your main point and theme...

 "...and though there may be problems they'd be different, not
necessarily worse,
than those encountered with a wbx (or an I4, for that matter)"...

...is well taken.  I learned something and I agree.

Thanks.

Laurence Smith
Hamilton, ON
90 Westy (fanumbos) / 2.2 Subie - real soon now

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List
> [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Bill Kasper
> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 5:24 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Need advice with buying a westy. have a couple
> in mind (new
> to list)
>
>
> i dunno, laurence.
>
> my subaru engine and harness are in two crates in the
> galley of my van,
> so i may not be as qualified as others to comment, but i
> don't see that
> the points you raise are any different than life with a wasserboxer.
> to wit:
>
> On Friday, August 16, 2002, at 01:54 PM, Laurence Smith wrote:
> > A local mechanic would have to go through a unique learning
> > curve every time you need service - and this would be expensive.
>
> depending upon where you live, this could/would be the same with the
> wbx.  and if the horror stories of vw dealers are true (i know, they
> are), i can't imagine a subaru mechanic/dealer would be much worse.
> remember, the 2.2l engines are pretty simple, even for an advanced
> engine.
>
> > Examples:
> > * timing belt replacement - needs mechanical aptitude
> (eg. the custom
> > cooling system may be in the way)
>
> true about the cooling system, but any competent mechanic
> ought to be
> able to do this pretty simply.  yes, the cost of the parts is there,
> too, but what do you pay when the wbx hall sender goes bad?  or the
> ecu?  or the icu?
>
> > * custom cooling system - not easy to bleed the system, (eg.
> > thermostat sometimes needs a little wee hole drilled in
> it, the custom
> > heater lines may need TLC at some point)
>
> well, having experience with the vanagon cooling system, i
> can say it's
> just about the most complex thing i've ever encountered to cool an
> engine.  the subaru system (custom though it may be) is
> much simpler;
> i've looked at a number of solutions to this and unless it
> was hacked,
> it's an easier system to troubleshoot than that of the
> vanagon.  many
> fewer connections, for one thing.  and tell me, just how
> easy is it to
> bleed a vanagon, anyway?
>
> > * custom wiring - makes electrical / computer problems harder to
> > diagnose (eg. fuel pump and ignition relays are from
> Subaru,  there
> > are more use of shielded wires - which is voodoo to lots
> of people)
>
> this is the worst of it, i think.  if the PO gives you the wiring
> information and the schematics, then a good auto electrical mechanic
> ought to be able to straighten things out...if not, then the subaru
> dealer (it's reading fully subaru for the error codes, for example).
>
> > * custom exhaust system - may eventually wear out, custom
> hangers are
> > needed (muffler shop will make you bend over)
>
> i believe all these are available from smallcar.com.  and
> again, given
> the system on the vanagon, they can't be any *worse*, can
> they?  i saw
> gary trovinger's subaru'd syncro westy last week, and i believe his
> muffler mounts were stainless, anyway.
>
> > * custom air intake system - need to remember to buy certain air
> > filters
>
> well, if one writes down the necessary information in the owner's
> manual, mileage book, or somewhere easily found, you don't have to
> remember any more than for the wbx.  and if you get a k&n
> filter, you
> have to remember *much* less frequently.
>
> > If you are not into mechanics so that you can take care
> of the above
> > yourself then I think the conversion would be painfull
> and costly in
> > the long run.
>
> i don't believe the original poster is doing the
> conversion.  i believe
> it's completed, and it's a question of which would be less
> of a problem
> for the non-mechanically inclined.  i believe the subaru
> isn't as bad
> as you've made it out to be, and though there may be
> problems they'd be
> different, not necessarily worse, than those encountered
> with a wbx (or
> an I4, for that matter).
>
> best,
> bill kasper
> '87 syncro westfalia
> soon to be subaru'd
>