On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 9:03 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

> The limiting factor on the 2.1 is rod bearings ..
> or stretch rod bolts that don't perform right anymore...
> eventually oil pressure gets lowish.
>
> the 1.9 is a shorter stroke, smoother engine ..
> that does not use stretch rod bolts as I understand it.
> Rebuilders he told me they use 1.9 rod bolts in 2.1 rebuilds, fwiw.
>
> I think doing the heads about every 80K miles is about right.
> I get very nervous when heads have been on for a long, long time, like
> 15 to 20 years and 150+ K miles...
> due to corrosion build up.
>
> 1.9's can do up to 250K like Chris says..
> 180K miles on them is common.
> and ..same thing on the heads ..
> about every 80K miles in my opinion.
>

   I defer to Scott's numbers...he has seen em in person probably by the
hundreds....   Chris Tencent?   I take his statements with a large grain of
salt....After all, he SELLS rebuilt WBX motors...Why would he say anything
other than 'how durable these motors are...if....."   He certainly wouldn't
get many customers for his $8K rebuilds if they were average WBX
motors...or if his customer base had read all the stories I read when I was
considering whether to get a van as my primary work vehicle and something
to commute to Baja and back each year in...
   I am certain a well built and well maintained WBX could probably be very
long lived....but sadly, most people tend to trash their vehicles and not
take great care of them....and the WBX motor responds poorly to abuse, it
seems...
  Now an old Valiant slant-six or a VW inline or a Honda, a Datsun or a
Toyota...they'd probably go 100 miles uphill on no oil and do fine if you
put a quart in.... for another couple hundred thou...  350 Chevy is in
there, too,  as nearly bullet proof...   You can have a 'robust' motor and
walk past a puddle of antifreeze or a few spots of oil, like every busy mom
does or teenager who just wants to get to the Mall often will do...., and
nothing bad will happen, at least not for a while...A WBX motor in that
shape?   You better get right to fixin'..... or soon you will have BIG
problems.....