Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 18:51:10 -0400
Reply-To: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Subject: Re: The hottest engine swap going?
In-Reply-To: <BAY125-F226F0513F9FE1DBE81BBFAA0330@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Exactly, and the OEMs are getting better and better at hitting the holy
grail of automotive engineering, have it fail the day it comes off of
warranty, although nobody will admit this of course. The sewing machine
makers learned this fact long ago, if you spend more to build it too durable
you cripple yourself in the long run, it has to be just good enough to
maintain your reputation to encourage repeat customers and not long lived
enough to delay those future repeat sales. Finding out the repair costs
both in terms of parts and labor, not to mention availability/downtime as a
part of total cost of plus additional "unplanned" costs has got to be the
single most commonly overlooked reality of doing any engine conversion.
People usually look for the single biggest number they can find in the
equation, and then ignore the rest of the numbers. It is easier to do this,
but you can end up in a world of $$ hurt and frustration later on.
Jim Akiba
-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Haynes [mailto:d23haynes57@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 4:59 PM
To: syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: The hottest engine swap going?
Just think, instead of head gaskets you can deal with the cold engine piston
slap. I wonder what the warranty rate is. Maybe it is right up there with
the bad coil packs. I wonder who is actually making that 6 speed automatic.
Some of these new cars justify leasing as they really loose value after the
warranties. Call service and ask for an estimate to repair any major part
of these things.
Dennis
>From: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
>Reply-To: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: The hottest engine swap going?
>Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 12:46:53 -0400
>
>Hey joe,
>
>Keep in mind though, using too new an engine for a conversion is just as
>bad
>as using one that is too old. The parts will be impossible to come by and
>very expensive dealer only items. And don't forget, the people with this
>new
>engine now have a warranty, a converted vanagon with one wouldn't... so if
>there are any major technical updates for example over the next couple of
>years to correct an major problems, it will come out of your pocket. The
>financial risk is thousands and thousands up front, and thousands over the
>next few years which is a huge price to pay just to have the latest. Would
>be cool though. Not as cool as the GDI turbo ecotec I think, but cool.
>
>Jim Akiba
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: --------------------- [mailto:VW4X4@VERIZON.NET]
>Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 9:11 AM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: The hottest engine swap going?
>
>Went out for a test drive Tuesday night in a new VW Rabbit.
>Smallest motor avaliable is a 5 cly. with a Japenese built 6 speed
>automatic. This engine is transverse mounted and really smashed
>in there. Given this fact I'm thinking this would be a great swap
>for the Vanagon. Might even fit under the deck lid. Could be
>matted at the half shafts. Would be a ton of wiring , as this
>transmission was all electroniclly controlled, so my guess would be,
>it needs speed sensors etc. Also has Traction control......
>WOuld this be cool or what? Transverse rear mounted
>with traction control? Maybe the new Vanagon?
> Hey VW .... wake up!
> Joe. W
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