Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 07:37:41 -0600
Reply-To: ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Bjorkman <ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Engine woes - what to do?
Content-type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
<div style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; COLOR: rgb(0, 0, 0); FONT-SIZE: 16px"><DIV> I also went with the VW inline 4. Love it. Although I went full bore and went with a 2011 Gen V engine with many mods (for low end torque) that cost close to 9k, an ABA with a 1.8 head and diesel parts is a quick and inexpensive way to go and has many power and reliability benefits. And, of course you have the added benefit of having a VW engine in a VW.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Dave B.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV style="BORDER-TOP: #bcbcbc 1px solid; MARGIN: 5px 0px"></DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; FONT-FAMILY: arial; COLOR: #000000">On 12/24/13, <SPAN>Jack R<jack007@COMCAST.NET></SPAN> wrote:</SPAN><DIV> </DIV><DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; FONT-FAMILY: arial; COLOR: #000000">I know a couple volks who are very pleased with their Bostig conversion.<BR><A class=parsedLink href="http://www.bostig.com/" target=_blank>http://www.bostig.com/</A><BR><BR>In my case, I came very close to putting in a 2.5l 5 cly TDI (owned the<BR>motor, and was ready to proceed), but the cost to beef up the trans due to<BR>the torque of a diesel among many other things, resulted in converting my 84<BR>Wolfie to a 2.1L out of a 91 in tip top shape. Very pleased in all. As I<BR>use my Westie for a few weekends of Michigan Camping, and put about 5,000<BR>miles on it a year, the ROI from the costly conversion to get more MPG or<BR>performance is not there for me.<BR><BR>Each conversion is a unique decision, and Scott makes some valid points on<BR>your current situation.<BR><BR>Good luck with whatever you do... I'll speak for everyone on this list, we<BR>ALL hate to see any Vanagon leave circulation!!<BR><BR>Jack R.<BR>84 Westy Wolfie with a 2.1L (owned since 87, and restored to original<BR>splendor)<BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: Vanagon Mailing List [<A class=parsedLink href="mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com" target=_blank>mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com</A>] On Behalf Of<BR>Scott Daniel<BR>Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 7:14 AM<BR>To: <A class=parsedEmail href="mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM" target=_blank>vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM</A><BR>Subject: Re: Engine woes - what to do?<BR><BR>I'll have to second this. Inline 4 gasser didn't pop into my mind as a<BR>solution out of the poster's current delema ..<BR>but yeah ..<BR>simple , cheap, durable, easily repalced, all VW , good fuel economy, decent<BR>power ..<BR>there is a lot to like in a VW-based I4 gasser conversion.<BR><BR>...if I ever find time to my to play with my 3 actually.... ..mutter mutter.<BR><BR><BR>On 12/23/2013 4:07 PM, Don Hanson wrote:<BR>> I'll chime in for the inline VW swap as probably the simplest and most<BR>> economical way to go. Like Jim, I really like the power, the fuel<BR>> economy and the overall simplicity of having a VW motor on VW parts in<BR>> my VW van. I did keep the Digifant 1.8 liter head and all the wires<BR>> do plug right in, pretty much. It bolts right in using VW diesel<BR>> parts that are available and proven...the diesel VW engine is the same<BR>> block as the gasser, so all the parts for mounting it are factory<BR>> stock. ABA blocks are also identical. My motor cost me about $600<BR>> to build from a $300 Jetta ABA and I sold off the extra parts to<BR>> almost make a profit.<BR>> You can find almost unlimited inline VW motors for under $500 all<BR>> over everywhere. The only downside is there is no one source of<BR>> information on this particular swap, not that it needs a lot of<BR>> explaining. Inline parts are dirt cheap, they are simple to work on<BR>> and quite robust. I was a VW rookie when I got mine already<BR>> converted, but the fellow who did the conversion was a carpenter and<BR>> not a mechanic. I've since done a lot of swapping around and messing<BR>> with it, mainly to learn and because they are so cheap and<BR>> simple....They are easy to mess with....I never HAD to work on mine<BR>> much, but I chose to go to the ABA 2.0 liter block after reading about<BR>> it and finding one for $300...Took me 2 days, about to swap all the<BR>> stuff over and re-install it into my van. I have a spare motor now,<BR>> too...should I ever need one.<BR>><BR>> On Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 1:09 PM, Todd Last <<A class=parsedEmail href="mailto:rubatoguy@comcast.net" target=_blank>rubatoguy@comcast.net</A>> wrote:<BR>>> After almost 230,00 miles my '88 Vanagon is displaying symptoms of a head<BR>leak - I have not yet confirmed this or done a recent compression test, but<BR>plan to do so. I have concluded that one of the worst things you can do to<BR>your van is not use it. Bad things happen when they are left sitting!<BR>>> In any case I am looking at my options, and started out thinking about<BR>replacing the heads, then thought if I was going to do that, I might as well<BR>put in new piston rings too, and well, once you do that you might as well go<BR>a step farther and do an engine rebuild. Of course, once you get there, the<BR>question becomes, stock, modified (like GoWesty) or engine swap. In looking<BR>at these options, it looks like a cost of $5,000 or more. From what I have<BR>seen, Subaru conversions can reach over $10K. Yikes!<BR>>><BR>>> I was wondering if I could get opinions on the best course of action in<BR>this situation, not wanting to spend tens of thousands of dollars. Would<BR>list memebers give me their 2 cents worth and if possible, what the<BR>aproximate costs for the various solutions range from? I'm not sure if it<BR>makes more sence to just install new heads and hope for the best, or go full<BR>bore and swap the engine.<BR>>><BR>>> What does the voice of experience say? Anyone out there have opinions on<BR>the GoWesty performance engines vs. a Subaru transplant?<BR>>><BR>>> Thanks,<BR>>> Todd<BR>>> '88 Westy<BR>>><BR></DIV></div>
|