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Date:         Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:27:32 -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: Engine Replacement Options
Comments: To: neil N <musomuso@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <c4e7c5f90808110949p2f2f448fr11d5db956a785040@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

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


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