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Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:26 pm

I am so confused need a new engine for my 88, and I'm not rich. Does anyone out there recommend swaping out a pitted engine for a rebuilt dealer engine or is a conversion the only way to go? Dealer engine has new heads, pistons, push rods, tubes and valves etc. on a rebuilt core. I hear so much talk about conversions, Gowesty engines and Boston Bob rebuilds. Does anyone out there have any faith in the original design? has anyone done a 2.1 l swap for a factory/dealer rebuild and been extremely satified or should I just sell my first born and go with a Gowesty, Boston Bob or a suby/tiico conversion? I am not intersted in more HP, just want a reliable engine that enjoys my TLC.
Thanks in advance,
The Buelow :)

1988 VW Vanagon (Savanna) 2.1 L wasserboxxer plain jane no bells no whistles

Fri Dec 23, 2005 4:50 am

I have a Boston Bob engine, I'm happy with it. If I had the info I have now, I'd go with a tico, more $$, but I think you'd get more life & power out of it. Just my .02

Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:56 am

I have a boston bob engine that i red lined twice and overheated once.still going 35,000 miles on it . :D

Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:14 am

I have the GoWesty 2.2 in my 1984. It's their smallest motor and is rated at 105 horsepower. It has plenty of power over the old 1.9 and 2.1 motors. It's not so much a new design as it's a high quality upgrade of the existing technology. It's still the same flat four engine but with better internal components. I like it a lot. It's going to be VERY similiar to the dealer engine you mentioned but I'm confident in saying it's better quality. If I had "hella" bucks I would have a Subaru 2.2 engine conversion done. Better mileage, cleaner burning engine.....but 30 percent more expensive...

Good luck . . . .

Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:37 am

What better internal components?

Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:33 pm

Quote: If I had "hella" bucks I would have a Subaru 2.2 engine conversion done. Better mileage, cleaner burning engine.....but 30 percent more expensive...

What?

How'd you do your math? You can get a good Subaru engine for and conversion for something around $2500. You spent $3500. And once you do the conversion, you can replace the engine for a lot cheaper.

Fri Dec 23, 2005 1:23 pm

the buelow wrote: I am so confused need a new engine for my 88, and I'm not rich.

I think all the pro-conversion proponents who say you can do it for cheaper often neglect to mention you have to be quite mechanically inclined and do most of it yourself. If you want reliability, but not more power, both GoWesty and Boston Bob will be fine choices and should build you a motor that will last at least 100k miles, if not 150k. Everything is stock, no worries about mechanics looking at a hybrid beast (although good vanagon mechanics are hard to find).

If you are paying someone to do it, a conversion is simply more expensive. A quality rebuild is certainly reliable, though. The install is just as important as the build, though, so make sure you are comfortable with the people doing that.

Good luck,
-Damon

Fri Dec 23, 2005 11:48 pm

lilweasel wrote: Quote: If I had "hella" bucks I would have a Subaru 2.2 engine conversion done. Better mileage, cleaner burning engine.....but 30 percent more expensive...

What?

How'd you do your math? You can get a good Subaru engine for and conversion for something around $2500. You spent $3500. And once you do the conversion, you can replace the engine for a lot cheaper.

A Subaru conversion in the San Francisco Bay Area costs $ 7,000 for a used motor, labor, parts, wiring harness, blah, blah, blah.

A GoWesty 2.2 conversion in the B.Area costs around $ 5,000 or more for the rebuilt motor and all the rest.

I'm not mechanically inclined...so that's my reality

Fri Dec 23, 2005 11:51 pm

wbx wrote: the buelow wrote: I am so confused need a new engine for my 88, and I'm not rich.

I think all the pro-conversion proponents who say you can do it for cheaper often neglect to mention you have to be quite mechanically inclined and do most of it yourself. If you want reliability, but not more power, both GoWesty and Boston Bob will be fine choices and should build you a motor that will last at least 100k miles, if not 150k. Everything is stock, no worries about mechanics looking at a hybrid beast (although good vanagon mechanics are hard to find).

If you are paying someone to do it, a conversion is simply more expensive. A quality rebuild is certainly reliable, though. The install is just as important as the build, though, so make sure you are comfortable with the people doing that.

Good luck,
-Damon

The GoWesty motors give you a definite "bump" in available power at the 2.2 level which I believe most Vanagon owners would be perfectly happy with. I can drive up steep hills in third gear with no problems which was IMPOSSIBLE with the old 1.9 engine. I still would like a Subaru engine though.......sigh............

