I bought my 1982 Vanagon Diesel from a junkyard in 1995 with a burnt Diesel
engine.
I put a 91 Jetta 1.8 in it. It now has a 2.0 95 engine. I have been involved
with the wrecking yard industry and the IAA auctions for 6 years.  Of all the
Vanagons I have seen auctioned, and those at wrecking yards, none have had
anything but the stock motor in the vehicle.

A conversion is an investment in time and money-if my car is wrecked, you can
be sure that I will keep the motor!

After answering calls from WBX owners at a local VW business for several
years, I can tell you that sooner or later you will have blown heads. The
don't go the distance the second time around. If you do things to prevent
this, you still have an inferior motor technologically. I regularly drive WBX
Westies here-one has a new motor, broken in, and it can't merge into traffic
ahead of right-lane traffic like my 82 I-4 powered Westy can.

The motor in the 93-later VW's are far superior to the WBX. SO, it only makes
sense to use one of these if you can (or even a Subie, if you prefer).

The amateur installer makes a few mistakes, lacks some equipment, and
everyone sees this as an opportunity to slam the conversion, and condemn it
as being "non-stock," therefore problem plagued.

The list is a great forum for helping each other with the vehicles we love.
So how is it helping to snipe at a Tiico or any other listmembers 's variety
of conversion. Are we that insecure that we have to defend the original
engine as if this was true purism?

I know many VW techs at major Western Washington dealerships that have seen
enough WBX head replacements to last an eternity.
They do conversions on their own Vanagons. (Lynn Cluck at Auburn VW, Peter
Aust at Tom Carsten's Tacoma. )

The inline four is a proven reliable and powerful engine. I have worked on
all-I wouldn't trade my I-4 for any thing.
My advice is: make the best of what you have and if you are really serious
about keeping your Vanagon, do yourself a favor and replace the engine with
something better. Or, if you are able to improve the WBX, I might get one if
you can make these improvements.
1. prevent head gasket leaks(doable)
2. Make lifter bleeding uneccescary.
3. Make waterpump replacement easier.
Etc.
Many improvements can be made(ie Lilley) but cost much more than it is worth
for the average Vanagon owner. I paid $2,000 for my Westfalia, and $1,500 for
the engines, trans, and parts to convert it.
It took me three months.
A Tiico SA 2.0 I have heard can be done in two days by experienced mechanics.
It's hard to shut me up-I have a huge jar full of pennies!

Robert
1982 Westfalia
Seattle

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