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Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:09 pm

I still wonder why they build the 2.2 for regular, 2.3 for mid grade and the 2.4 for Premium. Can't the keep the compression at a more reasonalbe level as the big ones are coming close to the knock sensor region, me thinks.

The thing about the adjusters is (and I just did it last week, is) to spend for NEW factory ones and be happy. What a joke to use those cheapy adjusters.....

Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:58 pm

I wanna supercharger
Seems to have put hair on the jewels of that Supercoupe Bird I owned in 1988....

Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:56 pm

When I was on order, part of the hold up was the valve adjusters. They where having a time getting some, and had 5 engines awaiting the adjusters. So I suppose they have gone for the more difficult to source ones. Cheapies are available by the basketload.

We build up aircraft engines in our shop, about 80 a year. We use all approved and tested parts, usually the direct manufacturers part, except in the cases when the stock part has proven to us to be more unreliable, then lets say a Superior (its a brand name) part. In the last couple of years, we have had to pull cranks and cams off engines due to manufacturing defects on the part of Lycoming and Textron. Aircraft parts have a lot more testing and mafacturing standards, Yet we still experence burps in the process. We do stand behind our products, but we also get the customer bitching about this or that, and so far in 18 years of operation, it has always been operator error. Overleaning, running at high power settings over limits or the normal one, no oil.

So I'm hopeful that this engine will stay together and give me long service. I really don't put too much stock in anybodies warranty. I just didn't have the time to do it myself.

Cheers,
James

Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:00 pm

My twin brothers Cessna 310 is due for an annual. Can he have it done in beeeeutiful Flag?

Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:54 pm

My shop is in Georgia, but I have a good buddy in Porterville with a shop. He mainly does helicopters, but nobody turns work away.

Cheers,
James

Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:47 pm

Question -- what are you AZ guys able to run climbing from payson to the top of the rim (260, near woods canyon lake)?

Right now my 85 westy can barely manage 30 (2nd gear floored).

My 2.4L is getting close to completion..

Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:51 pm

Gads,
Haven't done that engine killer for some time. Beside with all the fire equiment and RV's, 30mph sounds optimistic. Route 191 from Edgar to Cliffton is another fun run. 10mph is an optimistic figure, unless you were in a Lotus.

Cheers,
james

Thu Apr 13, 2006 3:28 pm

The gap from Show Lo down to Safford. Lovely pull

Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:01 pm

r39o wrote: I still wonder why they build the 2.2 for regular, 2.3 for mid grade and the 2.4 for Premium. Can't the keep the compression at a more reasonalbe level as the big ones are coming close to the knock sensor region, me thinks.

Well?????

Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:40 pm

Well, if you could remap a digifant II, you could use lower octane. But the cost would be high, I hear it is what they are experimenting in with the 2.5. The 2.3, is a nice compromise, and the 2.2 is for the budget minded, but want a peppier engine. My Chief Inspector, read the parts included in the 2.4, and said it would be what he would do. The bore and stroke are almost matched to give a lot of torque, which is what we really want to go uphill.

One of the techs at GoWesty also said if they get the remapped unit working, they will offer it as a retrofit kit for the 2.4. Now this is just idle talking when exploring the purchase, so don't hold my feet to the fire over this. He bought the 2.3 for his van and actually wishes he had spent the additional money for the 2.4. Between the specs, my inspector and the fact, I only will be doing this with one engine I went for the larger one with torque. I do live at 7,039'.

As I mentioned, the increase in fuel milage cancels out the increased cost of the premium. I used to the price, both my Land Rovers need Premium. Since I just returned from Laguna Beach, I know the fuel prices are exploring in your shorts out in Cali. But, out here in the high country, it is nearly a $.85 cheaper than the coast. We don't need the exotic ground water polluting additives which add almost $.50 a gallon to the price.

Now if Phil can come up with larger barrels and pistons, then you could do it. However, then you need to do a bit of cam experimenting, kind of expensive. So, I know this works. I spent three years as a test pilot at North Island, I'm done doing the experimental thing, I really want stuff that works.

Cheers,
james

Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:01 pm

Yeah, this Vanagon bites as far as mpg is concerned. Between our Jetta IV TDi and my NB TDi it just hurts me to see the gauge on the Westy! But, I love the damn thing, for some odd reason!

Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:39 pm

I always liked odd. Thats why my first car/truck was an M37 3/4 ton weapons carrier. Got it for $300 at auction at the Yermo Annex in Barstow. It managed a wopping 6mpg with a 55 mph top speed. However, you could knock down telephone poles with it, climb hills like no tomorrow and always make traffic stop for you when you made a left turn on the Coast Hwy. They knew you had nothing to lose.