Fri Dec 23, 2005 11:53 pm

Bill W wrote: What better internal components?

You know....the shiny ones..... :-s

Sat Dec 24, 2005 12:18 am

freakness wrote: I have the GoWesty 2.2 in my 1984. It's their smallest motor and is rated at 105 horsepower. It has plenty of power over the old 1.9 and 2.1 motors. It's not so much a new design as it's a high quality upgrade of the existing technology. It's still the same flat four engine but with better internal components. I like it a lot. It's going to be VERY similiar to the dealer engine you mentioned but I'm confident in saying it's better quality. If I had "hella" bucks I would have a Subaru 2.2 engine conversion done. Better mileage, cleaner burning engine.....but 30 percent more expensive...

Good luck . . . .

I just installed a 2.2L Go westy engine in my 85 camper. I am happy with the engine and the performance.

Sat Dec 24, 2005 9:20 am

freakness wrote: Bill W wrote: What better internal components?

You know....the shiny ones..... :-s

LOL :lol:

Sat Dec 24, 2005 3:35 pm

Freakness is right about this.....
To do a suby conversion you need either:
7-8500 for a shop to do it,
or if you do it yourself
3-3500 and a garage, and a second vehicle while you sort it out.
Boston Bob and gowesty both have a rep for using the best internal components, but both have had some complaints with less than great customer service if they make a mistake.

Sat Dec 24, 2005 5:05 pm

I would highly consider a genuine VW Reman Vs. Any of the outside vendor rebuilds.
I myself have BB reman, and found myself resealing the heads in short order.
For the price difference VW would have covered the leaking heads without question.

BB didn't, and was a hassle to get any cooperation.

I can't comment on Go-Westies engine offering, other than it is a bit overpriced, and more than likely would be difficult to obtain any warrantee assistance in the event of a failure.

VW is a nationwide concern , and offer's a 12, 12,000 mile warrantee good at any franchised dealer.

Sat Dec 24, 2005 7:40 pm

WHAT INTERNAL COMPONENTS?!!!!

Sun Dec 25, 2005 1:39 am

Bill W wrote: WHAT INTERNAL COMPONENTS?!!!!

Didn't I answer that already ? =;

Sun Dec 25, 2005 10:29 am

Does anyone know an approximate cost of remanufactured engine by a VW dealer?

Sun Dec 25, 2005 12:13 pm

Last time I checked with VW for a reman it was around $3300.00 plus a good core.

Also check with Bostig Enineering if your looking for a possible conversion.

The Zeteg engine comes with 165 horses stock outa the box, and is capable of 700 ponies with a few simple modifications.

It's a 6 wire hook up, and will blow the doors off a Subaru, or TIICO set up.

And to top it all off it's a long winded engine---good for the long haul.
Parts are readily available anywhere--no waiting for the mail man or UPS when you need engine parts.

The timing belt can be swappped,. if needed in 15 minutes

Sun Dec 25, 2005 2:07 pm

Terry Kay wrote: Last time I checked with VW for a reman it was around $3300.00 plus a good core.

Also check with Bostig Enineering if your looking for a possible conversion.

The Zeteg engine comes with 165 horses stock outa the box, and is capable of 700 ponies with a few simple modifications.

It's a 6 wire hook up, and will blow the doors off a Subaru, or TIICO set up.

And to top it all off it's a long winded engine---good for the long haul.
Parts are readily available anywhere--no waiting for the mail man or UPS when you need engine parts.

The timing belt can be swappped,. if needed in 15 minutes

And I live in California and will probably NEVER have it as an option......sigh

Sun Dec 25, 2005 2:21 pm

Terry Kay wrote: Last time I checked with VW for a reman it was around $3300.00 plus a good core.

Also check with Bostig Enineering if your looking for a possible conversion.

The Zeteg engine comes with 165 horses stock outa the box, and is capable of 700 ponies with a few simple modifications.

It's a 6 wire hook up, and will blow the doors off a Subaru, or TIICO set up.

And to top it all off it's a long winded engine---good for the long haul.
Parts are readily available anywhere--no waiting for the mail man or UPS when you need engine parts.

The timing belt can be swappped,. if needed in 15 minutes

$3500 is reasonable, $7000 is unthinkable for my budget