I would have gotten the engine running and done a full evaluation before
pulling the transmission. If both needed service pull them at the same time.

119K by itself does not indicate overhaul. Fun Bus is now over 270K and I
drove it from NY to Florida last year and will likely be doing that again in
a few weeks. Do the evaluation and take it from there. After all these years
there are so many other things that can leave you on the side of the road
and many of those failures will damage your fresh rebuild anyway.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
JRodgers
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 5:49 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: WBX Recommendations Sought

A few years ago, I acquired a '91 carat that had sat in a garage for near 10
years.  3-1/2 years ago I got it running and it was sweet - BUT
- I couldn't drive it because the tranny was toast. So it just sat. I would
run it once in a while - the one day it just wouldn't start. I put it back
in storage where it sat without running for three years until now. The
tranny rebuild will be done soon BUT - after considering that the engine has
119,000 miles on it - and operated in who knows what kind of manner - and
given that I plan a looooong trip cross country in it after it's put back on
the road - I'm wondering if it wouldn't be prudent to just go ahead and have
a complete top end overhaul from the get go. Heads, valves, cylinder
barrels, rings, maybe even rod end bearings, oil pump and water pump. I know
the lower end of these engines are tough, and I figure that the lower end
would be just fine with a top overhaul.

Opinions and recommendations from our WBX Gurus are much solicited.

Thanks,

John Rodgers