TheSamba.com :: View topic - AVP-Worldwide

Sun May 27, 2007 12:57 pm

Has anyone bought an engine from AVP of North Highlands, CA? What was your experience? Were you happy with the product?

I haven't seen anything posted on the buyer feedback forum yet.

Sun May 27, 2007 1:04 pm

They are a "budget rebuilder".

You get what you pay for.

Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:45 pm

Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:49 am

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249691&highlight=avp

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=181534&highlight=avp

Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:46 pm

YellowSplittie wrote: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249691&highlight=avp

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?
t=181534&highlight=avp

Thanks

Sat Mar 31, 2012 8:29 pm

I have an AVP that I got about 25k on and it is still doing well. Like any engine rebuild you need to make sure you have the fuel system in perfect working order, the vacuum system in proper condition and the engine compartment properly sealed. I get 15-17 mpg in town and 20-22 on the highway (unloaded) with a vanagon westfalia. I do not know about the horsepower since I do not have a dyno but I can easily get to 75 mph (the listed max cruising speed is 74 mph so I prefer 65 mph). If you do not check everything, any rebuild will fail prematurely and seem like junk. One thing of note is I did have issues with oil pressure which i would not have known about if it had not been for having added an oil pressure gauge. That was solved with a Wix oil filter, the Mahle OC-28 lack the anti-drain back valve. I had similar issues with Mann filters. The Napa gold is a Wix filter and make sure you get the Wix 51521 or Napa equivalent. I did have an issue early on with one of the freeze plugs leaking but other than that it works. Still I recommend doing the rebuild yourself if at all possible, I was in school at the time when I had to get the westy running so the AVP option seemed reasonable at the time. I bought it through Bus Depot.

Thu Aug 14, 2014 6:35 am

I have a 81 vanagon that had been fitted with an AVP rebuilt. Bought in 2013 last year. 5000 miles approx. on Engine. Have had hot start issues form beginning. Oil pressure problem and oil leak through the seam. After three tries at three different places to determine the problem, engine began to fail totally. Engine now in a heap. Last mechanic finally took engine apart.It turned out that the cam gear was not aligned properly with crank. Somebody at AVP did a lousy job. Engine could not be timed nor valves adjusted. Over heated due to pre-ignition. Hence hot start problem. Engine is a total write off. Everything form valves to bearings needs to be replaced. It is a wonder that it lasted for 5000 mi. I live in Ontario Canada and have little hope that the company from North Highlands CA will honor the warranty. To get the engine from here to the AVP would cost more than the original block. If you deal with this company, you will have to ship the engine to AVP at your cost if the engine fails. Then there is no guarantee that it will honor the warranty. Its a mediocre engine. Be aware If you can, get a knowledgeable person to rebuilt your engine.

Tue Oct 07, 2014 10:47 am

had an AVP rebuilt block installed last Aug ('13) in a '86 Westfalia and have several issues including oil leaks, oil consumption (blue exhaust), and lack of action on the warranty front by AVP. TIme is running out for warranty but still trying to get a commitment to get fixed of replace. In Calgary CA so not easy to get cost effective solution. Low budget rebuilder is understatement. anyone who has same experience or solution, anxious to hear.

Fri Aug 21, 2015 8:05 am

DO NOT BUY A BUS DEPOT REPLACEMENT ENGINE
ALSO KNOWN AS "AVP ENGINE REBUILDERS"

I am currently going thru an engine replacement for my 85 westy. I made the sad mistake of purchasing the 2.1 upgrade from THE BUS DEPOT. I bought the engine from them 1.5 years ago now and have yet to drive more than 1,000 miles. The first engine they sent went less than 800 miles, yes that is 800, not 8,000. It had more than one fatal flaw including not one but 2 bad heads and also a leak down on the rings of at least one cylinder. When I called bus depot,who were happy to take my money, they just pass me on to AVP. they are a third party engine builder that Bus Depot uses. Bus Depot does absolutely nothing to back up this product. I am left to fight it out with AVP

I just got my van back with the SECOND BUS DEPOT replacement engine after more than a year of headaches, towing costs, additional expensive repairs due to attempts to skirt the issue by the engine builder, missing multiple road trips and sitting on the side of the road. now with the SECOND ENGINE from BUS DEPOT/AVP. I also had to pick up more installation costs to have their bad engine removed and to reinstall their replacement engine.

So now I have gone less than 100 miles and there is an oil pressure problem. This is also an internal issue. AVP is again wanting me to jump thru hoops to prove it is not something other than what it probably is which is a bad oil pump or clogged oil way

So basically I have spent 1.5 years and thousands upon thousands of dollars to install two useless engines from Bus Depot and AVP, and its not over yet.
I can only imagine what other atrocities lie inside these engine cases. I suspect if you have one of their engines and its running, its only a matter of luck and time. I could go on and on about this issue and all the ridiculous things AVP made me go thru while they tried their best to find a melted heat tab so they could void my warranty but it would be a novel.

SIDE NOTE: BTW I replaced the entire cooling, fuel injection, and ignition system upon first installing the new engine and had them all checked again upon installing he second engine for those who like to blame other systems

I repeat

DO NOT BUY A BUS DEPOT OR AVP REPLACEMENT ENGINE