At  7/13/2007 09:52 PM, David Kao wrote:
>OK you dump the wasserboxer and fit it with a subi. But you still have
>a lot of other stuff that are still the same old things. Won't you feel
>those parts are even more difficult to find?
>
>BTW, if you drive with a 200HP conversion count on swapping the tranny
>too.

Not true from what I've seen on this and the subaruvanagon list. How
many people are running 200+hp engines in their Vanagons? I have seen
one once but I know there are more around...

>That's another $1.5k. Also count on brake work per 20k miles or less.
>With WXB my front brake pads (OEM) last less than 30k already. They probably
>will fall apart if you don't replace them every 20k.
>
>Oh, don't forget CV joints. They will see more beating from the 200HP engine.

Another not true from what I've seen on the lists.

>But of course you do get the thrill of that power. Keep in mind most if not
>all Toyota and Honda vans and SUVs still will out run your subi at any time.

What in the world makes you think folks put a better engine in a
Vanagon so they can race them? A better engine allows you to merge
onto a road like all the rest of the cars, hell it's still a VW bus!

I can't talk for ANYONE but myself, I have driven a VW bus for all
these years because I like to. I feel "comfortable" in it.
My cars are not investments, they are a way to get around,
transportation. In a VW bus I get around with "class", with the
Subaru 2.2 in my current VW bus I get not only "class" but I can
drive with the rest of the traffic.

It's not about money, it's not about race cars, it's not about class
... For me, it's about feeling "right".

This thread has been really interesting in seeing some on the
different folks "outlook" on this subject.

Rob
becida@comcast.net

With a '91 Subaru 2.2 in an '87 Vanagon in western Washington. Over
31k miles on the conversion and it's still great!