OT: Vanagon Engine Drop on Sunday, Any NW guys want to help? or supervise? Options

[KELTY360]

Dropping a waterboxer on Sunday if anyone wants to swing by. Refreshments to be arranged if anybody is interested. I'm on the border of Renton and Newcastle.

[PeeGreen 914]

I can't but would love to. I'll still try but as it stands there is no way (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Root_Werks]

I gotta work from 11-5 on Sunday. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I'll give you a call after 5PM, be happy to supervise. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[KELTY360]

I gotta work from 11-5 on Sunday. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I'll give you a call after 5PM, be happy to supervise. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

I guarantee multiple opportunities to tell me I'm doing it wrong. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tom_T]

Dropping a waterboxer on Sunday if anyone wants to swing by. Refreshments to be arranged if anybody is interested. I'm on the border of Renton and Newcastle.

What are you going to put in instead or do to it while it's out Marc? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

My wife want the big 2.4 or 2.5L GoWesty waterboxer in "her car" - our 88 Westy - I can just see her popping wheelies in it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)
- she already does the turns on 2 wheels! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yikes.gif)

.... but I told he she has to wait until it needs a new engine - gotta get my 914 resto done first doncha know! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[KELTY360]

Dropping a waterboxer on Sunday if anyone wants to swing by. Refreshments to be arranged if anybody is interested. I'm on the border of Renton and Newcastle.

What are you going to put in instead or do to it while it's out Marc? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

My wife want the big 2.4 or 2.5L GoWesty waterboxer in "her car" - our 88 Westy - I can just see her popping wheelies in it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)
- she already does the turns on 2 wheels! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yikes.gif)

.... but I told he she has to wait until it needs a new engine - gotta get my 914 resto done first doncha know! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I've got another 2.1 wasserboxer going into it so I can sell the 2wd Westy. I've also got a Syncro Westy that's getting a 3.3 Subie six. I'm convinced that the Subie is the way to go in a w/c Westy. Even though I'm doing the six, the 2.5 or 2.2 fours are ideal compared to the wasserboxer; more power, much better mileage, more reliable and a great torque curve. VW bailed on quality engineering when they converted to water cooling in the Vanagon. Conversely, the only real weak point of the Vanagons are the engines. The platform itself; tranny, suspension, interior layout are all excellent and make for great traveling partners.

[Tom_T]

Dropping a waterboxer on Sunday if anyone wants to swing by. Refreshments to be arranged if anybody is interested. I'm on the border of Renton and Newcastle.

What are you going to put in instead or do to it while it's out Marc? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

My wife want the big 2.4 or 2.5L GoWesty waterboxer in "her car" - our 88 Westy - I can just see her popping wheelies in it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)
- she already does the turns on 2 wheels! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yikes.gif)

.... but I told he she has to wait until it needs a new engine - gotta get my 914 resto done first doncha know! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I've got another 2.1 wasserboxer going into it so I can sell the 2wd Westy. I've also got a Syncro Westy that's getting a 3.3 Subie six. I'm convinced that the Subie is the way to go in a w/c Westy. Even though I'm doing the six, the 2.5 or 2.2 fours are ideal compared to the wasserboxer; more power, much better mileage, more reliable and a great torque curve. VW bailed on quality engineering when they converted to water cooling in the Vanagon. Conversely, the only real weak point of the Vanagons are the engines. The platform itself; tranny, suspension, interior layout are all excellent and make for great traveling partners.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

My mechanic Hans in HB - whom I think you knew - told us to stay away from the early WB's when we went looking in 88, & also checked some used 86-87's (but my wife wanted an automatic & new for "her" DD). It's been a great family XC trip & camping vehicle too, having 200k+ on it now with trips up to the PNW/Vancouver Is. & almost to the east coast, etc. every year!

Never thought of trying the Subie's 4 or 6 before, but think that the 4/48 warranty from GoWesty is a good deal - if the follow through & really cover everything!

A Subi might "encourage" my wife & 21 yr. old son still at home in college to rip it up too much around town, & I don't know how well that would work with our recently rebuilt Auto-transaxle in there! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[McMark]

Got pictures of the 2nd Westy that's getting sold?

[Bleyseng]

For a engine swap/upgrade I like the Ford Focus engines as they drop in, 130HP EFI, and you can turbo em. You can buy a crate motor from Ford too brand new....Subies have had their head problems too over the years....

[KELTY360]

Got pictures of the 2nd Westy that's getting sold?

Sure. Here's a few:

Vanagon wheelbase is 13mm longer than a 914.

[Tom_T]

For a engine swap/upgrade I like the Ford Focus engines as they drop in, 130HP EFI, and you can turbo em. You can buy a crate motor from Ford too brand new....Subies have had their head problems too over the years....

And here I thought you were the die hard aircooled fan! ... well now I'm truly disappointed! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

... yeah, I've had my "head problems" over the years too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

Oh, you meant engine head - that too.

