Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:27:39 -0500
Reply-To: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: 2.2 Rebuild Questions
In-Reply-To: <71d9cdf90811100838x166040c2tfb6dd0f8cb484122@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I don't dispute the advantages of a more modern fuel injection system.
Of course installing a Subaru or other engine is no magic wand that will
make you never have another engine or FI issue. Most folks are using,
used parts that may or may not be as good as the stock Vanagon
components they are replacing. So either way you really need to inspect
your fuel injection parts when you are replacing an engine which is my
main point.
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
Jake de Villiers wrote:
> *"30 mins of your time to see what kind of shape they are in. Or you
> can just
> factor getting rebuilt Air Flow Meter, Idle switch, Temp sensors (which
> I see that on your list already), oxygen sensor, and idle control unit.
> Have your injectors cleaned and flow tested. I also have rebuilt ECUs
> for $250 if you want to go the full monty."*
>
> More reasons that make an engine swap the way to go, whether Zetec or
> Subaru. Modern ECU, injectors, coils, wires , 10 to 1 compression
> that works on regular, 4 valves per cilinder, steel fuel lines, no
> rubber water gaskets are all compelling reasons to change.
>
>
>
> On Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 7:47 AM, Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@comcast.net
> <mailto:kenwilfy@comcast.net>> wrote:
>
> I would say your number one way to save money on this project is
> to buy
> your parts from me (www.vanagain.com <http://www.vanagain.com>)
> instead of GW. We offer the same
> parts at quite a bit less money. They don't have any magical
> fairy dust
> to sprinkle on these parts that makes them any better than the exact
> same things that we sell for sometimes as much as 50% less. I have
> rebuilt these engines myself over the years so I have a list of all of
> the parts that I replace that I can share with you and give you an
> estimate before you buy anything.
>
> As far as going with juiced up parts is concerned there is always
> a plus
> and a minus side to everything. Going with larger than stock Pistons
> and cylinders usually also goes along with upping the compression
> to 10
> to 1. This will require you to run premium fuel all the time or risk
> detonation or preignition (either will kill a new engine very
> quickly).
> Just understand that before you dive in and ask yourself if it is
> worth
> it to you to pay an extra 20 to 30 cents a gallon over the long run.
>
> As Jim stated many folks just plop a rebuilt engine in their van and
> expect this to make all of the electronics and fuel injection
> components
> also brand new. They get upset when the new engine doesn't run
> properly
> or doesn't get good fuel mileage even though these problems are
> probably
> due to a bad fuel injection component. You can test your wiring
> harness
> and components with a Bentley manual and a multimeter and about 30
> mins
> of your time to see what kind of shape they are in. Or you can just
> factor getting rebuilt Air Flow Meter, Idle switch, Temp sensors
> (which
> I see that on your list already), oxygen sensor, and idle control
> unit.
> Have your injectors cleaned and flow tested. I also have rebuilt ECUs
> for $250 if you want to go the full monty.
>
> I hope this helps you and let me know if I can help your further.
>
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com <http://www.vanagain.com>
>
>
>
>
>
> Greg Baxter wrote:
>
> Hi Everyone!
>
> I've been lurking here for a few months now, since purchasing
> my 87
> Syncro Westy in August this summer. I've spent the past month
> doing
> searches and taking notes, mostly The Samba, Shoptalk and here
> on the
> list - just ask my wife how much time I've spent doing the
> searches...
>
> We took him (Bastian) on a couple of road trips this summer,
> down the
> Oregon coast and through the interior of BC. On the last leg
> of the
> trips, he was pushing exhaust gases into the coolant,
> suggesting (at the
> least) that one of the green rings in the bottom of the
> cylinders was
> shot. This only happens when 'compression braking' down long
> grades. I
> can drive him on flat roads forever, though. Both heads are
> weeping a
> little bit, and he marks his territory with a
> silver-dollar-sized oil
> spot after every drive. Since being parked for a couple of
> weeks, the
> oil spot hasn't grown much, so I guess it's being splashed
> around while
> driving.
>
> Just after purchasing the van, I did the routine tune-up items
> - cap,
> rotor, wires, plugs, filters, oil change, thermostat (replaced the
> original from '87) burped the rad. I'm about 3 years away from
> being
> able to use collector plates and saving a ton on insurance, so
> those are
> a couple of reasons that I want to stay with a stock (ish) engine.
>
> I'm up in Canada, eh, and our dollar is on the decline against
> the US
> buck, so for me, the option of buying an engine and having it
> shipped up
> here gets difficult and expensive.
>
> I'll get some pics up soon, but for now - here are my plans and
> questions. Please feel free to comment, question and respond
> as you like.
>
> My goal is a reliable, slightly-more-powerful-than stock,
> emissions-passing engine that I won't have to worry about for
> the next
> 20 years. Fuel economy is an issue, but not my top priority. I
> don't
> mind using 90 or even 94 if the need be.
>
> My questions are - will this combination work, and what have I
> forgotten. I'm trying to keep this whole endeavour under $3500
> CDN -
> today that's +/-$2950 to those of you in Obama-land.
>
> Here's the list:
>
> GW 2.2l P&L Kit
> GW AMC heads - I want to get these ceramic coated -
> worthwhile?
> Scat 5.4 or 5.5 CrMo rods (I get that the small ends have
> to be
> machined to 22mm, will I have to machine the pistons to get
> the 5.5s to
> work?) *Are the weight savings worth the extra $100 over
> machining my
> stock rods?
> CB Performance 2252 Cam & Cam gear
> CBP Maxi I Oil pump
> Engine Gasket set
> Oil Pump cover nuts/gasket
> Oil Pressure Release Valve & Spring
> New Hyd lifters
> (CrMo Pushrods?)
> Clutch Kit - do I need to go heavy duty?
> Main Bearings
> Rod Bearings (do I need if I'm going with new rods?)
> Camshaft bearings (are these 'always replace'?)
> Blue coolant temp sensor (did the black one when I did the
> thermostat)
> Oil Pressure switches
> O2 sensor
> Fuel lines
>
> What other machining will I need besides the crank? I like the
> idea of
> sending the crank off to Mr. Stamkos, but in the interests of
> my budget,
> can my local machine shop do the work?
>
> A little background about myself - I've been into watercooled
> VWs since
> I bought my first Mk2 Jetta in 94. Since then, I've gone
> through an 82
> Scirocco that I swapped a later engine into, and did a bunch
> of bolt-ons
> to. My current car is a 90 Corrado (digi 1) that's
> turbocharged. My
> mechanic did the wrenching on that project. Because of the
> Corrado, I
> have a decent, basic understanding of Digifant, although I
> understand
> that there are some differences between the Corrado & the
> Vanagon -
> namely the knock sensor, and the availability of aftermarket
> tuning
> options. I work at a greenhouse/nursery during my days (sorry,
> folks,
> only legal plants grown there! Laughing ) and there's not much
> going on
> there this time of year. My time evaporates quickly in
> February until
> June, so I need to have the project finished by, let's say,
> Valentines
> Day.
>
> What sort of special tools am I looking at? I've got the
> basics, a floor
> jack, a clean, well-lit 2-car garage, (2/3 taken up by the
> Westy) but no
> engine hoist, stand or workbench. I'll be able to work on it
> weekends
> and evenings. I'll start the teardown next weekend but I'm
> waiting on
> December 1 to order the GW parts in the hopes of a Christmas
> special.
>
> How am I doing so far, gang?
>
> Many thanks in advance!
>
>
> Greg
> '87 Syncro Westy 'Bastian'
>
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> Crescent Beach, BC
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com <http://www.crescentbeachguitar.com>
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
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