Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 09:11:53 -0700
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Which Engine To Install and by Whom
In-Reply-To: <4FB1973A.1090607@knology.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I'm investigating this too.
The problem with your question is that given an infinite amount of time and
money you can do just about anything. Here is my personal favorite, but it's
not so good for a camper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD2tYiyX_sE&feature=channel&list=UL
In my mind there are only two options for a normal person. The Bostig kit
(www.bostig.com) , which is the only turnkey kit available and uses all new
parts. You can get a brand new Zetec crate engine for a grand plus $150
shipping:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-FORD-FOCUS-ZETEC-2-0-LITER-16V-DOHC-ENGINE-2000-
2004-/290711119875?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43afbba803
&vxp=mtr#ht_500wt_1023 or a used one for $250. Every bit of this install
is new, with the exception of the power steering pump which they recommend
getting used. Bostig support seems to be good. You also have the benefit of
an OBD2 diagnostic system, and an engine that is cheaper to replace than it
is to fix. (Think about that for a minute. You could keep a spare in the
garage!)
The other well documented swap is the Subaru 1995-96 2.2 SOHC engine.
Kennedy Engineered Products (http://www.kenneYadyenginc.com) has an adapter
kit, but you must get all the ancillary parts as well as the engine from a
donor car and there is a lot of fabricating and fiddling. If you follow the
Subaru Vanagon Yahoo! list like I have you will see there appears to be
endless fiddling with most Subaru installs. You also need to fabricate a
custom wire loom from the stock loom (several hours work alone). It's
getting hard to find low mileage engines now (trust me and I don't think
100k is low mileage).
These engines have the early OBD1, which is at least of some use.
They both have their advantages and disadvantages, but none are as bad as
the waterboxer. It was a flawed plan right from the beginning to convert an
air cooled engine into a water cooled engine simply by casting water jackets
on the case and adding new heads. The longevity of this engine is in
inverse proportion to the power it puts out as well with the 1.9 being the
longest lived by far, maybe by as much as a factor of 2 over the 2.1.
Plan on being your own mechanic with any conversion, unless you can find a
pro who will install and service it. If you do it yourself, you will
probably be happier with the install simply because you will have invested a
lot of time in making it work well.
There are shops all over the country that will install one or the other for
you, and the total cost for a pro install for either is about the same here
(Seattle). I expect you could do the Subaru yourself cheaper than the
Bostig, but time is money too!
Good luck!
Stuart
'85 Westy, time constrained and leaning towards the Bostig
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jon Durham
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 4:38 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Which Engine To Install and by Whom
As best I can tell, to get more horses, there is a 2.1 WB, a 2.2 WB, a
Subaru, and a Ford engine to replace my 1.9L engine in my 85 Vanagon.
I would like to get opinions on the engines and recommendations as to who is
good for installing the engines.
Cheers
--
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
Anatole France