Date:         Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:57:04 -0500
Reply-To:     Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Motor or repair for 84 Vanagon

What is wrong with yours?

You dont say how much you want to spend , nor do you mention of
mechanical abilities.
How nice a Vanagon do you have? I can tell you that the 1.9 WBX is
abandoned(most times) far sooner than is necessary.The 1.9 will last
reliably(except head gaskets), more than 200K. It has been known to propel
the two ton Vanagon for 300K.

Being in the pacific NW, you are in competition with lots of other people
who want the 1.9. Finding a used 1.9 may be easy or difficult.Dont
know.Many people remove them, and put in a Subaru 2.2.The old 1.9 is
avaliable, but in what condition?

Personally ,I would look for a 1.9 in a Vanagon that is sitting in
somebodies back yard, unused for years. Very common.Get it cheap. Lots of
folks dont want to part with their Vanagon ,even after it dies.They just
push it into the backyard and fondly reminis about it over dinner now and
then.An occasional glance out the back yard.Yes, I have seen this many
times. Kinda like stuffing your pet cat.

Any Vanagon you find will have bad head gaskets.If your current head
gaskets are bad, and you dont want fixed head gaskets, better get
rebuilt.Expect to need new head gaskets here, soon, anyway.

Old heads have pitting which can be easily fixed. They say phosphate in
the antifreeze causes it, but all heads go , eventually.VW fixed this in
85 by changing the antifreeze and adding a tag to the overflow tank
lid,saying to not use phosphate antifreeze.

 Most Vanagons found the junkyard early because of this.Who wants to do a
$1200 repair to a vehicle that is getting old? Im talking about the usual
owner with a family and such.Not listees, or Vanagon afectianidos.$1200 is
a good down payment on a new minivan.I see these Vanagons that have been
stored for years, freshly in the junkyard.One can see all the alge and
bird poop. Get that engine and expect to put in new head gaskets. A head
gasket set costs about $125.

In your neck of the woods, advertise on Craigs List( FREE) for a dead
Vanagon.Use the words "DEAD Vanagon. One that will not respond when poked
with a stick.Do it in the autoparts section and renew it each week.Offer
$100 or so.You will get offers for more expensive Vanagons, but that is
not what you wanted(or do you?). Lots of dead Vanagons out there that will
go to the junkyard ,eventually. That is the cheapest way I know of.Roger