Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2007 21:09:37 +0000
Reply-To: Dave Vickery <davevickery@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Vickery <davevickery@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Opinions Please
In-Reply-To: <200701201817.l0KIHDWN020388@ms-smtp-03.southeast.rr.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Hi Jamie, I replaced my engine with a BB rebuild with the same thinking.
Compression getting slower worse at about 180K miles. Ran awesome. No
power issues. No head leaks. So I was thinking, if I am going to do it, do
it right, get the more respected rebuillder, go with the Big Valve upgrade
for more power, replace any other part recommended to go along with a
rebuild, injectors, motor mounts, hose kit, whatever.
I spent a forture, still had lots of problems with a very respected and
expensive installer getting it to run right. 6 months into it, I was still
doing troubleshooting and throwing other parts at it on my own. Turned out
the engine was fine, just all the attached parts were old and the engine was
new and I had a bitch of a time getting it to run as good as it did before.
And I spent a forture, and I was stuck dealing with the issues after the
mechanics said, I dunno.
I have also replaced a honda engine and a subaru engine in the past.
My regret is that people give shitty advice (but not me) and you have to be
cautious with the go the best route and marketing hype. Also they tend to
be anal here on this list. If I had to do it over, I would have maybe done
the top end of my motor and probably would have waited til the power was a
problem or it wasn't running good. I understand the bottom end of a boxer
engine is pretty solid and seldom gives problems. I also will never send
away for an engine again. My shop would have torn my engine down and done
whatever it needed and put it all back together for a lot less $, less
hassles and they would have troubleshot anything that came up. Granted it
wouldn't have been brand new, but what a hassle that was.
The subaru engine switch worked out good-a known good used engine. And it
is in my syncro which is even better. But the issue on the first subaru
engine was disintegrating rod bearings so it was a simple choice.
I woudl take it to the shop you trust, and have them determine what the best
thing to do is. Probably wind up doing the top end and driving it 75K miles
and selling the van or something. A used engine that you can trust the
seller or check out before it is removed from a van is another good choice.
If you go with a rebuilt engine assuming you don't like those other
options, I think you need to find a trusted local shop, find out who they
get their engines from, make a decision whether those are good engines and
find out if the shop putting it in will warrantee it and all the work that
may come of it, and have them do it. If BB had shops that would stand
behind his engines as if they built them themselves and everything was
covered and they guarranteed to get it working awesome for whatever price
they quoted, that would maybe be a good option. But I trust my local shop
and would do it differently in the future and it would cost me less.
BTW, the big valve upgrade was a disappointment. It probably did have more
power, but not anything I noticed on a big heavy non-aerodynamic van. And
the turnaround time was terrible.
Conversions are justified if you want more power, not reliability. The
engine might be more reliable but the conversion and related things will
have you tinkering on it every weekend (really) and I wonder now whether I
like working on my van more than going places. The power is awesome so I
would say that is the only reason to do it. The TDI is probably in a class
by itself and if money is no object, that may a good way to go, but I
wouldn't. The Tiico I hear is a dissapointment (from people who know and
have had them and other conversions) and you don't want to go there.
Keep it simple, fix your engine and enjoy it. Good luck.
Dave in Denver
>From: Jamie Auch <jamie@KOOKYMATHTEACHER.COM>
>Reply-To: Jamie Auch <jamie@KOOKYMATHTEACHER.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Opinions Please
>Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2007 13:17:05 -0500
>
>I have owned my '89 automatic Westy for about two months now and I just
>lost compression on #4 (it's down to 50 lb). I have fallen
>in love with camping in it and want to make it as reliable as I possibly
>can.
>
>Here are my options:
>1) Replace the heads but bottom end is unknown (ran like a top before
>losing compression).
>2) I have a 1.9 TD that was to go into my '82 Diesel, but I am concerned
>with the gearing. (the torque and hp are similar to the WB
>3) Get a Boston Bob rebuild. The way I look at it why not get an engine
>redone totally. (this is not to be a Boston Bob Bash, I
>have read all the posts in different forums and list serves).
>4) Do a Tiico conversion.
>
>From the list experience what do you think of these options?
>
>Thanks,
>Jamie Auch
>The Kooky Math Teacher
>"missing my westy"
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