I never even thought to ask Jerry if he'd build a 2.3! Crap! Hahaha! Gonna
have to learn to love my 2.1 for a while

On Monday, May 2, 2016, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:

> ​RE: Engine Replacements
>
> Got to throw this into the mix here.
> I know nothing about the 2.1L rebuilds in that Craig's List ad.
> But I do know that the NWCR 2.3L that I put into my '90 Westy just a year
> ago is great!  a lot more power than the stock 2.1L.
> Did it cost money to do it and do it 'right'?  Yes!  I spent as much having
> the tranny and differential gone through by a good shop and replacing every
> plastic part that had a metal replacement and new stainless long coolant
> lines and new radiator and a bunch more including a GW stainless exhaust
> system (sounds great!) as I did on the engine itself.  BUT still a lot less
> than the quotes I have seen for Subie conversions.  And I did NOT end up
> with a 'Frankenvan' that no one but the few specialty shops around the
> country will be willing to work on.
> All that extra power from a Subie?  Ask Matt at AATransaxle or the guys at
> German Transaxle who their best and repeat customers are!
> I know this is a rant and that many will not agree.  Even though I no
> longer do my own 'wrench turning' and never have been a total gear head
> (kept a lot of cars running over the years just never got into severe mods)
> I have been driving a Vanagon (two of them) for well over 20 years now.
> And hanging out on the various online lists for about 14 of those years.
> Little bits of information kind of stack up in ones mind that way.  ABA and
> inline conversions seem to be one way to go that makes sense IF it is a DIY
> project for those with the knowledge, tools and skill.  Short of that I'll
> stick with the WBX, not near as bad an engine as some would try to tell
> you.  Taken care of and kept in proper tune the original (yes, original)
> 2.1L WBX in my '90 Westy had just 10 miles short of 190,000 on it when it
> came out.  And I hope I live long enough to put that may miles on my 2.3L
> WBX!
>