The thing to be cautious of is buying an engine long distance.  Any warranty
is useless when the work is done by a local mechanic and the engine
purchased and shipped. The costs to invoke the warrantee make it
impractical.

I say find the best local rebuilder that will install the engine and will
stand behind their work no matter what happens.  Or buy a cheap used engine
and take your chances.

>From: Bob Donalds <donalds1@VERIZON.NET>
>Reply-To: Bob Donalds <donalds1@VERIZON.NET>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Boston Bob engines - Use caution
>Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:53:50 -0500
>
>I did get your email and was going over it and preparing a responce when
>you posted this to the list
>you never mentioned the head gasket blowing just that the
>you felt I owed you 2K for cranks seal replacement
>and that you thought I had glued the seals in that I improperly installed
>them see your email below
>I have done hundreds of engines and never have I glued a crank seals in
>place the engine was not rebuilt with substantial error
>I am sorry for your trouble but as I told you I feel you have ring damage
>and that the engine was not set up right or it was driven to hard to soon
>
>to summerize
>
>you blew the heads off this engine and I am responceable for you driving it
>after the idiot lights came on
>
>you had a minor drain plug leak and a flywheel that weeped after you got
>off the highway
>due to piston ring damage
>
>I made no errors assembling this engine and I do silicone the head gaskets
>in place
>
>Bob Donalds
>
>
>
>
>   Bob:
>   I am considering describing my experiences with you and your rebuilt
>engine on the Vanagon List. Before I do that, I offer you this last
>opportunity to take responsibility for your error in the building of my
>engine. To date, the error of placing glue on the wrong sides of both main
>seals has cost me over $2,000.
>
>   Do you have any response whatsoever?
>
>   Will you take responsibility for your error?
>
>   Will you compensate me for my costs related to your error?
>
>   Do you deny responsibility for the main seals error?
>
>   Do you deny that you built the engine in my van?
>
>   Dan
>
>
>
>
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: DanielCRoberts@aol.com
>   To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>   Cc: donalds1@verizon.net
>   Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 5:19 PM
>   Subject: Boston Bob engines - Use caution
>
>
>   I relied on recommendations from this List and chose Boston Bob when I
>needed a rebuilt engine. Unfortunately, the results were disappointing.
>
>   The Boston Bob rebuilt engine was installed in my 89 Camper GL (2.1
>Liter) last spring. Almost from the beginning I noticed oil leakage from
>the oil drain plug and from the front and rear of the engine. The leakage
>was disappointing but at least did not seem to be severe when I left for an
>extended trip to southeastern US.
>
>   Prior to the trip, I talked with Bob McDonalds (Boston Bob) and he
>assured me the leaks would probably dissipate over time as internal engine
>pressure lessened with engine wear. However, when I returned from my trip,
>my own mechanic examined my engine and showed me that both front and rear
>main seals had substantial leaks, as did the oil plug.
>
>   I contacted Bob McDonalds again. He again suggested the problem might be
>with internal pressure related either to tight piston rings or to a
>collapsed engine gases recirculation tube (his speculation). He eventually
>sent a new rubber tube although my mechanic had assured him and me that the
>existing tube was OK. I installed the new tube anyway. He also sent several
>different oil drain plugs and several different oil drain plug rings.
>
>   None of the drain plugs or drain plug rings stopped the oil leakage from
>the oil drain plug. The oil drain plug still leaked, as did the front and
>rear main seals.
>
>   I sent an email to Bob asking him to provide some compensation for the
>oil leaks and their effect on the value of my Vanagon. He did not respond
>to my email.
>
>   Next, while traveling in Colorado, the engine overheated when the
>alternator froze, breaking the belt that also supplies the water pump. I
>pulled off the road and turned off the engine as soon as the coolant
>trouble light came on. (However, the alternator trouble light had come on
>about one minute earlier and I did not pull over and stop as soon as that
>light came on.)
>
>   I examined the engine and saw what appeared to be a blown front main
>seal. A subsequent examination of the engine by a 30-year Vanagon mechanic
>in Colorado confirmed my suspicion. Of course some would argue the fault
>was mine for not immediately turning off the engine when the alternator
>light came on. However, a subsequent investigation by the Colorado mechanic
>revealed that both front and rear main seals (head gaskets) had been
>improperly installed.
>
>   Both front and rear main gaskets had a large amount of glue over the
>entire inside grooves--facing the engine. As a result, when the glue had
>dried, gaps were created, thereby allowing oil to push through the gaps.
>The Colorado mechanic said that the gasket failure was inevitable, given
>the way the gaskets were installed.
>
>   Boston Bob has refused to respond to my subsequent emails in which I
>asked him to take responsibility for the leaking oil and subsequent blown
>gasket.
>
>   Replacing the improperly installed seals cost me about $1,500. Of course
>this does not include the motel bills when I was stranded in Colorado for
>12 days. Fortunately, I can say the front and rear seals no longer leak
>after being properly installed. The oil plug still leaks.
>
>   This situation has been disheartening, as well as costly. I had been
>pleased to obtain a Boston Bob engine. I thought I was dealing with a
>reputable mechanic. Unfortunately, Boston Bob has refused to stand behind
>his product even though I can document and prove the engine was rebuilt
>with a substantial error.
>
>   Because of the error and because of Boston Bob's refusal to be
>responsible for the error, I suggest other List members use caution when
>considering whether to purchase a rebuilt engine from Boston Bob.
>
>   Dan Roberts
>
>   CC: Bob McDonalds

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