Date: Thu, 29 May 2014 08:31:02 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: WBX Recommendations Sought
In-Reply-To: <CAHTkEuLdWD4_f3kmskVMKpR2n8bZ6VFt=pBrGVxVggrHteVE7Q@mail.gmail.com>
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Paying for repairs $5k seems to go fairly quick. Labor, exhaust, and support parts soon become more than he head replacement. Most trip related engine failures seem to be caused by the support systems. Engines seem to be in two flavors, healthy running or not. They will usually give warning before they die unless a support system failure causes the death.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Don Hanson
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2014 12:28 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: WBX Recommendations Sought
$5000 or more to do a partial rebuild? That sounds pretty
silly-expensive, especially with the rest of the motor left untouched...but if you have the money and you simply must have a WBX motor, why not do it that way and have a little more peace of mind when you go traveling?
When I was racing and I asked myself a question like that.....I made it a practice to just go ahead and do the work, spend the money...If I didn't, and something blew up or failed during a racing trip....I'd have cursed myself and wasted lots of money only to have a bad experience..(I once went from Portland to Wisconsin for a race and got just three laps before my timing belt failed...even though my engine builder (ex-engine builder) said he replaced it.....Waste of time and lots of money, not to mention towing across the plains for nothing......I think it would be the same to go on a trip with your family after deciding..."Oh, I guess I don't really need to replace or rebuild the ______, and then to have the _______ fail in Wamsutter, Wy or some other garden spot and spend days repairing it rather than getting on with your fun vacation travels..
Personally I could find a lot of better things to do with $5k than put new stuff on an old WBX motor...but that's just me...and maybe Stuart...hee
hee. One thing I would do for certain is whatever you do to the motor
be sure to put on a good chunk of normal miles before you head out....to make certain everything is working as it should after that much work...
On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 7:01 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
wrote:
> There are some serious "while you are at its" here! He'll be into it
> $5000 or more, and I would not do the Go Westy 2.2 kit without doing
> the bottom end too.
>
> That's why I'm nursing my stock 1.9 for a while longer, and he may be
> able to use that old engine too. I'd rather put the $5000+ into a
> Subaru conversion.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of John Schwartz
> Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 4:26 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: WBX Recommendations Sought
>
> My van was a similar situation that is sat for many years..... once I
> got her running there were a few coolant and oil leak that I wanted to tend
> to.... She had about 95000 on the clock..
>
> Once apart we went ahead and did a rebuild similar to what you're
> looking at... I only did this in place of a new engine because I know
> I'll be swapping it out for a Subi in another year or so.... and have
> some serious road trips planned for this summer...
>
> With that:
>
> I would recommend going with the Rocky Jennings or GoWesty configured
> AMC heads.... You spending about $100 more, but they will have the
> upgraded valves and machined ports etc.....
>
> Your cylinder barrels should be OK, but sitting there may have been
> some rust and pitting which could cause some burring oil from oil blow by....
> check them.... may be able to get by with honing them. if you do go with
> new barrels etc.. may as well go for the gusto and get the 2.2 kit
> from Go-Westy.....
>
> H2O Pump.... absolutely... and while you're at it change out the
> plastic coolant system fittings that come off the engine.... what the
> hell was Dieter thinking about when they installed theses at the
> factory.... and while the system is down may as well change ALL the
> hoses.... Van Café has a kit alredy to go... A little pricy, but in the end it is cheaper than
> having to go to five different places.... Also flush the system and
> replace it with G12.... I know I'll hear some push back on this...
>
> Your oil pump should be OK..... but considering it is a $50 part and four
> bolts, may as well go for it.... Also, you may consider installing an oil
> pressure and temp senders/switches...
>
> Also, no mention of your fuel lines.... it goes with our saying....
> and your pressure regulator may need to be swapped out too....
>
> All in all, my engine feels pretty tight, has good torque, hums like a
> sewing machine, and I wouldn't think twice about a 3K mile run in her
> tomorrow... I may postpone the Subi for another year.... but I am still
> collecting parts!!!!
>
>
> Good luck
>
