Date:         Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:03:01 -0500
Reply-To:     John Runberg <jrunberg@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Runberg <jrunberg@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Reality check? -- rebuild comparison
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Found myself in the envious(?) position of rebuilding the engine in
the Westy, and now a few years later rebuilding the one in our Jeep
YJ. Makes for an interesting comparison.
- both are 4cyl (the jeep more underpowered!)
- the van's an 83 while the Jeep's a 94

Low oil pressure (spun cam bearing) was the cause for the VW,
although the heads didn't look great. Jeep has been burning oil on #1
for awhile and warped the head and freeze plugs. The wasser was done
by the local vddub shop while a local rebuilder did the Jeep. Both
shops were highly recommended. VW needed line boring (finding the new
bearings took a bit) while the Jeep just needed oversize pistons.

Costs? Just at $3k for the VW (new heads, remember), no clutch, not
including turning the flywheel. The Jeep is $1500 complete with
flywheel and clutch, dizzy back in etc... Drop it in and go.

For me, this was a good illustration of the value of the simple low-
tech Jeep block and (much) larger sales numbers of the engine. The
local builder does VW I4 engines too, which are a few hundred more.
Won't do wassers. In the end, better to rebuild than buy new, but
cheaper by far to rebuild the Jeep. Crap electrics, however. And
can't sleep in it.

john