Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2001 13:49:13 -0700
Reply-To: Chris Smith <chris.smith@AQUILA.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chris Smith <chris.smith@AQUILA.NET>
Subject: Thoughts on a GEX engine
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
I was able to write most of this post while lying under TURD (Totally
Unpredictable Recreational Device('82 Westy)) most of this morning. The
van is 20" raised in the rear right now as she sits on her jack
stands. The engine is dropped most of the way in the rear resting on a
floor jack, and I was resting on a small scrap of plywood to keep the
gravel of her parking pad from digging too deep into my back. TURD's
engine was bought in '99 off the Vanagon list from a listee that had a
spare engine to sell. The price was only $500 plus the seller was willing
to drive it 20 miles to the closest Amtrak station that would handle that
size freight. Total cost including shipping and delivery to my mechanic
was only $585. A deal at twice the price!
The engine was unused and still on it's crate from GEX. The seller had a
GEX engine that crapped out (suprise, suprise) and then had problems
getting them to honor their warranty (some folks just don't know that there
is no honor amongst thieves (sorry about the pun)). In the mean time he
had purchased a good engine, and when GEX finally came through he was left
with an engine that he didn't need or want. At $585 even knowing that it
was a hand grenade, it was too good a deal to pass-up. There was a certain
lack of judgement on my part when I was faced with a dying original engine,
and our families vacation coming in just 3 1/2 weeks that made me jump on
the offer when it was posted. And now that I'm again under the TURD with
less than a week before we leave again it dawns on me that there is a
pattern developing.
1) GEX engines are simply not made to be driven, even if you baby them, and
run them on the cool side and treat them like they will explode if you push
them, they are just for show cars.
2) my family believes in the TURD more than I do.
3) The only time TURD needs any major work is when it's 90 degrees or
hotter in the midwest with humidity at 70% or more.
4) Family trips are only successful if the van just came down off a lift.
5) heater boxes are the last modern archeological finds. It's amazing to
shake one and find the chunk of the motor that broke
6) Friends don't let friends buy GEX no matter what.
The reader of this message may think that I've got some sort of a gripe
against GEX. I do and I don't. Since this is my 3rd GEX engine to
crap-out on me, I do have a bit of experience. But $500 for a type 4 is
about what they are worth. I don't feel that the seller on the Vanagon
list ripped me off, but I no longer feel that I got the better part of the
deal. All in all, it's a draw.
Now it's back to the van, back to the heat, swearing, hammering, sweating,
and more resolution to never buy a GEX engine again. EVER!
Thanks for the forum to vent this built-up steam. TURD will be on the road
by next monday with the family and dog on the road for a week or so. Now
if I can just find enough room for the tools and spares...
Chris Smith
Slave to a TURD
