Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 23:36:24 -0500
Reply-To: andrewbell <andrewbell@QWEST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: andrewbell <andrewbell@QWEST.NET>
Subject: Re: Engine conversions and such...(Long and rant like)
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Lilley-ites... Mr. Lilly, you've made it! Retire the wrenches!!
AB
Chuck Mathis wrote:
> Oh if ever there was a subject that needs a separate list it is conversions.
> A nice safe place where people can argue and hurl insults freely. On this
> list we are driving wedges right and left.
>
> Me, I've got a solid low mileage original 1.9L that's working just fine.
> Some folks would advocate tearing this miserable piece of junk out and
> replacing it with another engine. According to the Subie guys I need to use
> a Japanese engine cause it is way more powerful, economical and dependable.
> According to the I4 guys I should use a Golf engine cause it is way more
> powerful, economical and dependable. According to the Lilley-ites (I am a
> semi practicing one) I should balance, polish, coat, tweak and tune my WBX
> because it is way more powerful, economical and dependable. Michael
> Haywood-Sullivan is doing (maybe is done with) a fascinating 1.9L TDI
> conversion that is way more powerful, economical and dependable. According
> to the WBX crowd if I put anything other than a dead stock WBX in it I will
> ruin the collectible value of the vehicle not to mention trashing its
> precious German heritage.
>
> I'd really like to see some good side by side comparisons of the Subies, I4s,
> TDIs and Lilleys -- solid comparisons not a lot of "My <insert engine of
> choice> is way better than your <insert other engine of choice> 'cause I said
> so." Would any of you guys really fess up if you spent $4K to $7K and ended
> up with a piece of crap? Some times I think I spent way too much on my van
> but I'm sure as hell not going to say so.
>
> I've wanted a Westy since the first time I saw a '67 model way back when.
> First time I saw a Vanagon Westy I fell madly in love with it. Took quite a
> few years before I could afford one but now I have it. Collectible value?
> Don't care cause I'd have to sell it to collect. When my 1.9L gives out I
> will look at options -- facts like weight, horse power, torque, fuel
> enconomy, dependability, maintainability and availability will be very
> important, unsubstainated opinions will not. I really could care less if a
> converted van will go 85+ mph -- I don't need to do that anymore (I went 90+
> mph once in a '67 Deluxe -- scared the hell out of me). I will keep this
> vehicle until we are both worthless pieces of junk. What engine I decide to
> put in the back is not worth fighting over.
>
> We all have strong personalities that's why we have these vehicles not a
> Dodge or a Ford or a Winnebago. We're not quite the same as other people.
> If we spend a lot of time and energy alienating each other this list will get
> real small and we'll all be a little lonelier. Our vans probably won't run
> as well either.
>
> Chuck
> '85 Wolfsburg Westy - 'Roland the Road Buffalo'
>
> In a message dated 6/28/01 7:55:21 PM, korkwood@SURFREE.COM writes:
>
> << > FWIW I get tired of the my-Subie/I4/WBX-can-kick-your
> WBX/Subie/I4's-butt debates too. Probably quite a few of us out there since
> there are still a lot of posts dealing with WBXs.
>
> Don't blame Suby or I4 for it, it's some of the WBX devotees that can't leave
> the issue alone.
>
> Can't figure out what exactly irritates them so much about conversions so
> they keep attacking anyone
>
> thinking diffrently...
>
> Leon
>
> 85 Subwagen Westy >>
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