Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 17:23:15 -0700
Reply-To: Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Engine woes - what to do?
In-Reply-To: <CAFnDXk2H3_uCZ=FuYJ0dHyTb_VgKZGENT+LMh9Cozn=Ru7XVmg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Yea an early American hot rod . I've seen em with blown Hemi's Down to 4 cylinder Pinto engines and all combos in between .
Granted not as drivable or as easy to camp in , but the number with swaps is far better then them with original drive trains. .
Stacy
Sent from my iPhone
> On Dec 24, 2013, at 1:07 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> Does anyone know of a car that has more engine swap possibilities than a
> Vanagon?
>
> Jim
>
>
>> On Tue, Dec 24, 2013 at 6:28 AM, Jack R <jack007@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> I know a couple volks who are very pleased with their Bostig conversion.
>> http://www.bostig.com/
>>
>> In my case, I came very close to putting in a 2.5l 5 cly TDI (owned the
>> motor, and was ready to proceed), but the cost to beef up the trans due to
>> the torque of a diesel among many other things, resulted in converting my
>> 84
>> Wolfie to a 2.1L out of a 91 in tip top shape. Very pleased in all. As I
>> use my Westie for a few weekends of Michigan Camping, and put about 5,000
>> miles on it a year, the ROI from the costly conversion to get more MPG or
>> performance is not there for me.
>>
>> Each conversion is a unique decision, and Scott makes some valid points on
>> your current situation.
>>
>> Good luck with whatever you do... I'll speak for everyone on this list, we
>> ALL hate to see any Vanagon leave circulation!!
>>
>> Jack R.
>> 84 Westy Wolfie with a 2.1L (owned since 87, and restored to original
>> splendor)
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>> Scott Daniel
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 7:14 AM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Engine woes - what to do?
>>
>> I'll have to second this. Inline 4 gasser didn't pop into my mind as a
>> solution out of the poster's current delema ..
>> but yeah ..
>> simple , cheap, durable, easily repalced, all VW , good fuel economy,
>> decent
>> power ..
>> there is a lot to like in a VW-based I4 gasser conversion.
>>
>> ...if I ever find time to my to play with my 3 actually.... ..mutter
>> mutter.
>>
>>
>>> On 12/23/2013 4:07 PM, Don Hanson wrote:
>>> I'll chime in for the inline VW swap as probably the simplest and most
>>> economical way to go. Like Jim, I really like the power, the fuel
>>> economy and the overall simplicity of having a VW motor on VW parts in
>>> my VW van. I did keep the Digifant 1.8 liter head and all the wires
>>> do plug right in, pretty much. It bolts right in using VW diesel
>>> parts that are available and proven...the diesel VW engine is the same
>>> block as the gasser, so all the parts for mounting it are factory
>>> stock. ABA blocks are also identical. My motor cost me about $600
>>> to build from a $300 Jetta ABA and I sold off the extra parts to
>>> almost make a profit.
>>> You can find almost unlimited inline VW motors for under $500 all
>>> over everywhere. The only downside is there is no one source of
>>> information on this particular swap, not that it needs a lot of
>>> explaining. Inline parts are dirt cheap, they are simple to work on
>>> and quite robust. I was a VW rookie when I got mine already
>>> converted, but the fellow who did the conversion was a carpenter and
>>> not a mechanic. I've since done a lot of swapping around and messing
>>> with it, mainly to learn and because they are so cheap and
>>> simple....They are easy to mess with....I never HAD to work on mine
>>> much, but I chose to go to the ABA 2.0 liter block after reading about
>>> it and finding one for $300...Took me 2 days, about to swap all the
>>> stuff over and re-install it into my van. I have a spare motor now,
>>> too...should I ever need one.
>>>
>>> On Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 1:09 PM, Todd Last <rubatoguy@comcast.net>
>> wrote:
>>>> After almost 230,00 miles my '88 Vanagon is displaying symptoms of a
>> head
>> leak - I have not yet confirmed this or done a recent compression test, but
>> plan to do so. I have concluded that one of the worst things you can do to
>> your van is not use it. Bad things happen when they are left sitting!
>>>> In any case I am looking at my options, and started out thinking about
>> replacing the heads, then thought if I was going to do that, I might as
>> well
>> put in new piston rings too, and well, once you do that you might as well
>> go
>> a step farther and do an engine rebuild. Of course, once you get there,
>> the
>> question becomes, stock, modified (like GoWesty) or engine swap. In
>> looking
>> at these options, it looks like a cost of $5,000 or more. From what I have
>> seen, Subaru conversions can reach over $10K. Yikes!
>>>>
>>>> I was wondering if I could get opinions on the best course of action in
>> this situation, not wanting to spend tens of thousands of dollars. Would
>> list memebers give me their 2 cents worth and if possible, what the
>> aproximate costs for the various solutions range from? I'm not sure if it
>> makes more sence to just install new heads and hope for the best, or go
>> full
>> bore and swap the engine.
>>>>
>>>> What does the voice of experience say? Anyone out there have opinions on
>> the GoWesty performance engines vs. a Subaru transplant?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Todd
>>>> '88 Westy
>>>>
>>
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