Hi Julianna,

When, soon after I joined the list, I began to read about the prices you
good people in the USA have to pay for engine work, I was stunned.  Here in
the UK we can buy whole replacement exchange engines for what it costs for
one major repair to an engine in the USA, or so it seems.  A 1.9 litre DG
Vanagon engine (no ancillaries) seems to cost about $2000 from a VW dealer
and a little less from an independent.

I wondered if it would be worth trying to exchange your engines across the
pond ... or even paying the surcharge asked when buying an exchange engine
and not reclaiming it if it cost the same as, or more than, the
transatlantic shipping cost of the used unit.  Just a thought.

If anyone is interested I could post the web site URLs and email addresses
of some of the UK suppliers.

Best regards,

Tony.

+++++

>Date:    Thu, 30 May 2002 18:05:01 -0700
>From:    Julianna Thoennes <mumbrue@ATTBI.COM>
>Subject: Help!  Head replacement cost.
>
>Hi all,
>
>I have been leakin' now for a couple of years, and the power level has been
>decreasing very steadily lately.  I figure it is time to change >out that
>3/4 head.  I want to get a Tiico, but don't have the funds >for that as of
>yet.  Bug Werks has quoted me 1100.00 to redue the one
>side, including a new head, and 1700.00-1800.00 to do them both.  I
>am having sticker shock, and I was wondering what the general dollar amount
>would be out here on the West Coast.  (Oregon to be specific)
>Would I be better off going to some place in Portland?  Yikes!  I feel
>I need to take care of this in the next week or so.  I have several
>camping trips that are calling me before I have this baby!  (3rd in
>tow, due mid October)  I AM mechanically inclined, but am just
>learning the little stuff, so doing it myself is a little daunting.
>
>Thanks everyone!
>Julianna
>90 VW Vanagon Westfalia
>76  VW Automatic Bay Westfalia

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