Date:         Thu, 13 May 2010 12:38:35 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Need Reassurance on 82 Westy
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTinrqJoAorgRWKK-VG-RKm-EUEqLYH7YiyUM_jeJ@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I haven't seriously looked into the situation because I don't own an
aircooled, but when I was considering one I ran across a piece of
information about them from Boston Bob, whose information I always trusted:
today, you can buy an aircooled head with the valve seats installed with
technology that did not exist when the car was made. If you keep the valves
adjusted, and the engine is in good shape with all its tin and whatnot, and
you drive the car reasonably, that is no reason to believe that it should be
a bad car. Dropping valves was the problem with those engines back in the
day.

Jim

On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 11:51 AM, Peter DiFalco <peter.difalco@gmail.com>wrote:

> The mechanic sounds like a rear end in a top hat, or else you purchased a
> vehicle that has been abused and neglected and is thus in need of an
> engine,
> a transmission and who knows what else to add up to $6500.  Get a second
> opinion from someone; you can find mechanics that have been reviewed by
> other VW folks at http://www.roadhaus.com/shops.php.
>
> An air-cooled Vanagon will be better than your bus in many ways, but you
> will find that parts are more expensive and harder to come by, sometimes.
> Don't let that stop you. It's true that CA smog laws will prevent you from
> doing some engine swaps and you'll have to make sure to carefully get
> things
> tuned, leaks plugged, exhaust sorted, but it'll be worth it.
>
> -Peter
>
> On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 7:31 AM, cesar quiros <cesarquiros@hotmail.com
> >wrote:
>
> > I just purchased a 82 (coming from my 72 Bus) figured air cooled was the
> > way to go, less part to get screwed was my theory. I will be needing a
> new
> > engine and was told by a reputable VW mechanic that I pretty much bought
> the
> > worst years for the Vanagon. The air cooled ones are the worst and I
> should
> > sell it and buy and watercooled. That he can do the rebuild but will cost
> > about $6500 to get is squared away and even then dont expect the Vanagon
> to
> > last long, plus the Cali smog is herendous.
> >
> >
> >
> > So I guess I dont really have a question, I just want to hear that it
> will
> > all be ok, or is this guy right?!?! My 72 runs great and drive it camping
> > everywhere, up and down hills no problems, cruises at 70 mph, and is teh
> > same base engine as the 82 so dont know what to think. Figured I was
> finally
> > able to afford my Popo Top and will be keeping it for life to take teh
> > family camping, with a new baby I needed the room.
> >
> >
> > Oh and does anyone know of any good places to go for a rebuilt engine
> that
> > wont rip me off and do a good job in San Diego.
> >
> > Thanks for any thoughts.
> >
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>