necessity is the mother of...

On Tue, Dec 24, 2013 at 3:12 PM, Jeff Palmer <jpalmer@mymts.net> wrote:

> Or reasons to swap :)
>
> > Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 14:07:40 -0600
> > From: jim.felder@GMAIL.COM
> > Subject: Re: Engine woes - what to do?
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >
> > Does anyone know of a car that has more engine swap possibilities than a
> > Vanagon?
> >
> > Jim
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Dec 24, 2013 at 6:28 AM, Jack R <jack007@comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> > > I know a couple volks who are very pleased with their Bostig
> conversion.
> > > http://www.bostig.com/
> > >
> > > In my case, I came very close to putting in a 2.5l 5 cly TDI (owned the
> > > motor, and was ready to proceed), but the cost to beef up the trans
> due to
> > > the torque of a diesel among many other things, resulted in converting
> my
> > > 84
> > > Wolfie to a 2.1L out of a 91 in tip top shape.  Very pleased in all.
>  As I
> > > use my Westie for a few weekends of Michigan Camping, and put about
> 5,000
> > > miles on it a year, the ROI from the costly conversion to get more MPG
> or
> > > performance is not there for me.
> > >
> > > Each conversion is a unique decision, and Scott makes some valid
> points on
> > > your current situation.
> > >
> > > Good luck with whatever you do... I'll speak for everyone on this
> list, we
> > > ALL hate to see any Vanagon leave circulation!!
> > >
> > > Jack R.
> > > 84 Westy Wolfie with a 2.1L (owned since 87, and restored to original
> > > splendor)
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> > > Scott Daniel
> > > Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 7:14 AM
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Subject: Re: Engine woes - what to do?
> > >
> > > I'll have to second this. Inline 4 gasser didn't pop into my mind as a
> > > solution out of the poster's current delema ..
> > > but yeah ..
> > > simple , cheap, durable, easily repalced, all VW , good fuel economy,
> > > decent
> > > power ..
> > > there is a lot to like in a VW-based  I4 gasser conversion.
> > >
> > > ...if I ever find time to my to play with my 3 actually.... ..mutter
> > > mutter.
> > >
> > >
> > > On 12/23/2013 4:07 PM, Don Hanson wrote:
> > > > I'll chime in for the inline VW swap as probably the simplest and
> most
> > > > economical way to go.   Like Jim, I really like the power, the fuel
> > > > economy and the overall simplicity of having a VW motor on VW parts
> in
> > > > my VW van.   I did keep the Digifant  1.8 liter head and all the
> wires
> > > > do plug right in, pretty much.  It bolts right in using VW diesel
> > > > parts that are available and proven...the diesel VW engine is the
> same
> > > > block as the gasser, so all the parts for mounting it are factory
> > > > stock.   ABA blocks are also identical.   My motor cost me about $600
> > > > to build from a $300 Jetta ABA and I sold off the extra parts to
> > > > almost make a profit.
> > > >     You can find almost unlimited inline VW motors for under $500 all
> > > > over everywhere.  The only downside is there is no one source of
> > > > information on this particular swap, not that it needs a lot of
> > > > explaining.  Inline parts are dirt cheap, they are simple to work on
> > > > and quite robust.   I was a VW rookie when I got mine already
> > > > converted, but the fellow who did the conversion was a carpenter and
> > > > not a mechanic.  I've since done a lot of swapping around and messing
> > > > with it, mainly to learn and because they are so cheap and
> > > > simple....They are easy to mess with....I never HAD to work on mine
> > > > much, but I chose to go to the ABA 2.0 liter block after reading
> about
> > > > it and finding one for $300...Took me 2 days, about to swap all the
> > > > stuff over and re-install it into my van.   I have a spare motor now,
> > > > too...should I ever need one.
> > > >
> > > > On Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 1:09 PM, Todd Last <rubatoguy@comcast.net>
> > > wrote:
> > > >> After almost 230,00 miles my '88 Vanagon is displaying symptoms of a
> > > head
> > > leak - I have not yet confirmed this or done a recent compression
> test, but
> > > plan to do so.  I have concluded that one of the worst things you can
> do to
> > > your van is not use it. Bad things happen when they are left sitting!
> > > >> In any case I am looking at my options, and started out thinking
> about
> > > replacing the heads, then thought if I was going to do that, I might as
> > > well
> > > put in new piston rings too, and well, once you do that you might as
> well
> > > go
> > > a step farther and do an engine rebuild.  Of course, once you get
> there,
> > > the
> > > question becomes, stock, modified (like GoWesty) or engine swap.  In
> > > looking
> > > at these options, it looks like a cost of $5,000 or more. From what I
> have
> > > seen, Subaru conversions can reach over $10K.  Yikes!
> > > >>
> > > >> I was wondering if I could get opinions on the best course of
> action in
> > > this situation, not wanting to spend tens of thousands of dollars.
> Would
> > > list memebers give me their 2 cents worth and if possible, what the
> > > aproximate costs for the various solutions range from?  I'm not sure
> if it
> > > makes more sence to just install new heads and hope for the best, or go
> > > full
> > > bore and swap the engine.
> > > >>
> > > >> What does the voice of experience say? Anyone out there have
> opinions on
> > > the GoWesty performance engines vs. a Subaru transplant?
> > > >>
> > > >> Thanks,
> > > >> Todd
> > > >> '88 Westy
> > > >>
> > >
>
>