Date: Sun, 24 Sep 2006 14:44:47 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: New engine thoughts
In-Reply-To: <0c9401c6e008$521bc670$1919a8c0@cspfr>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
You might consider just getting a head job on the 1.9L. If the engine
really has only 70 K on it most likely the lower end is fine. The bottom
end of a WBX is hell-for-stout, at at 70K, if it was done right, there
are prol'ly no problems there. Heads are another matter. Have the
Hungarian do a compression test and a leak down test. It will tell you
what to do. If the engine is pulled, you can also get the guy to do a
crankshaft runout check with a dial indicator to get some idea as to how
the main bearings are holding up.
So far as the WBX and reliability - truth be told, if the engines are
rebuilt correctly, with a few tweaks by knowlegeable rebuild mechanics,
the engines will give good service for a very long time, provided
preventive maintenance is rigorous. I have 70 K on my locally rebuilt
WBX, and it is going strong. Oil changes, filters, coolant - and you
don't run the life out of them. Keep them under 4000 rpm, preferably
more like 3800 rpm, and 3600 would be even better. Of course if you are
on a super highway somewhere other drivers are going to wave the birdy
at you, shake their fist and yell at you "Sleep at home!" I get it all
the time, and frankly, at my age, I don't give a rat's A**!!
Consider that the WBX has been pushing these van's since 83.5. That's a
long time. Taken care of, the engines are reliable, steadfast, and give
reasonably good mileage and have a long service life. My 85 GL went
205,000 miles without a rebuild or head job. Near the end, when I sold
it, it was burning a bit of oil but other than that, it sitll had power
and ran well.
There are a number of rebuilders that do an excellent job for a
reasonable price. One of the the best is Bob Donalds. His stock engines
hold up well, and he puts out a Big Valve version that has been modeled
after the Robert Lillly parameters. Robert Lilly built an engine with
special considerations given to longevity of the engine. Some of those
considerations were special valves, ported and polished inlets and
outlets for the oil pump and water pump, 090 cam grind, ceramic coating
of the piston skirts ither internal parts, exhaust system, etc, all of
which gave the engine a bit more poop, but more than anything increased
the longevity of the engine. Bob Donald's Big Valve engines follows
these parameters more or less. You might want to inquire of him as to
what he does to an engine when he rebuilds it, and what his prices are.
Bob gives excellent field support as well in the way of phone
consultations when there are problems and "need to know" questions.
There are other list vendors who also carry rebuilt WBX engines.
Good luck,
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL driver
BJ Feddish wrote:
> The engine in my 83.5 Westy is getting a little tired. It was rebuilt by a
> drunken Hungarian 8 years and 70K miles ago*. I'm tossing lots of ideas
> around. First, to keep this van I also need to fix the rust and get it
> repainted. That's not out of the question. Here are some options:
>
> Rebuilt 1.9 from Boston Bob?
> Rebuilt 2.1 (is that better?)
> Subaru engine?
> Tiico engine?
> 911 Turbo (OK, just dreaming)
>
> It seems that the 1.9 replacement would be the least expensive and
> complicated. Would I be better of putting an 86 or later engine in for
> easier parts availability? How about those that have the Subaru engine in
> there? I really can't see spending $7000 on putting a used junkyard engine
> in there. How about those Tiico's? They look pretty expensive and the parts
> are hard to find. Are these alternatives really worth twice the price of a
> rebuild? I've perused the archives and found lots of negatives about the
> Tiico's. I've also found people that said they spent $7K on a Subaru swap
> and regret it. I've also run into people that said they found a $300 Legacy
> engine and put it in for $1200.
>
> Maybe it's time to get an '89 or later that's clean or am I just swapping
> old problems for new ones.
>
> Thoughts, ideas, etc. Let me know what you have done and if you are happy
> with your decision. You can just email me personally. I know this topic
> get's beaten to death all the time but I'm quick with the delete key for
> topics that don't interest me at the time. :)
>
> Thanks,
> Bryan
>
> * My original VW mechanic was outstanding for years until he got old,
> divorced, etc. and was drunk 100% of the time during his final years at the
> shop. He was gone so often he used to let me bring the van in and use his
> lift and his tools when he was out for the day. I'd be the only person there
> and people would come into the shop and I'd be covered with grease and
> they'd start telling me their car problems. Though I had the urge to
> install a new Langstrom 7 inch Flux Capacitor muffler bearing for $500 I
> ended up telling them I was not a real mechanic. But that's another story...
>
>
>
| 
