| Subject: | Re: Longevity of Conversion Engines |
| From: | Randy Charrette |
| Date: | Thu, 21 Mar 2002 22:16:41 -0500 |
<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV> <P>I was just talking to my local vanagon mechanic the other day about this. He does TOns of the I-4 conversion (had 4 motors in crates waiting for installs, and 1 in the shop in progress.). He said 90% or more of customers have had nothing but good things. He has had a couple of header pipes crack (pipe is very long he said), but thats about it. He also pointed out that these conversion kits have only come about over the past 5 years or so. So it's a bit early in the game to detect any major "trends" or problems. All his conversions have been with Tiico. They use a 1.8L block with the heads ect off a 2.0L. This allows you to install with no engine lid modification. I hope to put this engine in by the end of the summer. By then I will have well over 100,000 miles. We also live in Colorado and travel a lot in the in the mountain, and through talking to people with the conversion it makes a huge difference (4th gear over passes instead of 2nd!). Anyways I'm always absorbing info on this, so I will continue to follow and see what others have to say.</P> <P>Randy Charrette</P> <P>87 Syncro weekender</P> <P>211K<BR><BR></P></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>>From: Kim Howe <KHOWE@OMNINET.NET.AU> <DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: Kim Howe <KHOWE@OMNINET.NET.AU> <DIV></DIV>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <DIV></DIV>>Subject: Longevity of Conversion Engines <DIV></DIV>>Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 10:56:34 +0800 <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>As a teenager I worked as a VW mechanic (late 70s). We would often <DIV></DIV>>see <DIV></DIV>>loaf vans, only a few years old, with 80,000 to 100,000 km (ie <DIV></DIV>>50,000 to <DIV></DIV>>60,000) miles come in for an engine rebuild, if they had the type 1 <DIV></DIV>>engine. The vans would be in beautiful condition, with all the right <DIV></DIV>>maintenance done, but the type 1 motor just wasn't heavy duty enough <DIV></DIV>>to <DIV></DIV>>push around the van and live for any length of time. However we'd <DIV></DIV>>never <DIV></DIV>>see a later model Beetle come in like that. In fact my 74 Beetle is <DIV></DIV>>still on it's original engine after 300,000km, though it is showing <DIV></DIV>>some <DIV></DIV>>signs of age. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>To get to the point. The Type IV and Wasserboxer are heavy duty <DIV></DIV>>engines, <DIV></DIV>>and barring overheating in the type IV and head gaskets in the WB <DIV></DIV>>seem <DIV></DIV>>to last a long time pushing around a heavy van. In my experience <DIV></DIV>>with VW <DIV></DIV>>inline fours (in Golfs and Passats) their engines lasted about as <DIV></DIV>>long <DIV></DIV>>as a type 1 engine in a Beetle (or less), and they were pushing <DIV></DIV>>around a <DIV></DIV>>light weight, aerodynamic body. This causes me to wonder what the <DIV></DIV>>life <DIV></DIV>>expectancy is for an inline 4 in a Vanagon, or for a Subaru <DIV></DIV>>conversion, <DIV></DIV>>for that matter, since it is also an engine designed for a much <DIV></DIV>>lighter <DIV></DIV>>and more aerodynamic vehicle. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Just because the engine is good in a smaller vehicle doesn't mean <DIV></DIV>>it's <DIV></DIV>>going to push our heavy vans around reliably for a good amount of <DIV></DIV>>time. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Any thoughts, comments or experiences? <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Kim Howe <DIV></DIV>>khowe@omninet.net.au <DIV></DIV>>82 Air Cooled <DIV></DIV></div><br clear=all><hr>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at <a href='http://g.msn.com/1HM305401/13'>http://explorer.msn.com</a>.<br></html>
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