Hell in Laguna, we had kids driving Mercedes sport cars to high school. To compete we went the opposite direction, really weird. The van is like that. Infinitely useful, actually fun to drive, and easy to spot in the parking lot. This weekend, my buddy and I were belly laughing at all the posers in LB speeding around in there Porsche SUV's. We just cranked up the Beach Boys on the stereo and slowed down.

Cheers,
James

Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:33 pm

I second that!!! I teach high school chemistry in orange county and my kids think my (truck car as they like to call it) is the coolest car around. It's just weird enough for them to think it's cool. Since it is not a BMW or Porche or an SUV they can't relate to it.
P.S. I went to school at NAU where I rolled my first vanagon. I hit some black ice on I-40 near Williams coming home from a climbing trip at Joshua Tree. Me and the 7 other people I had in the van (including 3 hitch hikers) spun around 6 times before hitting the dirt and rolling three times. 4 people were ejected from the vehicle and the van's roof collapsed causing all the windows to blow out. Amazingly, everyone walked away without major injuries. The large front window is really nice when you watch the world start to spin over and over. Since then I've owned 3 more vanagons...I guess I'll never learn!!!

Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:43 am

If you think on it. You could go to the Nissian dealership and plunk down $25K on an Exterra (basically a plastic POS), and pay huge registration fees yearly and high insurance. Or end up spending 25K on restoring a Syncro Westy, pay $30 to register it, peanuts to insure it. Do everything the Exterra does, sleep in it, cook in it, er.. exercise in it and be totally unique. I think too many people are the extras in those Apple commercials showing the grey masses marching off.

Yes, the van is addictive. My ex-brother-in-law has two. I got my first one in Nairobi. Used it to more my crews around. Actually was very relaible, considering the average lifespan of a car there was four years. The roads where beyond horrible. I actually broke the body of a Isuzu Trooper from potholes. The body cracked after the B piler on the roof and the crack proceeded down the piller.

Ah, NAU, one of my buddies here is Dean of Admissions. His wife, a daughter of not quite ex-hippies swoons over the van. She is always recalling the long trips as a child in thier van. Sleeping on the child's cot above the front seat.

Funny about VW's and rolling. My ex-Step Dad (lots of x's in my family) rolled our Squareback coming on the Laguna Canyon road from the 5. It rolled 6 times, ended up on its wheels. He was totally un-injured and actually drove the car home. It was totaled, but completely functional (except no windows and a rather unusual topology).

Fri Apr 14, 2006 2:39 pm

super exciting to read those old AZ names - i lived in show low in 1981 - drove to payson all the time - and up into the high desert - holbrook to flagstaff - i'd love to see that country again - and as soon as my van is ready for the ride i'm going -

as far as vehicles go - i've tried like hell to get over my love for em - dirty stinking earth and people and wildlife killers that they are - but what to do - love is blind.

in AZ i drove a 77 mustang (foolishly called a mach 1 by the ford marketing team - really a pinto with a 302) a 66 mustang and horror of horrors, a datsun 310 - but i also got my 62 chevy 3/4 ton in showlow and that was one hell of a truck.

and you're all right on the so-called money when it comes to wealth versus personality - all money buys is (well today its buying axle hubs and brake drums etc:roll: ) but usually it only buys shopping experiences - us poor punks will always have more style - and funnier looking rigs.

Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:48 pm

Dogpilot,

Congrats on your motor. What was your oil pressure after warm up? At idle and at 4k. Thanks, I'm still trying to learn about the waterboxer.

Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:58 pm

OP starts at 60, drops to 40 when warm, idle 10-15psi. I am pleased with the performance at my altitude of 7,039', it is now like a normal car. The Sycro pushes around a lot of mechanical disadvantage, add the westy weight,and the 2.4 does alright. The upgrade included the high volume oil pump.

Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:12 am

DP,

What oil are you using for break-in, and at what mileage are you going to change?

Do you plan to change to synthetic, what brand and weight, and when?

Thanks,
Ric

Thu Apr 20, 2006 6:42 am

Break in with a cheap 30W. You do not want to use a super oil. The oil is going to get a lot of blow by at first, and you want it to help build up carbon to seat the rings. Change at 1,000 miles. Use Castoroil GTX Multigrade, for your area. I don't use synthetic, it is an unnecessry expense, and virtually all oils are the same for the 3,000 miles you should use it for. You change now to get rid of blow by components left over due to the new fuel formulas. The blow by makes the oil corrosive, and you really want to change often. You never get the benefits out of synthetic oil, the oil companies profit, but you don't.

Cheers,
James

Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:36 am

Nice OP numbers Dogpilot. As stated before I replaced my 1.9 with the GW 2.2. I run the Castrol GTX in and started w/ 10-40. Some thousands of miles later I put in an OP gauge and the numbers were a bit on the low side. 25 or so at highway speed fully warmed up and maybe 6 or 7 at idle. I changed to 20-50 and it's running about the same pressure as yours.