Date:         Mon, 27 Sep 1999 14:33:44 -0700
Reply-To:     Graham Challis <centumg@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Graham Challis <centumg@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon reliabillity reputation (Long)
Comments: To: Steve@SCHWENK-LAW.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I'm amazed that an engine builder has not heard of the
fact that a torqued bolt will stretch - that's one of
the items that HAS to conform to specifications in an
engine rebuild and if it's been stretched it's not
going to conform.  Plus, how much do a few bolts and
nuts cost?

--- Steve@SCHWENK-LAW.COM wrote:
> They sure do love those parts mark-ups, though!
>
> John wrote:
> >
> > List members,
> >
> > Following up my comments on the new Vanagon
> owner's spark plug blowing
> > out of the head, I remembered (at least) two other
> notable instances.
> >
> > 1) Two years ago I needed an engine and went
> shopping (I settled for a
> > VW Canada remanufactured long block). When I
> talked with engine
> > suppliers, I asked to talk with their head
> technical guy to discuss WHAT
> > goes into their reman motors. When I talked with
> the GEX tech guy, I
> > noticed on the list of new components, 2.1L con
> rod bolts were not
> > listed. When I asked about the absense of new con
> rod bolts, the GEX
> > tech guy asked "why should we replace them"?
> >
> > People like the GEX guy are contributing to the
> Vanagon poor reliability
> > reputation while draining the purses of the
> Vanagon owners! Many Vanagon
> > owners who endure the cost of a so called
> remanufactured motor that
> > "granades" will usually sell the Vanagon as-is
> believing that high
> > mileage Vanagons are just not reliable when the
> engine builder's product
> > ignorance is the real problem. This is probably
> why the few competent
> > and professional engine builders (Boston Engine,
> etc.) have almost a
> > mythical reputation.
> >
> > 2) A while ago, on the advice of national VW
> customer relations, I
> > visted an authorized VW service department for
> some information. What I
> > found was wide-spread Vanagon product ignorance
> and a genuine distaste
> > for the Vanagon. One particularly negative
> technician openly berated the
> > Vanagon product in front of service advisers and
> other employees. When I
> > asked his qualifcations, I found the following:
> >
> > 1) He never attended any Vanagon technical
> training
> >
> > 2) He rarely works on Vanagons because "they're
> junk"
> >
> > 3) "Everybody" knows how poorly designed the
> Vanagon is
> >
> > With an attitude like this, this dealer and other
> like-minded repair
> > facilities are UNFIT to put their hands on the
> Vanagon product. If they
> > do, either their product ignorance or their poor
> opinion of the Vanagon
> > will endanger the longevity of the repair.
> >
> > Thanks for listening,     JP
>
>
>

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