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Date:         Tue, 3 May 2016 10:31:33 -0700
Reply-To:     Grant Johnson <smiley.grant@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Grant Johnson <smiley.grant@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: User Input: Oval's Motorsport Rebuilt Engines
Comments: To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <02f801d1a560$797a0ba0$6c6e22e0$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Even though I just dropped 6300 total on a 2.2 WBX, I'm in agreement with you, Stuart. I'm hoping to sell this rebuilt WBX off within the next year or two and put in a more modern power plant. Feels like I wasted money, but I had to get the bus back on the road. Any conversion I'll be doing myself.

On Tuesday, May 3, 2016, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:

> Jerry at NW Con Rod admitted he had problems with his piston kit supplier, > so this problem has been going on for the past 16 years. My first question > when he told me this was "then why the hell did you keep using them?!! > > The good thing about him is he is a production engine rebuilder with a > full machine shop and clean room for assembly, so he can do anything that's > needed. The bad thing is that unless you specify exactly what you want > (valves, rings, studs, etc.) he will do the minimum to maximize his profit, > which is to be expected. > > Go Westy pushes the limits of the WBX design with increased compression > and displacement. You can read about how well this is going on The Samba. > As these engines get over 50k miles there will be a lot more to read. > > They will go up to 2.3 on a 1.9 case, but it has to be modified for the > stroke. They are running out of 2.1 cases, hence the $1000 core, little of > which you can expect to get back, as they freely admit. When you figure > well north of $7000 with shipping, crating, and core for an obsolete > engine, it makes a Subaru conversion a no-brainer for me. But I can do it > myself, though there are four shops around here that can do it and will > work on DIY conversions too. > > Stuart > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com > <javascript:;>] On Behalf Of Dennis Haynes > Sent: Monday, May 02, 2016 9:54 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <javascript:;> > Subject: Re: User Input: Oval's Motorsport Rebuilt Engines > > Many of the piston/cylinder sets are notorious for bad rings. The 96mm big > bore sets often have the wrong rings on them, 94mm rings on 96mm cylinders. > Huge ring gaps until the rings snap. > > For all the money often spent on rebuilds I find the water boxer responds > very well to just replacing the parts broken or worn. Heads, rings, gaskets > etc. If the case is shot then shot it is. I have repaired many an engine by > doing just one cylinder/piston. Quality rings is the key and when folks are > willing going for the "total seal" gapless 2nd ring makes a huge > difference in reducing blow by. > > When replacing the piston cylinder sets I often throw the rings away and > replace with something better. When possible I try to get the COFAP sets. > They have yet to let me down. As for displacement upgrades the thought of > thinner cylinder walls added to increased compression ratio and to the > extreme longer stroke crank just adds to reduced engine life and possibly > NOx emissions issues. > > Dennis > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com > <javascript:;>] On Behalf Of Loren Busch > Sent: Monday, May 2, 2016 10:28 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <javascript:;> > Subject: Re: User Input: Oval's Motorsport Rebuilt Engines > > ​RE: NW Connecting Rod Rebuilds > Jerry does a 2.2 and a 2.3L in addition to stock 2.1L rebuilds. Although > NWCR has a stellar reputation a close friend is have to replace her 2.1L > NWCR rebuild at just 50k miles, serious problems with it. Installed by > Northwesty just a couple of years ago. Zero compression on #1 and sucking > a quart of oil per tank of gas. So Jerry's engines are not bullet proof. > And her situation is disappointing. She has had a lot of running problems > in the last couple of years and Northwesty was never able to get that > engine in tune so don't know if the problem is the initial rebuild or that > the whole system was not set up right. And about three years ago another > friend had NWCR go through her GoWesty 2.2L and when it was back in zero > compression on #3! Jerry made it right but disappointing with their > reputation for good work. Even my 2.3L had to be pulled after install to > correct a leaking seal. Jerry stood by that and reimbursed my shop for > that extra work. >


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