Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 14:01:26 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 1988 Rebuilt Engine Stumbling at various RPM levels2100-2300,
3400- 4000r...
In-Reply-To: <4A7F2552.4080602@westyventures.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hi all,
OK, I'm the guy with a 1.8liter 8 valve (from a 92 cabriolet) in my van.
Gutless? Well, no. I pass most vanagons if I want..but it's not like a V-8
or a turbo. The bently says my motor is about the same hp (about 10 more,
maybe, my Bently is buried in the van right now) as a WBX..I put a mild cam
into it (<$100 brand new) and have a free-flow exhaust system..the cam is
said to add 12 hp.. I am probably around 115hp now...Not a power house, but
acceptable, especially for what it cost.
I screwed up bleeding my radiator when I first got the van (being
unfamiliar with Vanagons) and overheated causing my headgasket to
leak..Replaced that and swapped the cam in in under 5 hours for about $175
including the cam and an oil change.
I DO get 23mpg. I have kept track over about 35k miles now and that is
what it is. Only one tank did I ever go below 20 into a storm system and
trying to make time..I often see 25..but 23.xx is the overall.
It's a dead simple engine swap...as these things go..The guy who did this
one is a carpenter and did it on a weekend in his garage, then drove it from
Tacoma to California the next day..
Is it perfect? Well..for me it's a good compromise vanagon. Westie
interior but no poptop..Great mileage for a vehicle with so much cargo
capacity and the ability to camp. Keeps up with traffic with no problems
and has been super dependable. If the motor breaks down the road, I bet I
could go into a junkyard whereever I am and get a replacment, install it and
be back on the road for <$500 in a day. You can't do that with a WBX a
subie a Bostig etc...Maybe I am boasting when I say that...but I've been
offered my choice of $300 money back 1.8liter VW motors at a couple of parts
places...and I keep a watch on Ebay and the Samba just for fun...
When I bought this vanagon I looked long and hard at all the options.
Subie vans were very expensive. WBX vans have a horrible reliability
reputation but they were relativly cheap..I did not want to buy a vehicle
that has such a crappy reputation for head problems and being un-reliable,
but then this one came up for $3000 and I am very glad I went this route..
Not saying it's the best way to go..but there it is, how it has been in my
humble experience..
Don Hanson
On Sun, Aug 9, 2009 at 12:36 PM, Karl <tdiguru@westyventures.com> wrote:
> Pretty gutless torque-wise, better to use a 2.0 16V if you were to go to
> all that trouble.
>
> "Joke' head gaskets? C'mon, Scott. ;-) Just like other cars, some hold
> up well, some don't (especially ones that received no maintenance). I've
> serviced plenty of Vanagons without gasket issues, up to as high as 250K
> and no leaks. For the relatively low compression they hold up as long
> as they aren't abused or subjected to lack of maintenance.
>
> Karl
>
>
> Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>
>> of the 1.8 jetta gas engines I've seen in vanagons .......
>> I did one, and have worked on and driven some others.
>> power is 'ok'............the engine is smooth .......
>> but ...............an 8 valve 1.8 does not have significantly more power
>> than a waterboxer, as far as I know.
>>
>> it does have a more bullet proof block and head though. No head gasket
>> issues.
>>
>> I picked up an 87 Jetta 16 valve DOHC 1.8 .
>> 123 hp at 5,800 rpm.
>> I'd sell this engine package - 'the whole thing' , the entire fuel
>> system etc.
>> $ 600 today ...........
>> located in southern Oregon.
>>
>
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