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Date:         Thu, 26 May 2016 07:13:32 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Engines: what to choose
Comments: To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CA+r=JhqY7VLdvfGnFB_UKK_BGyDLqqVSP9rSo-2JcT8N7VWeOg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

One thing I found out when talking "Subaru" after dealing with my wife's 2.5 Forester's blown headgasket....$3k is the quoted price for headgasket replacement....These are famous for headgasket failure. Most people simply junk the motor or the car.... Another thing I noticed....There are a LOT of Subaru specialists shops! Why is that? You don't see independent Toyota shops, or Honda shops....The guys I talked to, when trying to deal with the Forester, they all say Subaru parts are among the most expensive, and doing the math leads most victims to just junk the motors and get another when something goes wrong... Not dissing the Subie conversion, just passing along some recent experience with a 2.5 headgasket on one....

For what it is worth....I caused a headgasket failure in my own 1.8 liter motor when I first got it, being unfamiliar with Vanagons and their cooling system idiosyncrasy, I replaced that headgasket and swapped in an aftermarket camshaft at the same time...it took me most of a whole afternoon, and cost me under $200, including the new Autotech cam and a fancy metal headgasket from Techtonics Tuning, a very good parts vendor for performance VW parts...., I'm just your average backyard mechanic. Simple basic motors, these inline VWs, yet dang nice.

On Thu, May 26, 2016 at 6:40 AM, Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com> wrote:

> I second what Steve and Rob said. I am a devotee of the early EJ22 Legacy > engines ('91-'94). Low mileage ones are getting hard to find, of course. > I recently bought a car with 191K miles and am driving it for a while to > check for oil consumption. It leaks from the rear seal, but doesn't seem > to burn much. Eventually I will probably do the timing belt, any idlers > that seem to need replacement and replace any seals that appear to be > leaking. A person with more $$ would probably do all the seals and replace > all idlers and the waterpump and perhaps replace head gaskets and surface > the heads, but I'm a "thrifty" old Dutchman. > Over the past ten years or so, I have purchased 4 such cars for costs > ranging from $425 to $800. Interestingly the least expensive one had the > best engine, with a recent short block replacement. I put that one in my > daily driver '91 GL. :-) > > The EJ22 Subaru conversion typically gives you an improvement of 1 or 2 mpg > and of course a very welcome increase on power. The peace of mind, however > is probably the most important. The AC, power steering, and cruise control > interface well with the vanagon systems. > There are many options to pick from in terms of adapters, engine > supports, oil pans, coolant plumbing, and wiring harnesses. These are best > studied on the subaruvanagon yahoo group. > > Larry A. > > > On Wed, May 25, 2016 at 11:44 PM, M's gmail <mjhart853@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Stephen, > > Thanks for your ideas. Yes, too much HP & torque is probably even worse > > than too few... > > The tranny was rebuilt 50k miles ago (VanCafe) & had new seals this past > > year. Neither engine nor tranny leak oil now ... > > I do have the big brake kit plus suspension upgrades (springs & shocks) & > > 15" wheels w/ Nokians, so driving @ 75 mph is 'safe' & I can stop in a > > reasonable distance.... > > That just leaves getting to 75mph & staying there... > > Mike > > (650) 387-8957 > > > > > On May 25, 2016, at 8:15 PM, Stephen Engel <sengel543@yahoo.com> > wrote: > > > > > > Also consider that a significant increase in hp/torque will stress your > > transmission, axles, et al. The Vanagon drivetrains were not intended to > > carry high hp/torque. Do you still have your original trans with 200K on > it > > as well? > > > > > > Steve > > > 87 Syncro hardtop > > > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > >> On May 25, 2016, at 10:53 PM, M's gmail <mjhart853@GMAIL.COM> wrote: > > >> > > >> YAET (yet another engine thread)... > > >> Seeking your wisdom: > > >> - My situation: '87 2WD Westy with original 2.1l waterboxer @ 200k > > miles. Still running OK today after 100k miles & 10 years in my hands, > but > > I have plans for some long trips next year & think it is finally time to > > address the 'engine question'. > > >> I have replaced all hoses, s/s pipes to front, radiator & fan, coolant > > tower, fuel lines as preventative maintenance plus water pump over that > > time & have never had a 'real' breakdown or major failure. Reliability of > > the engine has not been an issue for me - the core engine has not been > > touched since the head gaskets were done @ 80k miles, 8 years before I > > bought the van (i.e. 18 years ago). > > >> Having said that, the miles are pretty high & perhaps I'm finally > > getting tired of needing to change down on the slightest incline....that > > plus not being able to run the AC on a really hot day as it raises the > > engine temperature a bit too much for my comfort...(yes I do have working > > factory Westy AC, still working perfectly after I rebuilt it myself 7 > years > > ago..). Having this work properly is one condition for future trips in > the > > summer (from the SO). > > >> Some specific questions for you all; > > >> (1). do the GoWesty engines really deliver 'high performance'? Do you > > really see a power difference? How about reliability? Can you run the > AC & > > still drive at 70mph on a hot (100-110F) day? How about all those > > peripherals - reliable to date but getting very old (eg original AFM, ICV > > etc).? 2.3 or 2.45?? > > >> Anyone with a GoWesty powered Westy in the SF Bay Area that I could > > drive? > > >> - I could live with another VW waterboxer if it solved these > problems... > > >> (2). does a Subaru 2.2l (the only truly legal model for CA) give that > > much more power or reliability? I doubt I have the available time to do > my > > own install, so this option looks to be at least 2X the cost, so would > need > > to answer my questions above better than the first option. > > >> (3). I'm currently biased against other options; > > >> - VW inline 1.8T: yet more money, doesn't properly fit below the > engine > > lid > > >> - Bostig not legal for CA > > >> - turbo diesel: no 'standard' install it seems > > >> Any experience or comments much appreciated! > > >> > > >> Mike Hart > > >> '87 2WD Westy 'T3WESTY' > > >> Palo Alto, CA > > >


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