Best bet for this problem is to keep searching until you find a 
rebuilder close by. Check out his performance history, and if satisfied 
get  him to do the job. Keeping it local gives you acces to the guy who 
did the job, and if some thing goes wrong, he's right there where you 
can take a chainsaw to his desk to express your unhappiness with his 
work, if it comes down to that.

Next best bet is to buy one already rebuilt, from a supplier. But keep 
in mind that the installer will never accept any responsibility for 
anything that even remotely points to a fault of his, and will blame 
virtually every problem on the rebuilder. That being said, one of the 
very best sources for and engine is Bob Donalds  of Boston Engines. He 
is always most helpful. Worth saving for in my opinion.

There are others, and many can be found listed on the Vanagon.com website.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

J. Lapp II wrote:

>Hi folks,
>  Sorry if this question has been asked and answered many times, but I'm new to the mailing list and new to Vanagon ownership.  I picked up my van a little over a month ago, it ran great when I got it, but almost as soon as I got it home the engine started ginving me tons of trouble.  It needs to be rebuilt (and is actually in peices at the moment as the mechanic who looked at it took the liberty of disassembling it), but I'm not sure who to get my rebuild from.  I've been hearing a lot about three companies, AVP Worldwide, GEX, and Boston Engine.  GEX seems to be unreliable from what I've heard so they're out.  Boston Engine has been recommended to me many times, but those engines are a little out of my budget (this GWB economy has got me unemployed).  That leaves AVP, but the problem is that I can't find anyone who knows anything about these guys.  Are they any good?  Does anyone have any experience with them?  I'd be willing to wait until I could afford a Boston Engine if that's
> my only alternative, but I'd rather get a less expensive one and sooner if possible.  Thanks for your help.
>
>Joe Lapp
>'80 Westy
>
>Oh, one last question.  If well maintained how much life can I expect to get out of a rebuilt engine?  Thanks again.
>
>
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