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Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:59 pm

Just scheduled my GW 2.4L install for June 5th. Cant wait to join the club! :D :D :D

Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:57 pm

Hey Dogpilot....how's the van runnin'? I ordered a 2.3L from GoWesty today...and I need reassurance I did the right thing.

[-o<

Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:33 pm

Oh my god, you didn't!

Only kidding. So far the only issue I had with the entire experience was when I changed the oil. The timecert they put in the oil drain to re thread the case came out. They immediatly sent another, and I cleaned the unit up and inserted the new one with threadlocker, and it has been fine ever since.

I am satisfied with the power, it is very smooth and gets better gas milage. The van now drives like a regular car, power wise. It does take about 1,000 miles to break the engine in.

Yes 3k later I'm very satisfied. Would I do it again, yes. If the 2.5 was available I would have gotten it. I do understand that they are finishing up a new AFM system that can be retrofitted and it gives even more horsepower and eliminates the weak link in the digifant system, the AFM.

http://www.gowesty.com/TwoFive_Update2.htm

Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:27 pm

I now have a few thousand miles on my GoWesty installed 2.4. My 1990 westy is a completly different machine. I could never go back. I am posting this in response to the page one postings about them not standing behind their products.

During the under 900 mile break in period, I had an issue with the oil light comming on at idle, and my aux oil pressure gage too near the bottom peg. Everthing was running strong, pressure was up while driving, all this this was just happening at idle. I called Lucas on the phone (by the way I had them do the install) and expressed my concerns to him. What I got was a guy that listened to me, then listed all the possible reasons that this could be happening, some of them important, some of them not like a bad sending unit, and at the end of the conversation he asked what would make me feel comfortable with the situation. There was zero backpeddling on his part. I said I was afraid to take it on a long x-country trip that I was planning and I wanted them to look at it before I took off. With no half stepping he OFFERED to put it on a flatbed and bring it back to Los Osos from Orange County, CA at HIS cost and check it all out. Turns out the oil pump was defective, and they replaced it no charge, no harm, no foul. I don't know about this other person's experience of them not standing by their products, but it dosen't get any better than this in my opinion. Since it was there anyway, I had them install a 50 watt solar panel (mine) on the roof to a second battery, and I think that the job, the attnetion to detail in the wiring run, and the fact that they were careful to only use high grade SS parts in the installation means they thought it through and used the best parts and took their time to do it right.

Now with a few thousand miles on it, I couldn't be happer with the hill climbing ability even though I put taller 3rd and 4th gears in it, and it wants to do 75-80 mph on the road without effort at 3600 rpm. It has never hiccuped, and runs as smooth as a Swiss watch. I burned some oil (to be expected) in the first 2k miles, but that has stopped. It's dry as a bone in all respects without a weep anywhere.

The engine came with a 48k warrenty on it, and I belive they will stand behind any negatives that happen given this experience.

Other issues mentioned in this thread. Yup, it does drink premium gas, and at today's prices that's an issue to some people. But since this isn't a daily driver for me, but a camping and trip vehicle, I don't find this to be a big issue. It seems that some want it all. You stroke and push a motor to get power and torque and you still want to get killer mileage.... I'd like to get skinny without exercising, and quiting the beer and hamburgers...ain't gonna happen. Truth is that there are always trade offs.

As only one guys opinion, it was worth the money, the 19-20 mpg that I get is still in the range it was in before the swap, and the man and the guys in his shop stand behind their products and own up to any errors on their part.

Sat Jul 08, 2006 5:01 am

I had a GW 2.4 put in the '87 westy last December by a local shop "Honest engine" I've been tied down to this area since then and have only gone 3500 miles.A couple of the shops in this area were not interested in working on a Subrau/vanagon mix I did NOT get this Vanagon to work on...That was one of my considerations. The camper drives like a regular car not fast but sure is a lot safer merging onto the freeway and going up hills. OH I got $950 back for my core.. I'd do it again no 2nd thoughts :) Lloyd

Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:47 am

First off, I am glad to see we keep some threads alive. That's great. Real world comments. Wonderful. Now, you are paying a premium price for a premium product. I would hope one gets premium service. Our family ran a German Car Repair biz for about a half a century. So I know stuff happens. The engines are so popular they have to build them in a production line fashion. Between the other work they do too. So certain checks are not done because of the production nature of the work. Fine. Stuff happens. Glad they deal with it so well.

