Date:         Wed, 23 Aug 2000 22:54:06 -0000
Reply-To:     Pat Dooley <pdooley@gte.net>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Pat Dooley <pdooley@gte.net>
Subject:      Re: More on rods and bolts/2.1 in '83.5-'85
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.SOL.4.05.10008230834370.8322-100000@margay.noc.ucla.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Me, not being the waterboxer expert, would still say your mechanic is full
of sh*t.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of MOST,DAVID
> Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 3:40 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: More on rods and bolts/2.1 in '83.5-'85
>
>
> REgarding putting a 2.1 into an 83.5-85 vanagon, a mechanic I spoke to
> yesterday suggested that this was not a great idea because the cooling
> system in these earlier models is not as efficient.  He said that excess
> heat would be created by the 2.1, and the 1.9 cooling system is not
> designed to handle it (I'm assuming that we're talking about an earlier
> water cooled vanagon in which only the internals of the 1.9 engine have
> been modified to make it a 2.1).
>
> Is the mechanic wrong on this point?
>
> David
>
>
> On Wed, 23 Aug 2000, Stuart MacMillan wrote:
>
> > I took what was left of my 2.1 to my rebuilder, Jerry at Northwest
> > Connecting Rod, and after close examination we determined that I had
> > "spun a bearing".   This means that the rod bearing shell literally wore
> > away, leaving steel on steel, not a good thing.  According to Jerry, at
> > high speeds this will generate tremendous heat, even to the point of the
> > metal becoming red hot with sparks flying off.  The heat then will
> > either cause the bolts to stretch, nuts to loosen or the rod or bolt to
> > break, leading to catastrophic breakdown, which ever comes first.  And,
> > indeed, the parts of the rod I recovered were "blued" from extreme heat!
> >
> > I thought he might get a couple of rods out of it he could rebuild, but
> > he tossed the whole wretched mess in the scrap barrel, salvaging only
> > the flywheel and pulley.  Jerry is my kind of guy, do things right the
> > first time, and don't cut any corners!
> >
> > So, perhaps the stretch bolts themselves are not the problem, but
> > excessive bearing wear is the true culprit.  That means scrupulous
> > attention to maintenance coupled with careful oil pressure monitoring is
> > the key to longevity for this engine, just as it is for any other.
> >
> > This engine works very hard to push our nearly two ton rigs around, and
> > 150,000 miles is still the recommended point to rebuild the engine.
> >
> > So, I'll reiterate my recommendation:  If your engine is between 100,000
> > and 150,000 miles, install the gauge to make an assessment of the
> > bearing condition, and then monitor pressure trends if things are within
> > limits.  If you are over 150,000 miles, you can do the same, but better
> > yet, rebuild the engine now and install the gauge on the new one.
> >
> > Happy motoring!
> >
> > P.S.:  I picked up the new engine yesterday, what a thing of beauty!
> > New everything for $2500.  I also had Jerry install the 1.25 rockers
> > with swivel adjusters and do a three angle valve grind as per Robert
> > Lilly's recommendation, which is all I had time to do.  Jerry also likes
> > these mods, he keeps these parts in stock and also has a three angle
> > valve machine in his shop.
> > --
> > Stuart MacMillan
> > Seattle
> >
> > '84 Vanagon Westfalia w/2.1 engine
> > '65 MGB (Driven since 1969)
> > '74 MGB GT (Restoring)
> >
> > Assisting on Restoration:
> > '72 MGB GT (Daughter's)
> > '64 MGB (Son's)
> >
> > Parts cars:
> > '68 & '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT
> >
>