Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 07:28:42 -0500
Reply-To: Jack R <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jack R <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Engine woes - what to do?
In-Reply-To: <52B97A86.8020203@turbovans.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I know a couple volks who are very pleased with their Bostig conversion.
http://www.bostig.com/
In my case, I came very close to putting in a 2.5l 5 cly TDI (owned the
motor, and was ready to proceed), but the cost to beef up the trans due to
the torque of a diesel among many other things, resulted in converting my 84
Wolfie to a 2.1L out of a 91 in tip top shape. Very pleased in all. As I
use my Westie for a few weekends of Michigan Camping, and put about 5,000
miles on it a year, the ROI from the costly conversion to get more MPG or
performance is not there for me.
Each conversion is a unique decision, and Scott makes some valid points on
your current situation.
Good luck with whatever you do... I'll speak for everyone on this list, we
ALL hate to see any Vanagon leave circulation!!
Jack R.
84 Westy Wolfie with a 2.1L (owned since 87, and restored to original
splendor)
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Scott Daniel
Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 7:14 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Engine woes - what to do?
I'll have to second this. Inline 4 gasser didn't pop into my mind as a
solution out of the poster's current delema ..
but yeah ..
simple , cheap, durable, easily repalced, all VW , good fuel economy, decent
power ..
there is a lot to like in a VW-based I4 gasser conversion.
...if I ever find time to my to play with my 3 actually.... ..mutter mutter.
On 12/23/2013 4:07 PM, Don Hanson wrote:
> I'll chime in for the inline VW swap as probably the simplest and most
> economical way to go. Like Jim, I really like the power, the fuel
> economy and the overall simplicity of having a VW motor on VW parts in
> my VW van. I did keep the Digifant 1.8 liter head and all the wires
> do plug right in, pretty much. It bolts right in using VW diesel
> parts that are available and proven...the diesel VW engine is the same
> block as the gasser, so all the parts for mounting it are factory
> stock. ABA blocks are also identical. My motor cost me about $600
> to build from a $300 Jetta ABA and I sold off the extra parts to
> almost make a profit.
> You can find almost unlimited inline VW motors for under $500 all
> over everywhere. The only downside is there is no one source of
> information on this particular swap, not that it needs a lot of
> explaining. Inline parts are dirt cheap, they are simple to work on
> and quite robust. I was a VW rookie when I got mine already
> converted, but the fellow who did the conversion was a carpenter and
> not a mechanic. I've since done a lot of swapping around and messing
> with it, mainly to learn and because they are so cheap and
> simple....They are easy to mess with....I never HAD to work on mine
> much, but I chose to go to the ABA 2.0 liter block after reading about
> it and finding one for $300...Took me 2 days, about to swap all the
> stuff over and re-install it into my van. I have a spare motor now,
> too...should I ever need one.
>
> On Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 1:09 PM, Todd Last <rubatoguy@comcast.net> wrote:
>> After almost 230,00 miles my '88 Vanagon is displaying symptoms of a head
leak - I have not yet confirmed this or done a recent compression test, but
plan to do so. I have concluded that one of the worst things you can do to
your van is not use it. Bad things happen when they are left sitting!
>> In any case I am looking at my options, and started out thinking about
replacing the heads, then thought if I was going to do that, I might as well
put in new piston rings too, and well, once you do that you might as well go
a step farther and do an engine rebuild. Of course, once you get there, the
question becomes, stock, modified (like GoWesty) or engine swap. In looking
at these options, it looks like a cost of $5,000 or more. From what I have
seen, Subaru conversions can reach over $10K. Yikes!
>>
>> I was wondering if I could get opinions on the best course of action in
this situation, not wanting to spend tens of thousands of dollars. Would
list memebers give me their 2 cents worth and if possible, what the
aproximate costs for the various solutions range from? I'm not sure if it
makes more sence to just install new heads and hope for the best, or go full
bore and swap the engine.
>>
>> What does the voice of experience say? Anyone out there have opinions on
the GoWesty performance engines vs. a Subaru transplant?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Todd
>> '88 Westy
>>
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