Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2008 14:28:36 -0800
Reply-To: Dave Mari <vw4x41987@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mari <vw4x41987@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Engine Conversions
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Hi Peter,
Its true there is a quiet, but growing following for the Zetec kit that Bostig has to offer. I thinks it has more to do with not investing so much of ones own sweat and time into the conversion. The Bostig kit is a put it in and drive kinda thing! I have had their kit installed for over 27,000 mile now and have had to do nothing but normal maintence, which has been a real nice change. One one thing you did not cover below is Jim and Brady's super customer support, which is worth more than their prices reflect.
Cheere,
Dave 87 Syncro Westy Zetec!
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Peter Young <pyjme@aol.com>
Date: Mar 3, 2008 4:33 PM
Subject: Engine Conversions
To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
All of this talk about engine conversion options - Tiico, Jetta
engines, inline 4's, Subaru engines - yet no one ever talks about the
Bostig conversion! I currently own a
1981 westy, but I hope in the future to either: go Neil's route and
convert it to water cooled OR buy a water cooled van and convert it
into a camper (using the 81' guts -
I love the faux wood grain!). Either way, I want to drop in the
Bostig conversion because I like the Zetec engine and the fact that
their kit comes as a turnkey motor with mounts and all of the
appropriate conversion parts (which is really only one engine/tranny
mating part), and I currently own a 2001 Ford Focus wagon with the
same engine. The Focus has really demonstrated the reliability and
power of this engine. I have only had to get it worked on once for a
bad exhaust sensor, and it only cost me $150. Besides that, just
change the oil regularly and I haven't had to think about that car
running. The Bostig conversion gives you that same reliability in your
vanagon (who doesn't want that!), 130hp that doesn't require any
engine compartment mods, and actually improves ground clearance in the
rear (if you pay a little more for the shortened oil pan). In addition
to all of this, the engine tune is selectable between octanes and can
be set for an economy mode to improve gas mileage. For a price there
are also super chargers available if you want, though they just make a
vanagon ridiculously, obscenely more powerfully than anyone really
needs (up to 195hp).
What's the downside? It is an expensive conversion initially. The kit
is $8775, then add $225 for the shortened oil pan. If you want the
super charger it's another $2950. THe ECU reprogrammer to change tunes
comes included with the engine. While expensive, it doesn't seem that
bad when compared to the other kits where you may have to refurbish
the donor engine before installing it, fabricate mounts, buy extra
proprietary conversion parts, etc. etc...?? The Bostig conversion is
just a simple drop in, requiring you to only hook up the coolant
lines, fuel line (the fuel return line is eliminated - another
bonus!), 7 wires, and a couple other small things. That's it. Bostig
says just about any automotive shop can do the conversion in 10 hours,
and that anyone with only a little knowledge could do it in about 15
hours. Personally, it would probably take me longer than that but than
I am not the brightest weekend mechanic in the world by far (just look
at my previous posts!). Another thing to consider is that after the
initial investment, your maintenance costs are going to be almost nil
- this is probably a case where you really do get what you pay for.
Here are the links to the Bostig site and a YouTube video of their
super charged test van in action:
http://bostig.com/products/zetec/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B9_FeHKlXE
All of the proceeding rant is, of course, just my opinion based on
what I have heard about other conversions and info from online. I
haven't actually seen a Bostig van in person. I would be interested to
hear if anyone out there has the Bostig conversion - is it really all
they say it is?
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