Date:         Wed, 12 May 1999 12:02:15 -0400
Reply-To:     EMZ <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         EMZ <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
Subject:      Rebuilds, was: Mechanic Horror Stories
In-Reply-To:  <000501be9c8f$6ea18c90$c0aca895@esc.state.nc.us>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

     I would like to report on my GEX engine. It now has about
30,000 on it. Other than a lift noise now and then, it runs strong.
The problems that I had were mostly created by the installer,
(greman motor werks) here in Pgh. The installer had broken bolts off,
wires laying on the exhaust, several vacuum leaks, 3 major oil
leaks, and this thing still ran, when I bought it.
I change the oil every 3,000 miles and never let it get very
hot, it keeps running strong.

            Eric                   86-VW4x4
            vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
            Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler


On Wed, 12 May 1999, Bill Knight wrote:

> You must not have searched hard enough through the archives for negative
> experiences with Boston Bob.  I bought a 1.9L rebuild from him and after
> shipping it back four times (we split the shipping), I ended up
> dis-assembling what he sent me and rebuilt it myself.  All was well for
> about 14 months and 15K miles until one of his heads developed a crack in
> the water jacket in a spot that looks like it was accidentally hit with a
> grinder which made a weak spot on the outside of the head.  By the way the
> first engine he shipped me had a shop rag left in the crankcase.  It ran for
> about 10 minutes until the rag got completely chopped up and clogged the oil
> pickup.  Later engines had about 90 psi compression, which I just could not
> be satisfied with.
>
> He never compensated me for more than the core charge.  I was hoping he
> would at least help pay for the additional machine shop work and parts that
> I needed to redo the engine.  I've given up on him and just had to eat the
> expenses.  I spent over 500 bucks in shipping costs alone.  Of course he
> paid his share of the shipping too, and he complained about that, but I'm
> the customer.  There were so many miscellaneous expenses that I incurred
> such as the gallons of coolant I went through and of course my labor of
> re-installing the engine five times.
>
> So the whole experience was very negative but I must say that Bob tried to
> be helpful.  But in the end he just dropped me.
>
> Bill
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of Alan Bosch
> Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 1999 11:03 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Rebuilds, was: Mechanic Horror Stories
>
>
> <<<snip>>>If you have head gasket problems they tell you to replace the
> motor
> with a nice rebuilt one from VW (junk!)<<<snip>>>.
>
> Ken's comments got me ta thinkin' about engine rebuilds and rebuilt engines.
> Let's face it, there's a good chance that somewhere along the life of our
> buses,
> a rebuilt engine MAY be necessary, for whatever reason.  While that's a
> prospect
> I personally would rather face later rather than sooner, knowing where to
> turn
> for a good rebuilt would certainly lessen any anxiety, when and if that time
> comes.  Via this list, there have been more than a few dissatisfied
> customers of
> what I consider to be the Big Three rebuilders - AVP, GEX, and VW.  Ken's
> remark
> notwithstanding, I always thought a VW rebuild was the was to go - the
> lesser of
> the evils with an established network of dealer support in the event that
> something went asunder.  The only rebuilder I have not heard anything
> negative
> about is Boston Bob.  That's not to say there is nothing negative, it's just
> I've never read it here.  So, where to turn, should unfortunate
> circumstances
> require a rebuilt motor?  Are there others out there that rebuild motors?
> Aside
> from Parts Place, whom do we avoid like the plague?
>
> Just curious...
>
> Alan Bosch
> Phred ('88 Wolfsburg)
>