Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 19:30:14 -0400
Reply-To: Martin Jagersand <jag@CS.YALE.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Martin Jagersand <jag@CS.YALE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Need 1.6L diesel engine
> Hi folks --
> I need an engine to replace the one in my 'other' van, it seems
> to have compression problems and has 250K on it with no rebuilds.
Not bad to get 250k out of the little 1.6l Diesel. Yes, some golf/jetta
owners get 300k, 400k and I hear even 500k before overhaul, but thats
while driving the small car, not pushing the brick!
>
> I don't have much of a feel for how expensive it is to rebuild
> one of these babies, but I rebuilt my '81 Westy's airboxer a few years
> ago and it cost me about $2K.
You will find that rebuilding the diesel is considerably cheaper.
Expect to pay a few hundred in new parts + any machining needed.
You can also pick up a rebuilt longblock for about $1000 if
you don't want to do it yourself.
> Since I paid $200 for the 'other' van,
> that seems a bit silly.
Well, another way of putting it would be that since you got such a
good deal on the bus you could spend the money you saved for a
throurough rebuild and fixup. This of course assumes the bus is
sound.
> On the other hand maybe I don't have
> to replace the pistsons, send the cam and heads to california,
> replace the oil cooler, etc. If it's just rings, cylinder rebore,
> and valves, that sounds like no big deal.
This might be a bit optimistic.
> If I have to
> replace rod and crank bearings and resurface the crank journals,
> it's starting to approach painful. I really don't want to spend
> more than $300 on rebuilding the motor.
If you do it all yourself and shop carefully for the parts you might
come in pretty close to $300. Piston kit & rings will be the big ticket
item you're likely to need.
>
> Anyone got a spare laying around, or some relevant experience?
>
Well, I've got a spare, and so do many others. However most "spares"
you find are already past their halflife. I'd say that when you count
your own time and trouble in finding a spare and installing it
the $1000 for a rebuilt is a pretty good deal. With the rebuilt
you know what you get. With a spare you don't. Rebuilding it
yourself is more of an interesting hobby than a real money saver
even if you only value your time at minimum wage.
> p.s. The vw diesel page is on vacation, so....
>
Not true! The Diesel WWW page is always there for you when you need
a diesel fix! One of the mailing lists is down. The maintainer is
on vacation but the other, vw-diesel@pas.rochester.edu is there.
See the WWW page below for subscription info. Click on the "links"
icon.
/Martin
'82 Westy Diesel
'85 Quantum Turbo Diesel
--
Martin Jagersand email: jag@cs.yale.edu
Computer Science Department jag@cs.rochester.edu
Yale University
Slow down and visit the VW diesel Westy page:
WWW: http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/jag/vw
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