It has been noted by some one else that the Westy is basically a tent on wheels. I am tending to agree these days. For many of us, it is a toy we have and use every now and then. Fine, too. Sometimes I use the Westy for several weeks for one reason or another. Then I am quite glad to drive our TDIs again. The Westy is about number 4 in line of 5 cars we own, usage wise. Only my 1959 Mercedes 190SL gets less use (it is the least practical car we own.) BTW: The Mercedes is quite reliable, it is basically new. The Vanagon has been refurbished but not rebuilt. It drives almost exactly like a well run 1.9 automatic Westy should. No complaints since we reversed all the previous deferred maintainance. I know it is slow. I drive it slow. It can do 80+ on the freeway, but I only did it a few times. I stay at less than 70 for the most part depending on my mood. It runs like it should.

What's my point? Well if you van works just like it should and needs no repairs, there is little point to a fresh engine. Any engine, Suby (which I think is superior) or a nice built Vanagon (which I can get fixed anywhere and not worry because I really do not like being a slave to the vehicle.) So if you need one, a fresh engine is a great idea. If not, like me, just wait until you need it, especially if you do not rely on the van as your primary means of transportation. If it is your primary means of transport, then by all means gear up for a fresh engine if you have any doubts about your current power plant.

Sorry if this was rantish, but I have been tossing this engine idea in my head for a year now and still have not convinced myself what I really want to do when the time comes.

Thanks for the great reports.

Sat Jul 08, 2006 11:21 am

Congrats, I think you'll be happy with the purchase. My Syncro Westy (1990) just rolled over 100K the other day. Have had a GW 2.4L in it for a little over two years (since about 80K mi)

mpg is between 15 and 22 depending upon how much I "keep my foot out of it" and how much 'downhill with a tailwind' I get while driving :-)

Put it this way.. going "up" from Phx to Flagstaff I get about 15mpg. Coming back down its 18-20mpg. On some of the windier sections of road coming down from the rim country (where max speed limit is 45-55mph) I get over 20mpg, but that is really babying the throttle and driving like an old grandma.

This is probably the best money spent/enjoyment ratio you can do for your vanagon. The thing sucked to drive prior, and now I would say it 'sucks less'.

(bordering on fun!)

I was the one, (in one of those posts to the vanagon list) that had issues with the valve adjusting screws. Sh** happens, you deal with it, Lucas and co. did right by me there. I dont know what the other persons issue was with them, and I dont propose to know.. water under the bridge at this point. BTW the latest Syncro wheel/tire combo that they use was my idea, they did that on my van (on my suggestion, basically.. told Lucas that I was going to be driving in rocky arizona, not sandy beaches of So. Cal and I wanted more sidewall and a higher load rating) They did it, and it worked out well.

I'm and engineer (BSEE) and appreciate the engineering mindset that Lucas takes (Cal Poly MSME I believe?) and practical problem solving approaches to things, and the willingness to listen to suggestions.

Like any other business though, they are in it to make money, so one has to be respectful of their time, their wealth of knowledge on these vans etc: They spend a *lot* of time answering email/phone questions.. to the point of being overwhelmed I think.

Most of my dealings with them have been in the past 2 years. I missed SdM06 in Hollister this year due to work stuff, but may try to swing by there during a fall trip (Yosemite in Oct) and get maint. type work done.

I have no A/C in my garage, and the syncro doesnt fit in it anyways!
so I'm less than thrilled to turn wrenches on the thing anymore myself, although I did for years (VW Beetle/bugs in high school/college)

Driving impressions / opinions: For long, strictly road trips, the 02 EVMWK is still a nicer vehicle, but for dry camping on the national forests in AZ, I argue there is no better setup.. Maybe if you took an older Pinz and gutted it, then put some sort of camper/poptop setup on it? :-) We have both (the Ev is my daily driver) so I have the luxury of picking the vehicle for the particular occasion. The kids love them both.. the challenge now is getting everyone out more. But you know what? the Syncro sits there in the driveway beckoning us all the time. Not at some off site RV stowage facility (out of sight, out of mind, I say.. then you *never* go)

Nothing but high remarks, and props to those guys at GoWesty. Taylor, Lucas, Chris, and all the rest of them. They have found their niche in life (for the moment) and are living the dream. Says something when most of the folks at the shop (key players at least) drive vanagons. They are passionate about these vehicles.

coming up on the every 2 year coolant flush/fill. Need to do the rest of the fluids as well (brakes, gearbox possibly etc:)

photos of the van can be found by clicking through some of the links on my website. (see profile info)

-tim

90 syncro westy
mesa, az

Sat Aug 19, 2006 5:24 pm

:vw: Yo Dogpilot!! Got the engine in the Vanagon this week and picked her up on Friday. So far so good!! Can't wait to get past the 1000 miles so I can try her up some really big hills. Will report later.

