Even though I just dropped 6300 total on a 2.2 WBX, I'm in agreement with
you, Stuart. I'm hoping to sell this rebuilt WBX off within the next year
or two and put in a more modern power plant. Feels like I wasted money, but
I had to get the bus back on the road. Any conversion I'll be doing myself.

On Tuesday, May 3, 2016, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:

> Jerry at NW Con Rod admitted he had problems with his piston kit supplier,
> so this problem has been going on for the past 16 years. My first question
> when he told me this was "then why the hell did you keep using them?!!
>
> The good thing about him is he is a production engine rebuilder with a
> full machine shop and clean room for assembly, so he can do anything that's
> needed.  The bad thing is that unless you specify exactly what you want
> (valves, rings, studs, etc.) he will do the minimum to maximize his profit,
> which is to be expected.
>
> Go Westy pushes the limits of the WBX design with increased compression
> and displacement.  You can read about how well this is going on The Samba.
> As these engines get over 50k miles there will be a lot more to read.
>
> They will go up to 2.3 on a 1.9 case, but it has to be modified for the
> stroke. They are running out of 2.1 cases, hence the $1000 core, little of
> which you can expect to get back, as they freely admit.  When you figure
> well north of $7000 with shipping, crating, and core for an obsolete
> engine, it makes a Subaru conversion a no-brainer for me. But I can do it
> myself, though there are four shops around here that can do it and will
> work on DIY conversions too.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> <javascript:;>] On Behalf Of Dennis Haynes
> Sent: Monday, May 02, 2016 9:54 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <javascript:;>
> Subject: Re: User Input: Oval's Motorsport Rebuilt Engines
>
> Many of the piston/cylinder sets are notorious for bad rings. The 96mm big
> bore sets often have the wrong rings on them, 94mm rings on 96mm cylinders.
> Huge ring gaps until the rings snap.
>
> For all the money often spent on rebuilds I find the water boxer responds
> very well to just replacing the parts broken or worn. Heads, rings, gaskets
> etc. If the case is shot then shot it is. I have repaired many an engine by
> doing just one cylinder/piston. Quality rings is the key and when folks are
> willing going  for the "total seal" gapless 2nd ring makes a huge
> difference in reducing blow by.
>
> When replacing the piston cylinder sets I often throw the rings away and
> replace with something better. When possible I try to get the COFAP sets.
> They have yet to let me down. As for displacement upgrades the thought of
> thinner cylinder walls added to increased compression ratio and to the
> extreme longer stroke crank just adds to reduced engine life and possibly
> NOx emissions issues.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> <javascript:;>] On Behalf Of Loren Busch
> Sent: Monday, May 2, 2016 10:28 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <javascript:;>
> Subject: Re: User Input: Oval's Motorsport Rebuilt Engines
>
> ​RE: NW Connecting Rod Rebuilds
> Jerry does a 2.2 and a 2.3L in addition to stock 2.1L rebuilds.  Although
> NWCR has a stellar reputation a close friend is have to replace her 2.1L
> NWCR rebuild at just 50k miles, serious problems with it.  Installed by
> Northwesty just a couple of years ago.  Zero compression on #1 and sucking
> a quart of oil per tank of gas.  So Jerry's engines are not bullet proof.
> And her situation is disappointing.  She has had a lot of running problems
> in the last couple of years and Northwesty was never able to get that
> engine in tune so don't know if the problem is the initial rebuild or that
> the whole system was not set up right.  And about three years ago another
> friend had NWCR go through her GoWesty 2.2L and when it was back in zero
> compression on #3!  Jerry made it right but disappointing with their
> reputation for good work.  Even my 2.3L had to be pulled after install to
> correct a leaking seal.  Jerry stood by that and reimbursed my shop for
> that extra work.
>