Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2007 16:00:00 -0500
Reply-To: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject: Re: Opinions Please
Jamie, send me a picture of your engine, top, close shot. I wanna see the
condition of parts around the engine (like someone stated, you need to be
sure that the rest is in good condition,cooling tube, FI....), as for your
problem, who cares about a leak-down test! you have a compression issu and
the engine need to be open anyway. It's the head or a piston/ring of course,
so money will have to be invested anyway (i have good 2.1 used pistons in
the shop if you need some!). Yes, the short bloc/core is strong and i have
seen some with more than 250K miles and still going strong, so, money wise
you may only need heads, the pistons and sleeve are also pretty solid, the
main problem with those are top compression rings that break in 2! but those
generaly stay in place even when broken. I have open 8 core lately,
including mine (you will see pictures later in a post called: Tornado red
engine), i have measure all bottom end parts of all those 8 engines (crank,
rods and cam, wear on bearing... ) and all where way into the wear out limit
(i mean still good if my English is not right!), on 8 open case, only one
was showing number in the wear-out limit! you all think what ever you want
about my study but it's simple fact, alll heads except one had crack (some
just a small one but!), 3 pistons had broken top rings, only one engine had
cooked pistons, of course it's the one with the wear out bottom end. So
before you put a ton of money in a conversion or a full rebuilt... have that
engine open and find the culprit! I would not be surprise that you only have
a burned EX valve AND SEAT!, if no crack, repair this one or buy 2 new AMC
head (better buy them from B.Bob with german valves). If you have time, drop
the engine with some friend, i'm going south (if my Red Tornado van is
finish...) in a month or so and i would be glad to stop by and give you a
hand for a a day or 2 :-) (and see your new house)
I do feel that those engine are at least good for 1 top end before they are
due for a full rebuilt or a conversion!
Best regards, Ben
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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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