On our first long XC trip - when the van was new & kids were little, my wife was driving while I snoozed in the back, & she dropped it into 1st on the grade on I-40 outside of Kingman AZ & over-revved it, bending the valves! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Of course that was a Saturday, so we spent the next 5 days of our 2 week trip back to IN-AR-OK in lovely Kingman awaiting a new set of valves/heads to arrive & get installed (don't recall the VW shop on the main drag, but they did a good job).

Then threw a rod through the top of the case at around 120k between Zzzzyx & Daggett on I-10 coming home from the same trip - complete new 2.1 w/b & old case to scrap!

And more recently had some fried valves down in San Diego moving our daughter stuff to/from college - for a top end in 2005 at 180k +or so.

I guess we just never got to the coolant waterfall from the heads/gaskets stage though because of those rebuilds! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[KELTY360]

For a engine swap/upgrade I like the Ford Focus engines as they drop in, 130HP EFI, and you can turbo em. You can buy a crate motor from Ford too brand new....Subies have had their head problems too over the years....

No doubt another good way to go and I have heard about the head problems on some model Subie engines. That Bostig conversion on the ZTEC is very slick and I have friends who swear by them.

[Tom_T]

Got pictures of the 2nd Westy that's getting sold?

Sure. Here's a few:

Vanagon wheelbase is 13mm longer than a 914.

VERY Nice! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) ... someone needs to give it a good home!

... from upholstery & bumpers, it's an 87 I presume!?

Is that original paint?

Ours is Dove Blue & still original paint except top & a bit in the lower rear where a kid did a stop light roll forward into my wife in `07 & a pipe/bollard scrape at a gas station I did on the lower RR 3/4-fender panel that we had all done in 5/07. No good pix other than this partial view of it though, plus my wife's art stuff is in the middle anyway!

[KELTY360]

I don't know Tom, when the old lady is happy, everybody's happy. Might want to get her that upgrade before she starts seeing the bills come in on that rusto.

Not to downgrade GoWesty, because I think they are a big help keeping Westies on the road, but I think they are starting out from a position of weakness trying to salvage something out of that cobbled together engine. They offer that 4/48 warranty because that's the only way the could sell one. MPG goes down with the increased size and you have to burn premium. A Subie-4 will give more HP, 20+ MPG and more trouble free operation. For my money, a punched out wasserboxer is like putting lipstick on a pig.

[Katmanken]

Hey,

Mine's been running really good. Did have the head gasket leak and the replace 26 hoses in the water system drill, but it's been good other than that. Head gasket leaks were a JB weld fix and have lasted at least 40K.

OK. It does suffer from the sticky lifter syndrome if the oil isn"t changed.

Wanna make that thing a delight to drive???

Ditch that set of 14 inch steel wheels and swap them out with the Mercedes 15 inch alloys.

I can't begin to tell you how much of a handling improvement it made for the cost of $100 for decent wheesl and tires at a swap meet.

It makes the 50/50 weight balance shine.........

[championgt1]

Nice westy Marc. Wish I could give you a hand on Sunday, but my sister is in town.

[KELTY360]

Hey,

Mine's been running really good. Did have the head gasket leak and the replace 26 hoses in the water system drill, but it's been good other than that. Head gasket leaks were a JB weld fix and have lasted at least 40K.

OK. It does suffer from the sticky lifter syndrome if the oil isn"t changed.

Wanna make that thing a delight to drive???

Ditch that set of 14 inch steel wheels and swap them out with the Mercedes 15 inch alloys.

I can't begin to tell you how much of a handling improvement it made for the cost of $100 for decent wheesl and tires at a swap meet.

It makes the 50/50 weight balance shine.........

I've got AMG 15s that are going on the Syncro. Tires make such a diference on these rigs. I've got Michelin Agilis on the 14s and they are a big improvement from previous. Better handling and much less buffeting in side winds and truck turbulence.

The wasserboxer can be made to run pretty good, but even on the best day it's over stressed when hill climbing; and we have lots of slope out here. I'm tired of downshifting into 2nd on a steep grade or at the top of a pass. That engine is just a poor match to the vehicle but VW didn't want to put any more time and money into re-engineering.

[KELTY360]

Nice westy Marc. Wish I could give you a hand on Sunday, but my sister is in town.

Thanks Jack. Have a good time with your sister.

[realred914]

Hey,

Mine's been running really good. Did have the head gasket leak and the replace 26 hoses in the water system drill, but it's been good other than that. Head gasket leaks were a JB weld fix and have lasted at least 40K.

OK. It does suffer from the sticky lifter syndrome if the oil isn"t changed.

Wanna make that thing a delight to drive???

Ditch that set of 14 inch steel wheels and swap them out with the Mercedes 15 inch alloys.

I can't begin to tell you how much of a handling improvement it made for the cost of $100 for decent wheesl and tires at a swap meet.

It makes the 50/50 weight balance shine.........

If nyour using a non-Mahle filter, that might make the lifter noise on start up for first several blocks, fram filters did that to my vanagon, switched to mahle and lifter noise went away, and oil pressure actually rose a bit!

[Sailor]

Got my fill of Vanagon undersides today - evaluating coolant leak. Looks like the flange has broken off the plastic pipe at the radiator end. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) BTW good looking Westy.