Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2007 22:30:06 -0700
Reply-To: Andrew Martin <campahvan@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Andrew Martin <campahvan@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: disaster- now VWoC rebuilds
In-Reply-To: <46BFAD84.70100@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Brendan and others,
With all due respect especially to the pros who've responded, I've had
pretty good luck so far with my yellow tagged VWoC rebuilt engine.
I'm not promoting the VW of Canadian rebuilds, just sharing my limited
experience with one.
I bought my '85 Westfalia in September 2001 shortly after the D.P.O. had a
VWoC rebuilt engine installed at 143K. I now have a little over 196K on the
van without any engine troubles. Almost 6 years and 53K it still runs great
with no noticeable change in performance since I purchased the van. Who
know what will happen tomorrow but.....
The D.P.O. wasn't very mechanically astute and must have told his local VW
repair shop in Virginia Beach to only install the engine and ignore all the
other components that should be checked while swapping engines. A few weeks
later he had different shop install a new clutch assembly. Then he added a
used AFM, rebuilt injectors and ignition wires a few weeks after that. See
a pattern here? Maybe it was a cash flow problem....
Less than 6 months after the engine was replaced he totally gave up on the
van after it broke down during his shakedown cruise a few weeks prior to his
proposed departure to South American for a 6 month tour. A malfunctioning
voltage regulator had over charged the battery, cooked the ECU and left him
in Nashville, Tennessee. He replaced the battery and voltage regulator but
the van wouldn't run. After listened to the details of his Van-o-woe, I
bought the van sight unseen and "not running". I flew to TN with cash, some
hand tools and a rebuilt ECU (and the license plate from my Subaru!). My
first hour of ownership was spent changing the oil and filter and checking
every electrical connection I could get to. After installing the new ECU
and reconnecting the battery terminals the van started right up and ran
beautifully. He wasn't impressed. He still hated the van with all his heart
and insisted I also take away a box full of used parts, a middle seat and a
very cool German side tent. I drove to my home in Massachusetts without any
problems.
I had plenty of other little new-to-me Vanagon annoyances. Per the Stan
Wilder theory of Vanagon ownership, I spent well over the purchase price
within the first 6 months making my Westy reliable. While the VWoC engine
obviously didn't initially see proper care and consideration, I'm an
absolute nut about checking and changing fluids, regular tune ups and fixing
every little thing inside and out. My now restored/rebuilt Westy has been a
reliable daily driver and I've driven it from coast to coast and back and to
Alaska and back nearly trouble free. On the 2004/2005 coast to coast to
coast trip the fairly new S&S exhaust system muffler broke up. In May of
2006 while in Alaska on the Top of the World Highway the alternator/water
pump belt hopped off the pulleys (my fault, I ignored the little chirp I'd
heard that morning).
More about the junky S&S exhaust....In less than a year of use I had 2 new
S&S mufflers break apart on the road. It starts with a slight internal
rattle (death rattle?) then it gets louder and louder. When the tail piece
disappears other drivers keep their distance and cops start to notice you.
The first time this happened I foolishly bought a second lousy S&S muffler
(trying to save time redoing the entire exhaust) from a different vendor (to
avoid the building frustration chasing the original vendor to honor the
warrantee). When the second worthless S&S muffler broke apart (always when
I'm traveling) I surrendered and went back to the stock muffler and
"bracket-tree". (Thanks to John at Foreign Auto in Harpswell, ME for the new
stock muffler and good used mounting bars.) Less than three years later I'm
again cursing the remaining pieces of the nasty S&S exhaust system (I've
forgiven the vendor for personal growth reasons). Now one of the header
pipes is leaking where a muffler mounting tab was welded on. Considering
the pipes have been dropping huge flaky chunks of rust for the last 6
months, I'm surprised there's anything still attached. In a weak attempt to
get a few more miles out of the nasty (did I say that yet?) S&S system I'm
going to fill the growing hole JB Weld. Seems like a waste of good JB Weld
though....
In my experience the S&S system is a complete waste of money and should be
avoided. Even though the OEM system costs a bit more, it's a much better
value especially for folks who must pay someone else to do the install.
Opps, this turned into a Sunday night S&S rant! Best of luck with your head
bolt project, Brendan.
Andrew Martin
Suquamish WA
1985 Vanagon Westfalia 196+K (and beautiful Brown!)
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
John Rodgers
Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 6:02 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: disaster
Bob,
What is it with these Canadian re-manufactured engines anyway? I have
encountered a number of tales of engines that have failed all of which
had the yellow Canadian stickers.
What's going on>>??
Thanks,
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver - with non-yellow-tagged rebuilt engine.
Bob Donalds wrote:
> I saw stream of consciousness "what
>> am I going to do?!" thing. Anyway.
> and cookies and a cold bear
> and knew I found a new friend
>
> THEN he said Canadian rebuild sticker and I fell to pieces
> send me your zip code and street address I on my way
> better yet get yer other van packed and head on over you cant just
> have one
> they come in pairs al least
>
> we have a lot of ground to cover
>
> B Bob
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brendan Slevin" <brendan@BELLATAZZA.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 3:56 PM
> Subject: disaster
>
>
>> Sorry for all the posts but it's kind of a stream of consciousness "what
>> am I going to do?!" thing. Anyway.
>>
>> So I need either two head studs and nuts or a used engine case. And I'd
>> like either to be next door and brought to me with some cookies and a
>> cold
>> beer. Anyone?
>>
>> Brendan
>
>
