

| Subject: | Re: Vanagon reliabillity reputation (Long) |
| From: | Graham Challis |
| Date: | Mon, 27 Sep 1999 14:33:44 -0700 |
I'm amazed that an engine builder has not heard of the fact that a torqued bolt will stretch - that's one of the items that HAS to conform to specifications in an engine rebuild and if it's been stretched it's not going to conform. Plus, how much do a few bolts and nuts cost? --- Steve@SCHWENK-LAW.COM wrote: > They sure do love those parts mark-ups, though! > > John wrote: > > > > List members, > > > > Following up my comments on the new Vanagon > owner's spark plug blowing > > out of the head, I remembered (at least) two other > notable instances. > > > > 1) Two years ago I needed an engine and went > shopping (I settled for a > > VW Canada remanufactured long block). When I > talked with engine > > suppliers, I asked to talk with their head > technical guy to discuss WHAT > > goes into their reman motors. When I talked with > the GEX tech guy, I > > noticed on the list of new components, 2.1L con > rod bolts were not > > listed. When I asked about the absense of new con > rod bolts, the GEX > > tech guy asked "why should we replace them"? > > > > People like the GEX guy are contributing to the > Vanagon poor reliability > > reputation while draining the purses of the > Vanagon owners! Many Vanagon > > owners who endure the cost of a so called > remanufactured motor that > > "granades" will usually sell the Vanagon as-is > believing that high > > mileage Vanagons are just not reliable when the > engine builder's product > > ignorance is the real problem. This is probably > why the few competent > > and professional engine builders (Boston Engine, > etc.) have almost a > > mythical reputation. > > > > 2) A while ago, on the advice of national VW > customer relations, I > > visted an authorized VW service department for > some information. What I > > found was wide-spread Vanagon product ignorance > and a genuine distaste > > for the Vanagon. One particularly negative > technician openly berated the > > Vanagon product in front of service advisers and > other employees. When I > > asked his qualifcations, I found the following: > > > > 1) He never attended any Vanagon technical > training > > > > 2) He rarely works on Vanagons because "they're > junk" > > > > 3) "Everybody" knows how poorly designed the > Vanagon is > > > > With an attitude like this, this dealer and other > like-minded repair > > facilities are UNFIT to put their hands on the > Vanagon product. If they > > do, either their product ignorance or their poor > opinion of the Vanagon > > will endanger the longevity of the repair. > > > > Thanks for listening, JP > > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com
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