Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2007 22:55:21 -0400
Reply-To: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject: GEX engine, DON'T (sad story)
First i don't like to "bash" other, but now, i don't have a choice...
Follow up on that post:
http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0704a&L=vanagon&F=&S=&P=28363
Anyway, here is the short story:
2 years ago, a lady had a rebuilt (yea!)GEX 2.0L AC engine install (4000$+)
in a shop near Montreal (not far from me), last year she call me because
she could not deal with tht shop anymore??? The problem was about a low
power problem and overheating.
THE TOTAL MILLAGE ON THIS ENGINE IS NOW 2200 MILES
So she came last year, engine was overheating a lot, oil temp in the
270-290F (NOT GOOD AT ALL, tested with onboard VDO and a infrared temp gun
on my side), so i check the engine and see a few bad thing but not the real
problem, after a wile, i see that she is missing 2 crucial cooling tins, one
is the one that cool the oil cooler, and the same tin on the opposite side..
BAD! so i do what i can, install the missing tins and set the engine a bit
more richer and hope for the best (but i know it's to late). That mean that
the engine cooling air is disperse way before it hit the hot heads and
pistons (Air-cool engine have a self cooling system, a fan take air from
those upper traps in the back of the van, self push the cold air on the hot
engine, that fan is directly attach to the crankshaft on the back of the
engine, tins act like a ducking system, they need to be perfectly install
and sealed)
So, lately, she call me and tell me the van won't start, even the new
starter don't want to crank the engine...
Short story: the van is in the shop, the new starter is cooked. Engine is
out, first thing i see is a very bad FI harness, many new wires at the wrong
place, bad head temp prope and many other little thing. Anyway, open the
engine, remove head (engine is still dificult to turn by hand, no plugs)...
Now, you may think that it's the installer mistake!! in a way maybe, but wait!
-3 out of 8 valves are burned, shot, one as a loose seat.
-Very bad head work around the valves, when i say bad, it's bad (pictures to
come)
-head gasket leaks, on all cylinder.
-ONE PISTON (#1) PIN IS A WASSER TYPE PIN, BIGGER INSIDE DIAMETER!!!! that
mean unbalance engine right away (new pistons/sleeve come as a kit,
including pistons pins, C-Clip, rings, pistons and barrels), can someone
tell me how the heck than pin was install there!!!!!!!! on top, that piston
AS NO TOP COMPRESSION RING!!!!!!!
I'm not finish!!!
So i remove all pistons, the #2 rod bushing (small end) is worned out, the
pin is loose like hell, the #3 same bushing as a crack.
So i try to turn the engine by hand (i should be able) with the remaining
pulley, barely! ???? so i remove the pulley, distributor and try again, no
way! i use a 13mm socket with a 1/2in handle, DIFICULT... engine is dead!
I forgot to tell you that before i removed the flywheel i have checked the
end play, i had none!
So, the poor nice lady is in troubble, after spending 4k+ and thinking she
would be ok for a few years, she is now caught with a dead engine, and she
jsut don't want to deal with tehm no more.
Who is to blame? the installer who as chossen a GEX engine and forgot to put
the tins, of GEX itself building a "shitty" engine, yea, i may be a mechanic
but i can see a rip-off when i see one!!
She is lucky, i have a good use 2.0L on the ground.... and i feel for that
nice lady.
Ben
http://www.benplace.com/
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