Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 21:24:54 -0500
Reply-To: Jim DiGennaro <limbo@BCN.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
From: Jim DiGennaro <limbo@BCN.NET>
Organization: Late Model Bus Organization, international- LiMBO
Subject: Re: Conversion Commotion
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Hi Volks,
I see many posts about converting waterboxer vanagons to other forms
of power plants and I'd like to put my 2 cents worth in on the subject.
I'll probably get flamed for this but here goes. First, the boxer motor
is a fine engine. Proper maintaince is the key. (as it is with all
thing mechanical). Many of the problems with coolant leaks, IMHO, is
VW's own fault. They tell the owners that the coolant system needs no
maintance for 100K miles. I don't care who sells the product, green
coolant needs to be flushed every 2 years or 24K miles. (the new red is
said to go 100K) As the coolant runs through the system and with time,
it starts to turn acidic. Cast iron can withstand that type of coolant
alot longer than aluminum can. This is also when deposits build up and
concentrates the acidic coolant. (right at the mating surfaces of
those boxer heads) Subaru's used to have the same problem, they just
figured out how to fix it. I remember subaru's needing headgaskets
about every 50K miles. I guess VW figured it wasn't worth the trouble
to fix the leaking problem considering the relative low production
numbers of the Boxer engines. Many other countrys got in-line 4
cyclinder engines (SA) or continued air-cooling much later than the US
did. Anyone who has had experience with the boxer engine knows, many of
the parts are direct from the realiable old Type 1 engine. Oil pump,
cam, rocker arms and valve covers. Even the crank is nearly identical.
Now many know how well the old type 1 engine held up to stress. So it
watercooled cousin can hold up as well. Keep that coolant clean and
you'll enjoy many years of trouble free driving.
As an owner of a conversion vanagon (diesel to gas) I cannot look down
my nose at anyone who wishes to do the same. However, the one thing
that bothers me is trying to install a non-VW engine. Now, many have
and will convert their bus to Subagons, Vanachevys or Porschnagon
there's not much I can do about that. But let me say this, when you
deciede to sell that bus, for whatever reason, the value of the bus will
probably be less than one in similar condition with a stock motor.
Many people will see the conversion and pass because its a hybrid and
will not want the headaches. Plus the next owner will not have the
advantage you have knowing what is in the bus. This will make it
difficult to obtain parts and service. Many of those conversions need
special fabricated parts, and what if they break on the new owner?
Cost is another factor, I've seen the Porshe conversion cost nearly
10,000 dollars (with the price of the motor and kit). I can rebuild a
waterboxer about 5 times for that price. Even if you get 80K miles out
of each boxer motor thats about 400,000 miles. With an average of 12K a
year, the bus will be 33 years older by then. I don't think many buses
will be road worthy at that point. Hey, you never know, lota splittys
still out there.
Your saying, well 'I plan on keeping this bus until its not worth
fixing'. If you keep that bus until its dead, great. But what about
servicing it yourself? Now you have to know how to work on a Subaru as
well as a VW. Then you have to go over to subaru to buy engine parts
and back to VW to buy the rest. Lots of extra time wasted. Don't even
think of bring it to a dealer for service, they'll laugh you out of the
shop. (many smaller shops will too) So now you have to do ALL the work.
Maybe for you thats fine too. It might get old after a while.
I guess what I'm saying is stick with what you got. Or as least keep
it VW. My bus looks stock and all the parts come right from
Volkswagen. So replacements are easy to get.
I'll step off my soapbox now. You may return to your lives. Thanks for
the time, take care.
--
Happy Holidays!!
-Jim Digennaro
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