Date:         Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:06:32 -0700
Reply-To:     Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: body work vs. mechanical work
Comments: To: Rob <becida@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2008031021384975@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

While we're clearing up misconceptions about Subaru transplants, my 60,000
mile 2.5 SOHC Subie motor cost $2400.00 from a guy who sells many, many
motors for VW and airplane installations.  Considering that these motors go
250,000 miles in the heavy 4WD Foresters, I think I'll be good for life.
:)

I picked it up at his yard with ALL the relevant pieces in a big Subaru box
plus the motor itself.

I can buy the SmallCar parts for $1500. and have a 165HP modern four-valve
SOHC powerplant with  engine management technology from this century!

New motor; $2400
Conversion parts; $1500
No rubber bands keeping the coolant in my motor; PRICELESS!

On Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 6:35 PM, Rob <becida@comcast.net> wrote:

> The head gasket "problem" was the early 2.5's and it's easy to fix
> with the new gaskets. It's a good thing to change them when you are
> prepping your engine.
> FWIW I have had more than one '91 Subaru now for that kind of deal. I
> think the next time I'm going to spend the $600 for a low mileage JDM
> motor.
>
>
> At  3/10/2008 05:41 PM,Ken Wilford wrote:
> >  It is awesome that you got all of your donor parts for $185 but I
> > don't think it is reasonable to expect other folks to be able to
> > get this good of a deal, especially if they are looking at a newer
> > engine (hey a 91 engine is the same age as my waterboxer, it has
> > known head gasket issues, why am I doing this conversion again?)
>
> The vw drives like a real car afterwards and what is "reasonable" to
> me may not be reasonable to you. From my '59's to my '63 to my '71 to
> my '79 to my '86 Syncro.... the '87 WITH the Subaru 2.2 was the best
> vw bus I ever drove.
>
> Anything can cost you more than it cost me. On other lists I have
> seen people spend big bucks to keep chickens and chickens are the
> easiest and cheapest critters to keep. The same of vanagons.
>
> "Reasonable" is a personal thing, I don't know what you shop rate is
> but I'd guess I would not find that at all "reasonable".
>
> I'm not here to argue the conversion vs stock engines with you, I'm
> not interested in all the "maybes" that happen in any auto repair.
> Yes it could very well have cost me more, if the compression was not
> good on the quoted conversion I was going to buy a JDM for $600, but
> I didn't have to.
> I just wanted to show you and anyone else who cares that a conversion
> does NOT have to cost more than new 2.1. It can but it doesn't have to.
>
> <shrug>
> That's enough conversion typing for one night if you ask me.
> Later folks.
>
>
>
> Rob
> becida@comcast.net
>



--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
Crescent Beach, BC
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27