I purchased my 90 Carat with about 125k on the broken odometer and coolant
stains on the headgaskets.  The engine still worked fine, but instead of
just fixing the heads, I bought a VWoA rebuild and replaced the engine box
coolant and fuel hoses / pipes.  The reason I chose the GM Bulley
preventative maintenance route instead of fixing the heads only was:

1:  The odometer was broken, so I had no idea how many miles were really on
the van.

2:  The DPO had no concept of Vanagon maintenance -- or car maintenance in
general.  The dipstick and coolant reservoir were both bone dry when I went
to purchase the van, and there was an obvious oil seal leak.  They were
showing off the van to a buyer, and they didn't even wash or vacuum it!  Of
course, they knew I was crazy enought to buy it, and they were right.

3:  A new rebuild wasn't that much more $$$ than the head job, especially
considering how much abuse the engine had alread had.

I have 139k on it now, with the repaired odometer, and we are very happy!

Replacing the transmission is next on my list!

Michael Townsend

----------
> From: JordanVw@aol.com
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: '86 up vanagon owners.....all please read,and post it to the
list..
> Date: Monday, August 28, 2000 10:53 AM
>
>  >>how many of you 2.1L owners are on your second engine, and if so, at
what
>  mileage did you replace it? and what was the reason for failure?   how
many
>  of you have over 200k mi on your original engine (without rebuild) ??<<
>
> i'd appreciate if all of ya with the 2.1L would take the time to respond-
and
> post your experience w/ your engine to the list..  im not trying to start
> some annoying thread, i just think that hearing input from all the
> listmembers with the 2.1L (or those of you with a 1.9L feel free to post
the
> stats on when you replaced your engine too) would be beneficial to all..
im
> trying to just see what the average failure rates are for these
particular
> engines.
> appreciate your response-
> TIA
> chris