Date: Sat, 22 May 2010 22:23:55 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: All engines have issues...
In-Reply-To: <015201cafa0a$05f46480$6401a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
In the early 80's most VW products had 1.6 or some 1.7 liter engines, many
were still carbureted. Fuel injection was CIS. The Rabbit GTI was amongst
the first to get a 1.8. Those early engines may have been considered but the
Diesel was a major flop. Those early engines also had problems with valves
guides and seals and head bearing issues. Ask any older mechanic about the
smoking rabbits.
Another issue most likely is emissions. If you understand engine design the
WB has a number of features to reduce NOx and also allow for a engine that
can be operated with the pedal down for long periods. Lower compression and
the dished pistons are the major design features not in the I4 of the time.
The Rabbit GTI needed a knock sensor and EGR.
While not perfect the WB is a good engine in many ways. Lots of engines have
head gasket or other problems. Keep in mind that back in those days few
vehicles went past 100,000 miles. So what is the big deal if you need head
gaskets? It is just a repair. As for the "wet liner" design, most big diesel
engines are built this way. In the Diesel world engines such as the Cat C7
in my motor home that have the cylinders bored in block, (parent bore) are
considered cheapies. Engines with replaceable liners that can be overhauled
"in frame" are highly desired.
As for repair costs I had two injectors in my motor home go bad last
Christmas on the way home from Florida. Dealer said need 6 injectors and
high pressure pump. Estimate was $6,000. I replaced the two injectors that
went bad myself. They cost $635 EACH. This was for an engine that just
turned 57,000 miles. I prefer to do the Vanagon head gaskets.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Scott Daniel - Turbovans
Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 7:54 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: All engines have issues...
very well said.
'unremarkable is a good word to use regarding them.
I did one in 1998 or so. ..
diesel vanagon, but in an 88 jetta 1.8 Digifant engine.
mostly ...as you say, 'the just work.'
Possibly the least hassle, least demanding but reliable Vanagon engine
conversion.
it's strange VW didn't do it themselves, it's such a natural.
There is suspicion that politics, like union factors, dictated keeping an
opposed four in the vanagon after the air-cooled ones, and the waterboxer is
clearly an adapted air-cooled design. They could have done very well indeed
with a 1.8 or 2.0 inline four ..
and heck...in South Africa the stock vanagon engine is an inline 5 water
cooled, cast iron block, aluminum head.
anybody happen to know if the 2.5 liter inline 5 93 Eurovan engine fits well
enough, or has been adapted to fit into a vanagon ?
I know there are Audi five cylinder conversions....just don't know if that's
the same engine block or not. I have a donor evurovan for that if I don't
make it run instead.
Scott
----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Hanson" <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 4:02 PM
Subject: Re: All engines have issues...
>> but a GOOD well done EFI 1.8 inline four gasser is a very decent pacakge.
>> Just not overly powerful. About the same as waterboxer ir slightly better
>> maybe,. but smooth ..
>> and can be super reliable.
>> Scott
>>
>>
> This is second-hand and speculation, since I have never personally rebuilt
> either of the motors, but reading and pricing through the Net I think if
> you
> were to rebuild a WBX motor and an inline four VW, the inline would cost
> perhaps 1/4 as much to do and likely last better.
>
> I did plenty of research as I looked at Vanagons before I got mine. The
> WBX motor didn't get the best reviews for the most part. There wasn't much
> data on inline 4 conversions at all, other than some bad rap about the
> TIICO
> ones.
> When I saw the one I ended up buying for just $3k I decided to give it a
> go, for that kinda cash it was worth a chance on a combo that had little
> "Press" ...
> I have since learned there are plenty of "Us" out there...but nobody much
> seems to say anything about our vans cause they are .....unremarkable.
> They
> just work, no fuss, no clouds of burning tire smoke leaving stop signals,
> no
> '10 car passes going up Tioga Pass, no 95mph average trips across the
> Mojave
> Desert, no 'fooling the VSS with a Hall sensor and a re-programmed "EProm
> widget" no upside down and backwards cooling systems.....Just a plain old
> Vanagon rolling down the road for little money without many problems...
> "Perfect"? Hardly! Good enough? Yes
> Don Hanson
