Date:         Sat, 14 Jul 2007 06:10:13 -0400
Reply-To:     Miguel Pacheco <escorpion1955@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Miguel Pacheco <escorpion1955@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Inside a Subi engine EJ22

Benny, I am probably like so many others.....I really enjoy your posts. But,
damn man, take it easy. I have known about the Subie conversion for years
and know that they have become much better, but I am set on a TDI and that
is it for me. There are others like me on this list. Why are you suddenly
doing such a hard sell on the Subie?
What I don't understand is that suddenly you are so ardently pro-subie
conversion.....like overnight! Furthermore, your website is sooo damn good,
with the videos showing how to do head jobs, etc, that it actually
encourages me away from the Subie. I love that stuff and I love the
challenge. I have done it for years. The oft-slandered waterboxer has
transported me for so long and for such a great distance.  Let me tell you
that, from my first Vanagon (an 84) to all my latest , which run the gamut
all the way to 90, I have run more miles, under the most adverse demands,
than most, with the stock waterleaker under the hood. I put an amazing 300K
on my Syncro without one single problem.....just kept my word that I would
keep mechanics out of that compartment. My Mantra has always been that I
work on it, using the Bentley and my common sense. Now you may say that this
has worked for me but may not for others, but hell man, how about we say,
'if you follow the directions, this is a workable path, using the motor that
VW put there.'?? After all, I never performed any kind of magic. I just
changed the oil, adjusted the throttle switch, changed the O2 Sensor, etc. I
have had head leaks and all kinds of problems, but I have traveled over
800,000 over the last twenty years, using a waterboxer, trouble free!! Lucky
me, whenever I did break down, I was close to my home. Yeah, but as you may
guess, I was a commuter and you may claim that yeah, I put all those easy
highway miles on it(if there is such a thing for a waterboxer)but let me
give you a heads up, I had the confidence to put this baby into service to
get me to work. Now that's a tall order and it never, ever, let me down.
This engine conversion thing is relative to what you want to do. My take,
after reading and reading on this subject is that there are plenty that want
more power, etc, but there are also lots that want to take it easy and enjoy
the view. Now, let me tell you that my waterboxer philosophy has always been
to drive the hell out of it and I have only felt slow when I was hauling all
my rafting equipment and passengers. Oh and let me tell you that I have
rafted all over the SW and everyone always wants to ride in Miguel's van and
let me tell you why........because Miguel never breaks down and because it
is just damned comfy riding in his van!!
In closing, let me say that, yeah, I am up for more power and will pursue
the TDI conversion soon, but, shit hell fire man just enjoy your van and
quit forcing it on us. Hell, I know it must be a sweet ride. There is no doubt.
So, just two little bits to close........one is that no fr@$%ing way the
subie stacks up against the TDI and two, as much as I may dislike an inline
four, Mr. Jim Akiba is so well informed and articulate that, hell, any one
of my vans will see a Zetec way before they see a Subie.
So, enjoy your van, Benny. It is beautiful, no doubt, we have all seen it
and can only guess that it is butter smooooooth. I just do not understand
your die-hard determination to make us believe what we have read about over
and over again for sooooo long.
Damned long, I know, but hell, I just couldn't stand it any longer.......
Gracias! Miguel