Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:43:06 -0700
Reply-To: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Engine Replacement Options
In-Reply-To: <71d9cdf90808111404l40448a96w69ce2c588fcc8dff@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Soon soon....
Gotta find out where the exhaust leak is..... that happened as I was
ascending my driveway!
(after a ~500 KM "shake down - drive it hard sometimes - tackle a
little forestry road" trip)
And yes the video shows the leak!
Check my pmail to ya.
Neil.
On Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 2:04 PM, Jake de Villiers
<crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey that's great Neil! When do I get a ride?
>
> On Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 11:34 AM, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Seems so! --- :^)
>>
>> Removed the "coil" relay, replaced it with #12 wire from 15 to Jetta
>> coil. The relay inadvertently got power from alternator blue wire,
>> through instrument panel, to 15 then back to the "coil" relay which
>> kept it on.
>>
>> Drove my "handbrake only" shut off route. Engine shut off properly.
>> Bonus: restarts warm/up to temp with less cranking.
>>
>> Thanks to Mark Drillock and Dennis Haynes, (and my relentless pursuit
>> of happiness), the culprit was found.
>>
>> Originally I thought heat was keeping the coil relay on. (relay box
>> was close to exhaust. I moved it)
>>
>> IMHO, my reason for installing it was sound, but was the wrong
>> solution. The Jetta coil/*part* of ECU get power from a #12 wire in
>> the Jetta harness. Being larger than the #16 Vanagon coil wire, I was
>> concerned about exceeding the limits of the #16 wire.
>>
>> FWIW, you can *just* fit a #12, and the two black 15 wires into a #10
>> female push on connector.
>>
>> And yes. Soon. He shall be christened.
>>
>> I hope to do a "shake down" over night up at Nairn falls soon. First I
>> gotta replace the rear shoes. One set is cracking. :(
>>
>> Neil.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 10:27 AM, Jake de Villiers
>> <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > So you fixed the handbrake/engine turning off thing Neil?
>> >
>> > You're talking like its all over, in which case we should have a Launch
>> > Party and break a beer over your van's nose! :)
>> >
>> > On Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 9:49 AM, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Re: #1
>> >>
>> >> A fellow on the samba list, "tencentlife", seems to have a good rep
>> >> with his wbx rebuilds. Might be worth checking out.
>> >>
>> >> From what I've heard, GEX rebuilts has a poor rep. FWIW....
>> >>
>> >> Re: #2 and #3. And this is the POV of a first timer and just my .02
>> >>
>> >> Buying a used turnkey engine, or install kits, will save time if it's
>> >> all there and working. And not that you asked but.....
>> >>
>> >> Depending on your wheeling/dealing skills and level of understanding
>> >> in what's needed for a conversion, IF you choose to cobble parts
>> >> together or part out a Vanagon and cobble parts together, this will
>> >> likely increase your project time substantially. But, you MAY save
>> >> money. From my POV, and in hindsight, the saved money weighed against
>> >> spending more on a kit, hardly seems worth it. Remember this; you are
>> >> already saving a bunch by doing it yourself. On my project I cobbled
>> >> and built parts from scratch. I also removed parts from a Vanagon.
>> >> Took WAY more time. No regrets as I learned a lot, but there were
>> >> times when a kit or used turnkey setup looked really attractive! ---
>> >> :^)
>> >>
>> >> Wiring? A bit apples to oranges, but I installed a Jetta 2.0 with
>> >> Motronic 2.9 (OBD1). It has at least 7 sensors for the engine
>> >> management. Depending on the year, the 2.2 may be similar. The hardest
>> >> parts, for me were finding all the flaws in a 15 YO wiring harness and
>> >> learning how to properly read the Bentley wiring diagrams, and tracing
>> >> (confirming) every wire with a VOM. (ECU to all the plugs etc.)
>> >>
>> >> There are people/companies that can do the harness for you but if you
>> >> did it yourself, and IMHO, the Suby swap is documented way better than
>> >> what I did so the wiring harness would be easier. And....
>> >>
>> >> .... if I can do the wiring job, most anyone can. I had a little
>> >> experience playing around with radios as a kid, and had a very basic
>> >> understanding of DC/AC circuits, knew how to solder, so this helped.
>> >> Still, it was very *basic*. But, I got it done. (with a little help
>> >> from this list --- ;^)
>> >>
>> >> It looks like your $ estimate is similar for #2 and #3.
>> >>
>> >> Personally, I'd go for #2. Likely the engine is "stock" and you might
>> >> be able to find out how many actual miles are on the engine.
>> >>
>> >> IMHO, most people care a LOT about their conversion, but you never
>> >> know what mayhem has gone on in another conversion install. And why
>> >> are they selling it? Of course this is true for any vehicle, but just
>> >> a thought.
>> >>
>> >> IMHO, keep your options and your eyes open. You never know what may
>> >> show
>> >> up.
>> >>
>> >> Cheers,
>> >>
>> >> Neil.
>> >>
>> >> On Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 8:40 AM, Jon Rizzo <the_rizzos@mac.com> wrote:
>> >> > I feel I am at an impasse regarding the replacement of the engine my
>> >> > syncro westy. I am definitely on a pretty tight budget (under4000)
>> >> > but
>> >> > don't want to cut corners that will only cost me money later. I have
>> >> > have spent the last month researching options. I have narrowed it
>> >> > down
>> >> > to three choices and I would love to have the opinions of this board.
>> >> >
>> >> > 1) rebuilt wbx motor, I know bus depot has them available but I am
>> >> > unsure about their rebuilder even after speaking with them on the
>> >> > phone. I can't get Boston Bob to return my phone calls soo... cost
>> >> > 1800-2800 plus my labor
>> >> >
>> >> > 2) used 2.2, smallcar parts kit. I have a neighbor with a 92 legacy
>> >> > that could part out to save some money, but I am nervous about the
>> >> > wiring part even though I have some experience in that area. cost
>> >> > 2450-3450 plus my labor, minus what I could part out the legacy wagon
>> >> > for.
>> >> >
>> >> > 3) used 2wd vanagon with a 2.2 conversion already in place that I
>> >> > could then part out and recoup some of my money. This seems to be my
>> >> > best option as I could drive the van and could make sure all the
>> >> > parts
>> >> > work together and who doesn't need more spare parts around? cost
>> >> > 3000-3500
>> >> >
>> >> > Let me know what you think.
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Neil Nicholson '81 JettaWesty "Jaco
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>> >> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
>> >> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Jake
>> > 1984 Vanagon GL
>> > 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
>> > Crescent Beach, BC
>> > www.crescentbeachguitar.com
>> > http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Neil Nicholson '81 JettaWesty "Jaco
>>
>> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
>> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> Crescent Beach, BC
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>
--
Neil Nicholson '81 JettaWesty "Jaco
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
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