They smell much better running on bio-d or veggie oil! :-)
I've never had a problem with worn cam bearing saddles with the three 1.6s we've
had in the family, and all went to well over 300k (not in Vanagons of course). One of
them, a 1.6TD is now rebuilt and in my Westy, with original head, and the clearances
were fine. I think this problem may be related to lack of regular oil & filter changes. I
understand they can be machined to accept bearing shells if they wear out also.
Aren't the gas I4 cam bearings the same? I haven't heard this being a problem with
them.

On 21 Sep 2005 at 6:27, Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET> wrote:

> The 1.9 is much better than the 1.6. It is still a bit of a dirty smelly
> beast and every 100K will be an accomplishment. Another problem with
> these is the cam bearing saddles in the head wearing out. There are no
> bearings, just the cam against the aluminum.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Arnott [mailto:jrasite@eoni.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 11:24 PM
> To: Dennis Haynes
> Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Diesel Powered Vanagons
>
> On Tuesday, September 20, 2005, at 07:14 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>
> > Unless you are looking to modify it with say 1.9 TDI or otherwise
> > tinker, I'd steer clear. They are grossly under powered, no AC or
> power
> > steering. The like to crack heads, blow head gaskets, and destroy
> > rings.
> >
> >
> > Dennis
>
> Or a 1.9 NA or TD.  About a $3k fix, but then it's fixed.
>
> I've had mine for three years and unless something really interesting
> comes along, it's my 'forever van.'
>
> Sleeps my bride and I quite comfortably, Has enough room to change
> one's mind in and gets (one year average) 26.94 mpg. If things get
> REALLY bad, we could live in it.
>
> Mine hasn't cracked its head, though it has blown a head gasket after
> sticking a thermostat on a 105 deg. F day. Took all of $50 and four
> hours to fix it. I consider the lack of power steering and AC to be a
> benefit. Two less things to fail. (It's a flippin' VW, not a Lexus.)
> I've not seen destroyed rings either.
>
> As far as being 'grossly underpowered"; I suppose that it's all a
> matter of perspective.  Having left SoCal behind 10 years ago, I no
> longer feel the urgent need to run at 80-95 mph on an eight lane
> superslab.  Living in rural Oregon lends itself well to the power
> characteristics of the 1.9 NA (naturally aspirated,. Read,
> unturbocharged) motor.  I can drive the 300 miles to Portland and
> average 60 mph.  Filling up at the other end for less than $30 makes
> the extra 40 minutes it takes me to get there seem rather trivial.
> Besides, 60-65 is plenty fast to drive through the Columbia Gorge.
>
> If I wanted to increase the speed to 65-75 it's a simple matter to
> turbo the NA motor.  But for me, the NA is fine.  I ain't in that big
> of hurry. And besides, in the three years that I've owned The Orphan,
> I've watch its value go from about $3k to about $7.5k. If you want a
> diesel, you better get it soon.
>
> Like I said. I may well be my forever van.
>
> (If you're interested in learning more, there are a few VW diesel lists
> about.  Mark Drillock and I admin the diesel-vanagon list on
> Yahoogroups.  There you'll find those that have seen the light.)
>
> Jim
>
> "We need a revolution."
> "Keep saying that and we'll need a lawyer, assuming they let us have
> one."
>
> Jan Steinman <www.Bytesmiths.com>
>

Shawn Wright
http://zuiko.sls.bc.ca/~swright
'85 Jetta D
'88 Westy 1.6TD 5 speed
 (see progress at http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels)
'82 Diesel Westy