The Diesel engines have a belt driven cam.   It's very expensive if it jumps or breaks due to having to replace only the head, lifters, pushrods and cam if it does so.  The WBX powered Westies don't have that problem.

GregM

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Stuart MacMillan
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 9:25 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Site compiling everything about Westfalias

Well, nobody's perfect.  WBX cams are gear driven right off the crank and last the life of the engine.  I'm impressed with the data on features and colors, etc. as the years went on.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: mcneely4@cox.net [mailto:mcneely4@cox.net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 7:17 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM; Stuart MacMillan
Subject: Re: [VANAGON] Site compiling everything about Westfalias

The web site Stuart mentioned (actually one linked from the one Stuart mentioned, but the same author) contains this paragraph:

"Obviously the more service history information the seller has the better and as with most vehicles if you don’t have any proof that the cam belt has been changed then it is a good investment to get it done. If the cam belt snaps it can cause bent valves and damaged pistons and cylinder head and will be very expensive to fix."

I am not very knowledgeable, but I thought our engines did not have a "cam belt."  What is he talking about?  He seems quite well informed in everything else I read, but this stopped me cold.  Am I just totally ignorant concerning the van engines (don't answer that, please), and have been operating on luck?

mcneely

---- Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote: 
> Maybe this has been posted before, but it's new to me and quite useful 
> for those purchasing a Westy:
> 
> http://www.westfaliat3.info/index.html
> 
> 
> 
> Stuart

--
David McNeely