I purchased and installed a Boston Bob 2.1 engine in March of 2008. The GoWesty engines are probably very good, dependable and very expensive engines. I wanted a stock engine in my 88 GL. I am completely satisfied with the performance and power of my little 2.1 Waterboxer. I had some drivability issues after installation of the Boston Engine. My problems were pre-existing (distributor,plug wires, etc). My engine has plenty of power and I use 87 octane fuel. I know GoWesty recommends 89 octane for the 2.3 engine. I just wanted a stock engine built with German parts(cylinder kits, rings, valves, etc). I didn't want hard to get non stock engine parts. I ordered my engine and talked with Bob prior to my purchase. He built the engine using the OE parts I requested. The weak area of the 2.1 is the connecting rod, cap and bolts on the throw journal of the crankshaft. This is obviously caused by high RPM, high mileage driving. Bob machined and lined bored his connecting rods to specification and utilized diesel connecting rod bolts and nuts to strengthen this area. The OE heads were another weak area of the stock 2.1 engine. Bob used new AMC heads with OE German valves. It's obvious that GoWesty has done their research in developing an engine with increased horsepower. What you need to remember about non stock performance engines is that internal engine pressure is higher with higher compression ratios. Higher octane fuel is also quite expensive.

JB 88GL Guido

On 4/8/09 9:14 PM, "azsun99" <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET> wrote:

> They do recommend premium fuel for all of their engines and suggest it even > for the > original stock Vanagon engine. I was over there recently. The cost for their > installation is pretty steep also. > Jerry in AZ > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Robert Stewart" <robertmstewart@MAC.COM> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 11:39 AM > Subject: Re: Engine Rebuild Questions > > >>>>>> > > > > I was doing some research on the samba and found that GoWesty Sells a > 2.2 Piston set. So I called and found out they offer Rebuild kits > based on the same components they use for each of their engines they > sell. > 2200 - $1295 > 2300 - $1995 > 2400 - $2595 > 2500 - $2995 > All the kits have the same general components just sized accordingly. > > I am now thinking of getting this 2300 kit plus the other rebuild > components to get a generally more powerful, fuel efficient engine. I > read the feedback on their site by customers who had installed the 2.2 > and 2.3 kits and they all say they are getting over 21MPG. So the > trade off for the expense over the long run with the return for better > fuel economy seems to make sense. > > What are your thoughts?