Hi John,
     If you are in a warm climate, are you using 20-50  oil?  Somehow an arcticwesty name may come from an area that is bone chilling cold where you need 10-30, or 5 - 30.   
    Any knowledge and skills from your air-cooled overhaul will be good. The wasser boxer is similar in many ways just more complex. Removing and installing pistons inside the water jacket is a pita. The wasser boxer doesn't tend to beat out the  #2 main bearing like the air cooled so it doesn't  normally need align bored. Be sure you have a source for main bearing before you start the overhaul, they may be hard to procure.      
    Best of luck with your quest.
Darrell

ps. if you can't fine any bearings for the wasser boxer  the 2.2L subaru is a good choice.     
 .         
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Cooper 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2001 1:00 AM
  Subject: OIL PRESSURE LIGHT/ALARM

  I have an 87 Synchro Westy with 153,000 miles on it.  I was told the heads 
  had been reworked at about 120,000.  I started getting an oil pressure alarm 
  below 3100 rpm after the engine has warmed up.  I replaced both oil pressure 
  sensors, and just finished replacing the oil pump with a high volume pump 
  from Bus Depot.  I still got the alarm after then engine warmed up.  Bummer. 

  A mechanic friend of mine says that my main bearings are probably worn to the 
  point that there is too much clearance.  About ten years ago I rebuilt a bug 
  engine.  I remember having to have the case line bored.  Of course, this 
  required OD bearigs.  Is this common with the 2.1 Wasserboxer?  Has anyone 
  out there replaced the main and camshaft bearings without having to rebore 
  the case?   

  If I do decide to rebuild, what other pitfalls should I look out for? 

  Maybe now is the time to look for that Subaru engine. 

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