is the only problem
> with the 82 that I have not been able to resolve yet. But it is woefully
> lacking in the power department and while I am no speed demon I do like
> to vacate to the North Carolina mountains from time to time, and well,
> you know what happens on the uphill. I am also of the age and health
> where I no longer cherish the thought of roadside repair and I think the
> newer technology of a modern engine might be even more reliable than the
> air cooled.
>
> Sudhir suggested using megasquirt to resolve some of these issues, and
> if I end up staying with the air cooled engine I will probably look at
> that closely or convert to carbs.
>
> Should I decide to go with a conversion I still need to choose between
> the 82 and the 85. I favor the 82 because, as someone else pointed out,
> I know more about it overall and feel confident in all systems. I would
> like to hear from anyone else who has converted an air cooled to a water
> cooled engine of any type and see how they addressed the plumbing,
> heater core, etc. issues.
>
> Thanks folks,
> David Higginbotham
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Zoltan [mailto:zolo@foxinternet.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 1:35 PM
> To: Higginbotham, David A.
> Subject: Re: Re: What would you do
>
> Power and reliability ... Hm..
> You did not state what conversion would you want to do. Would it be a
> Subaru or similarly not original engine or 1.9 or 2.1 VW engine.
> Putting on carbs, is a good idea for reliability. Converting to water
> cooled with FI is not.
> More power, maybe but a plethora of constant fiddling and worrying about
> when and what will break.
> With an air cooled carbed engine, you don't have to open the cover all
> year.
> Only the timing would give you trouble if its not electronic ignition.
> But you can convert it with Sure Fire or something similar.
> Nothing beats the air cooled for worry free motoring.
> Install an oil temp gauge and you can monitor your oil too, the only
> thing what one should think about with an air cooled.
> Zoltan
>
--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
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