I think to understand  the Zetech conversion, it
is best done  by seeing it with your own eyes,
and by your own seat-of-the-pants experience:
driving it.

I will not need a dyno test comparison to help
make a decision between Subaru and Zetech.

They differ in ways that can't be measured by
dynamometers. And, since they are not equal, they
can't be compared fairly. So what's the point?

Your point of decision for any conversion must be
upon seeing and driving the vanagon and the
engine conversion of your choice first , if you
want to be happy with it. Numbers and data alone
aren't enough for me. I got to drive it.

The Zetech Ford looks like an inline -four ,
because it is. Inlines have a bad rap in some
places because of (you know who), and yet my 2.0
Jetta has not let me down after 216,000 miles.
Gee, I'm on the third water pump already.

The inline -four Diesel was an original VW
Vanagon engine and most have said that VW should
have did the gas inline too. And noiw many want a
inline Diesel, the TDI etc.

One look at the Bostig Zetech conversion up
close, and you are curious already.

By the time you lay the pedal down flat you know
you don't really need more than this.

It was so powerful on ,my test drive that even if
my '95 Jetta engine was brand new I would have
declined to race a Zetech.

I was afraid to open it up all the way because
this is urban Boston . I would think the cops
woould take notice of a Vangon defying the laws
of VW Vanagon physics.

 I won't try to make comparisons. The Zetech
engine is something I would have done if
1. They were available in 1995
2.I did'nt have a Diesel Vanagon
3. I had the money.

Albeit the kit is not cheap, but then there is no
reason why you can't do it yourself . It helps if
you can tig weld, and you have engineering
skills, as well as the ability to quickly
assemble the wiring loom in 15 minutes as I
watched Jim Akiba do (ok , maybe a little longer
than that)

I think that for the amount of effort they have
put into this unique conversion they designed,
the money spent is not that much if you consider
that it's the cost of about two WBX installs 3-4
years apart which is not exactly unheard of in
these parts.

COst is an issue for many of us but then this is
a fledgling industry only 2 years old.

As I mentioned earlier, I am an old VW skeptic
.And I was a Bostig skeptic.

How can you not like these guys after you meet
them? And get the t-shirt?

If you are also a skeptic, seeing this conversion
first hand will make it hard for you to resist
liking it. Did I forget to say this kit looks
incredibly factory?  Factory engine yes, but the
rest of the items that are Bostigs look very
factory good indeed.

 No one accept dukes of hazard types would say
that VW screwed up by not offering a V-8 engine
in the bus.

VW dared to be different and got away with it.

Bostig's Zetech has dared to be different and has
designed a conversion motor kit for the Vanagon
that has to be seen and driven to be appreciated.

Robert

1982 Westfalia

Note: this is not a paid advertisement. This is
not even and unpaid advertisement. All personal
 experiences described here are mine and not that
of an  actor or stunt double.

--- David Clarkson <Dvdclarksn@AOL.COM> wrote:

> Hey guys the purpose of my post was not just a
> comparison of power between
> the Subaru 2.5 and the Bostig Zetech but more a
> comparison of all of the
> features for the money invested. Also important
> to me would be the ease of
> installation. I work in the service department
> of a Honda dealership and would  have
> access to a variety of tools lifts etc. I am
> certainly impressed by the  power
> that the subaru 2.5 has overt the Zetech (35 hp
> difference right) but  would
> also have to factor in a very useful upgrade to
> the 3rd and 4th gears that
> would benefit the Subaru conversion (Daryl at
> AA transmission would be great for
>  this). Factoring in the cost of this (shipping
> and opening up the case to
> swap  out 2 gears) might reduce the difference
> in price between the two by
> another  $500.00-750.00 maybe? Maybe the only
> useful feature that both engines
> could  provide that is comparable would be OBD
> II capabilities. Both have
> relatively  easy maintenance (timing belt
> replacement in particular) and I don't know
> if I  have heard whether or not the Subi 2.5 is
> a noninterference engine like
> the  zetech or not. I would change the timing
> belt about every 90-100k if it
> were an  interference engine to avoid valve
> damage if the belt did break to be
> safe (BTDT  with my Honda customers that like
> to play the odds!-expensive).
> The other  features that the zetech has are
> niceties that would give peace of
> mind and  would avoid a total breakdown but are
> they worth the extra bucks? The
> supercharger is intriguing but is it worth the
> extra $3,000 which would bring
>  the uninstalled price to $13,000+ dollars? It
> seems that you could go with
> the 6  cylinder 3.3 Subaru that has slightly
> more power for maybe half of what
> you  would spend on the Zetech but would still
> want to upgrade the tranny and
> maybe  also the axles as well. I would need to
> go to the Vanaru site for more
> info  here. Don't get me wrong; I love the idea
> of power for my Westy and will
> start a  conversion fund now (mayo jar next to
> my mgb 8cyl. conversion mayo
> jar!). I just  want the best combination of not
> only power but reliability and
> other features  in an engine that are important
> to me like cost of repair and
> availability of  parts. I have almost 250k much
> appreciated miles on my 90
> Westfalia now as it's  a daily driver and would
> love nothing more than to get
> that much again. Why not  if you love the
> package and have replaced/rebuilt
> everything else on the van.  It's still cheaper
> than a new car payment/depreciation
> and is just much more fun  than anything else
> to drive and camp in. Sorry for
> the lengthy post but lets all  keep it friendly
> and enjoy comparing notes and
> thoughts.
>
> David Clarkson
> Loyal fan of the Westfalia/Vanagon
>
>
>
> ************************************** Get a
> sneak peek of the all-new AOL at
> http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
>

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