Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 11:37:04 -0800
Reply-To: Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Fwd: Re: Considering an engine swap for the past decade,
but WBX just keeps going
In-Reply-To: <229829414.439259.1417102172258.JavaMail.yahoo@jws10764.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Bigger doesn't always equate to better. I prefer to keep long travel in
the simple VW camper. If I need some roomy comfort for a bit then we stay
in a hotel for a night or two.....
Steven
91 Westy
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Stephen Grisanti" <bike2vcu@yahoo.com>
Date: Nov 27, 2014 7:30 AM
Subject: Re: Considering an engine swap for the past decade, but WBX just
keeps going
To: <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
Cc:
Yeah, our '87 Westy keeps chugging along and I'm retiring this month so
we'll finally have a chance to wear it out, but the bride thinks we need
something more spacious for extended trips so we're considering building
out a Sprinter, or some such alternative. I like the idea of a Sube swap
but not if it's unnecessary, and those funds could be applied to a
different vehicle should we go that route. Stephen
On Thursday, November 27, 2014 6:53 AM, Larry Steffen <
larry@STRATOFEX.COM> wrote:
Moving on,,,,,, still have the '89 Westy but for local drives only now.
Replaced by RoadTrek van for worry -free camper travel. Last week, $600.
to replace Westy clutch master cylinder and leaking fuel line over starter
that dumped full tank of gas over night on grass. Am lucky to have
survived morning start up. Replace your old rubber fuel line now!
Sent from my iPhone
> On Nov 26, 2014, at 6:20 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
wrote:
>
> I agree that as it came out of the factory it was a well-made engine that
could run a long time, and I ran my original '84's 1.9 250,000 with one
head reseal done under partial warranty at 40k. My current poorly
maintained original '85 engine with 155k is still doing okay, and hopefully
I can get another 10k or so before I do a Subaru conversion.
>
> The reality is that today you can't duplicate that OEM quality, it's an
obsolete design, Go Westy's efforts notwithstanding. You have to reuse a
25+ year old alloy case, crank & rods, and bore out the old cylinders to
get higher displacement.
>
> It's reached the point of diminishing returns because of the high cost of
what I view as an unreliable rebuild, hence the desire for some other
engine. Even VW gave up on this engine for the extended run of the Vanagon
in South Africa. Not that the five cylinder was a great improvement.
>
> The WBX is the final generation in the evolution of a 65 year old design.
>
> Prepare to move on, sooner or later.
>
> Stuart
|