I second that!  Please, everyone, take your love for Subie/ Vanagon
conversions to the list that caters to this specialty.
That's where it belongs, not hard-selling it here.

Mike B.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Miguel Pacheco" <escorpion1955@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2007 6:10 AM
Subject: Re: Inside a Subi engine EJ22

> Benny, I am probably like so many others.....I really enjoy your posts.
> But,
> damn man, take it easy. I have known about the Subie conversion for years
> and know that they have become much better, but I am set on a TDI and that
> is it for me. There are others like me on this list. Why are you suddenly
> doing such a hard sell on the Subie?
> What I don't understand is that suddenly you are so ardently pro-subie
> conversion.....like overnight! Furthermore, your website is sooo damn
> good,
> with the videos showing how to do head jobs, etc, that it actually
> encourages me away from the Subie. I love that stuff and I love the
> challenge. I have done it for years. The oft-slandered waterboxer has
> transported me for so long and for such a great distance.  Let me tell you
> that, from my first Vanagon (an 84) to all my latest , which run the gamut
> all the way to 90, I have run more miles, under the most adverse demands,
> than most, with the stock waterleaker under the hood. I put an amazing
> 300K
> on my Syncro without one single problem.....just kept my word that I would
> keep mechanics out of that compartment. My Mantra has always been that I
> work on it, using the Bentley and my common sense. Now you may say that
> this
> has worked for me but may not for others, but hell man, how about we say,
> 'if you follow the directions, this is a workable path, using the motor
> that
> VW put there.'?? After all, I never performed any kind of magic. I just
> changed the oil, adjusted the throttle switch, changed the O2 Sensor, etc.
> I
> have had head leaks and all kinds of problems, but I have traveled over
> 800,000 over the last twenty years, using a waterboxer, trouble free!!
> Lucky
> me, whenever I did break down, I was close to my home. Yeah, but as you
> may
> guess, I was a commuter and you may claim that yeah, I put all those easy
> highway miles on it(if there is such a thing for a waterboxer)but let me
> give you a heads up, I had the confidence to put this baby into service to
> get me to work. Now that's a tall order and it never, ever, let me down.
> This engine conversion thing is relative to what you want to do. My take,
> after reading and reading on this subject is that there are plenty that
> want
> more power, etc, but there are also lots that want to take it easy and
> enjoy
> the view. Now, let me tell you that my waterboxer philosophy has always
> been
> to drive the hell out of it and I have only felt slow when I was hauling
> all
> my rafting equipment and passengers. Oh and let me tell you that I have
> rafted all over the SW and everyone always wants to ride in Miguel's van
> and
> let me tell you why........because Miguel never breaks down and because it
> is just damned comfy riding in his van!!
> In closing, let me say that, yeah, I am up for more power and will pursue
> the TDI conversion soon, but, shit hell fire man just enjoy your van and
> quit forcing it on us. Hell, I know it must be a sweet ride. There is no
> doubt.
> So, just two little bits to close........one is that no fr@$%ing way the
> subie stacks up against the TDI and two, as much as I may dislike an
> inline
> four, Mr. Jim Akiba is so well informed and articulate that, hell, any one
> of my vans will see a Zetec way before they see a Subie.
> So, enjoy your van, Benny. It is beautiful, no doubt, we have all seen it
> and can only guess that it is butter smooooooth. I just do not understand
> your die-hard determination to make us believe what we have read about
> over
> and over again for sooooo long.
> Damned long, I know, but hell, I just couldn't stand it any longer.......
> Gracias! Miguel