It feels like having a baby! :lol:

Thanks for sharing your experience.

:D

Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:37 pm

You should be happy with the engine. I can't wait until they release the hot wire AFM upgrade. It should smooth things out even more.

Take a road trip and break the engine in. You can feel it settle in . Mine has still been running strong.

Cheers,
James

Sun Aug 20, 2006 7:17 am

My son has an 87 syncro with the 2.4 GoWesty engine and I have a 90 syncro with the stock 2.1. We sometimes drive each others vehicles for a few days. His reaction to my 2.1 is "What's wrong with this!". I have the same feeling when I get back into the 2.1 after driving the 2.4!

Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:21 pm

so how's the gowesty 2.4 this yeasr?

Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:52 pm

Well it has been in over a year, with about five long roadtrips on it, about 8,000 miles total. As far as the 2.4 from GoWesty, it has been a breeze. It has been getting between 17-19 mpg pretty consistantly now. Way more if I plan the entire trip downhill with a tailwind. It will cruise at 75 mph no problem at 4,050 RPM with the 16" tires. If you have a long protracted hill climb at like the grapevine, you will be doing 55-60 uphill. Downhill, the speed has oddly remained consistant with before the upgrade.

GoWesty has been helpful when I have questions. Any issues I have had since the installation where embarrassingly of my own making. Ask me about my spark plug wires, as an illustration of that story. They have also given me subsequent discounts on items since the purchase. I even got a free Syncro T shirt when I visited last month.

Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:13 pm

DISCOUNTS?
:shock:
FREE T-SHIRTS?
:shock: :shock:
Damn....I bought a 2.3 from 'em last year and I didn't get no stinkin' discounts or a free shirt. :twisted:

WTF? :evil:

But I do love that "enjin"! :lol:

Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:55 pm

Perhaps in an effort at self preservation, they were doing all possible to speed me on my way and get me out of their hair. Oh, did I mention the theatre tickets, the dinner passes and the spa deal as well? :wink:

Look it was nothing great, but a nice gesture on their part. The T shirt required a visit.

Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:59 pm

cross your fingers. Never buy a 2.5. If you do have a major failure. send it back AFTER you have broken the motor down to the crank journals, makes notes and take pictures.

The power is nice....and very appropriate for vanagons....but there is a limit. This limit is the 2.4. Even at the 2.4 it will depend on the oil porting through the crank and what the machining to produce the stoke exposed.

also, take note of the oil pressure switch/sender used on your motor. If it is not a factory part start asking questions. Think band-aid.

The guy who builds the motors at GW is really really good and is a real cool dude. So feel good about that. Its the guy behind the curtain is who you have to be worried about. Also, know the guy that builds the motors gets the rods and crank pre assembled, he does not install them. They come pre installed from the machine shop.?????

I have a 2.3 GW in mine and love it. But the salesman would have had me in a 2.5 with a failure rate of 100% for reasons you can figure out from the above lines.

Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:33 pm

I just got to 1000 miles on my new 2.4. The power is very nice to say the least. I really got the 2.4 to climb hills at normal car speed and just to keep up with traffic. To me it seems like the engine likes to cruise at 68mph. RPM's are just below 4000rpms. However, this vw is my first experience with a 4 speed ~ maybe I'm a bit paranoid about consistent higher rpms...

Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:11 pm

I do agree about the 70 mph thing, it does seem the most comfortable. It does cruise at 75 all day since I put the bigger 16" on it. I have had it up to 90 on the flats, but the van gets a bit jumpy after that.

The flat four is not so upset about running at rpms in the 4000-4200. The green zone is an economy thing, not necessarily a safety zone. The 2.4 is a balanced set up, so it should have less stress than normal 2.1 running at higher rpms.

Yes the van now runs like it should have in the first place.

Sat Jul 26, 2008 1:11 pm

Hey Dogpilot --
Interesting. How about a post from your GoWesty 2.4L to the 30-50 challenge thread?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=306851

http://www.knology.net/~vw/30-50challenge.htm

Also, I have my own pile of climbing gear -- but I'm almost in shape to use it again. Need me to take that stuff off you hands? I'm looking for old Chouinard items.

sandia_man_nm

Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:47 pm

Actually I have rock stuff even more ancient than that, Cassin.

I would love to do the challenge when it stops pouring rain up here. The other rub, is nothing is flat here and it is at 7,000', so I may be too fast for the pack due to lower air resistance in the thin air (!).

Sat Jul 26, 2008 6:34 pm

Oh, cool, so you put that turbo on her?