On 12/23/06, Nathaniel Poole <npoole@telus.net> wrote:

> I'm contemplating on moving over to the "Dark Side". I'm going to look at
> a
> project '84 Westy today. Guy has pumped tons of money, parts, bodywork
> into
> his van, including a replacement used 1.9 that he can't get working right.
> Not a real VW guy, he has given up in disgust (despair?) and wants it out.
>
> Now I think I know my '80 AC almost as well as my wife (the tin mistress),
> but these waterboxers intimidate me. AC engines are so simple, and I've
> read
> of so many problems on the newer vans that don't apply to my rig.
>
> My question is, what are the things I should look for that are specific to
> the WBX vans that don't apply to the AC? It sounds way more complex a
> piece
> of machinery.
>
> The guy got the motor from a "reliable source" and can't get it running
> right (misfiring, no power) and could easily be something wrong with how
> he
> connected the thing up, or a bad sensor, rather than something major.
> Here's
> hoping.
>
> Advice, please? I'll be checking the list all day.
>
> Nathaniel

Nathaniel,

Check the archives under "Vanagon Syndrome" and "Head Gasket". Those are the
two top contenders in my book as far as issues in the WBX that you would not
experience in an aircooled.

Well, there's other stuff like bleeding the cooling system, leaky rear
heater valve, and a few other annoyances. Those are minor IMHO. Fair trade
off vs. aircooled ills.

You get real heat in a WBX -- important during winter months even here in
San Francisco.

BenT
www.vanagoncafe.info