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Subject:Re: Engine parts source
From:Tom Carchrae
Date:Tue, 6 May 2014 18:07:47 -0700

On Tue, May 6, 2014 at 11:49 AM, TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@gmail.com> wrote:

> Does anyone know the source for striker cranks or big bore kits that some
> of our trusted vendors offer?  Back when I was strictly an air cooled guy,
> I knee these things, the sources for wasser boxers, is, as you all know, a
> much smaller market.
>
>
You could go back to the aircooled days and convert your van to an
oxyboxer: http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewforum.php?f=37

I just rebuilt my bottom end (84) and I agree that there are not as many
providers.  I was told because, unlike AC, the WBX engine does not need
rebuilding so frequently.  Hah.  I'm not sure that is entirely true as mine
needed it - it had a cracked thrust bearing.  But I guess 30 years is a
reasonable bottom end rebuild time - the dates were stamped on the cam
bearings.  Happy 30th to my van, have some fresh bearings.

I suspect one of the reasons there are less mods for the WBX is the added
magic of fuel injection and digital circuits.  Even if they are stone age,
you'd need to reckon with the digital brain as well as making mods, and I
think that bamboozles most.  Never mind the fact that who would need more
than the smoking 100bhp afforded by the 2.1 wbx.

I have ordered pushrod tubes from http://www.cbperformance.com/ and I think
I'd like to track down some new-and-not-$200 injectors at some point as
well.  It is all a bit black magic and lots of research to find out what
may or may not work.  And it seems most people get frustrated and try and
transplant a modern engine in instead.

Tom