Date:         Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:39:10 -0800
Reply-To:     Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Boston Bob....AVP....GEX...???
In-Reply-To:  <ac1f198b0712311424p74eadedfved78fa7e5a42b1f@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I bought a GEX that's blew before it hit 50,000.
Even toured their modern facilities in LA.

Then they moved to Hickville Arkansas. I toured
it there too- looks like they moved into an old
meat packing plant or something. Not impressive
at all.


Quality has not improved. It can't not when you
have 5 or ten people building the same motor on
an assembly line that used to process hog
bellies.

Bob, on the other hand, has devoted his life to
his craft, and I toured his facilities also.

Go with Bob. or as close to Bob as you can get.

No to GEX.

Robert

1982 Westfalia





--- Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM> wrote:

> I'll have to chime in here also... just talk to
> him.
>
> Call him and ask him how he's different from
> the other rebuilders out
> there. There are some big differences that stem
> from his many decades
> of experience specializing in these motors.
>
> Bob is a good friend of mine, and I have
> nothing but respect for not
> only his work, his knowledge, and his
> integrity. You can find some of
> those elements in other options, but not all
> three... not like Bob.
>
> I've heard of horror stories from GEX and AVP.
> Also heard of issues
> with Gowesty  rebuilds, although they seem to
> do a very good job of
> standing behind their warranty if something
> does happen which is
> important. But failures with BB motors that
> I've heard of have always
> been support system failures... which is
> obviously not an indicator of
> anything but the owner.
>
> When we hang out and talk engines, it
> constantly amazes me the kinds
> of things that have to be watched out for when
> building one of these
> boxers(from machining techniques, to factory
> replacement internals
> that shouldn't actually be used because they
> aren't made correctly
> anymore) . I'd bet that if you put Bob in the
> same room with anyone
> else that builds boxers, and tried to figure
> out who knew the most,
> Bob would be your man. In fact if you've been
> paying attention long
> enough, you can see others that picked up
> wisdom from Bob and then
> incorporate it into their work. There's a
> reason for that :)
>
> Happy New Year to everyone!
>
>
> Jim Akiba
>
>
>
> On 12/31/07, Larry Chase <roadguy@roadhaus.com>
> wrote:
> > Richard,
> >
> > IMHO a Boston Bob rebuild is Hands Down the
> "BEST BANG" for the Buck if you
> > have to stay with the wazzer platform.
> >
> > I agree with the herd on staying away from
> GEX and would suggest AVP is
> > almost as bad.
> >
> > I recently pulled a AVP rebuild that had a
> set of mysterious problems from
> > day one.
> >
> >
> > good road,
> > good adventure,
> > good life,
> >
> > larry chase
> > www.roadhaus.com
> > www.roadhaus.com/recipes.html
> > www.roadhaus.com/camp.php
> > www.roadhaus.com/shops.php
> > www.roadhaus.com/tires.html
> > www.roadhaus.com/face_book.html
> >
> > - - -
> >
> > Date:    Mon, 31 Dec 2007 07:58:36 -0500
> > From:    Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
> > Subject: Boston Bob....AVP....GEX...???
> >
> > Good New Year's Eve Morning!
> >
> > It appears that my 87 Westy (150K miles) has
> a compromised head gasket or a
> > cracked head. Fortunately it made the 850
> mile trip to my son's house and
> > back this weekend, even though it was
> spitting lots of coolant out the back
> > for the last 300 miles...
> >
> > With 150k miles, it doesn't seem to make
> sense to pull the engine and
> > replace the gaskets or heads. So the question
> is what is the best
> > replacement engine out there? I really don't
> want to spend big bucks on a
> > Tiico, TDI, or Bostig conversion, so that
> pretty much leaves a rebuilt
> > wasserboxer. Of course, all of the websites
> for the rebuilders state their's
> > is the best (and ok, I'm leaning toward a
> Boston Bob engine), what's the
> > consensus out there? What are your
> experiences - good and/or bad with AVP,
> > GEX, and Boston Bob.
> >
> > I'm assuming that it's going to end up
> costing an extra $1500 or so for new
> > fuel lines, water pump, exhaust and labor to
> put it in.
> >
> > Anyone interested in a "engine
> replacement"party??
> >
> > Happy New Year!
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> >
> > Ric
> >
>



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