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Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:15 pm

Ok it took me a while to figure out you guys were simply comparing opening up the engine compartment with opening up the license plate access....you're joking right?
After all the work and time these things require to get them truly roadworthy. I'm guessing even if I had mine fully loaded with camp gear it may take 10 min to unload check oil and reload???

I have been helping a guy here in town do a conversion(Bostig) for the last week, It's a very well thought out kit and it's changed my mind on the whole "what engine should I use" question.

Considering all I've done to keep mine going, this seems like a very trivial matter for people to be getting pissy about? Hell, I get undeer the van and check my exhaust bolts on a long trip.. :lol: Todd.

Mon Mar 02, 2009 3:43 pm

tschroeder0 wrote: Ok it took me a while to figure out you guys were simply comparing opening up the engine compartment with opening up the license plate access....you're joking right?
After all the work and time these things require to get them truly roadworthy. I'm guessing even if I had mine fully loaded with camp gear it may take 10 min to unload check oil and reload???

I have been helping a guy here in town do a conversion(Bostig) for the last week, It's a very well thought out kit and it's changed my mind on the whole "what engine should I use" question.

Considering all I've done to keep mine going, this seems like a very trivial matter for people to be getting pissy about? Hell, I get undeer the van and check my exhaust bolts on a long trip.. :lol: Todd.

I agree totally, at the end of the day if I have to pick up a cushion and a hatch to check my oil in exchange for a more reliable and cheaper engine option then so be it. Seems like a pretty small price to pay. I'm 99% sure this is the rout I'm going when my boxer tanks it.

Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:21 pm

gee, I don't think I am anal retentive, or pissy. I thought I was being quite reasonable, maybe not in the idea that we need easy dipstick access, but in my tone of my argument and my remarks. Nowhere did I call people names or smear their character.

I didn't accuse Jim of hubris, that by definition would mean they have already failed, and by any measure they seem to be a success. It is a beautiful product. The confidence is justified for both the conversion kit and the zetec engine. It is the replies to comments in this thread and elsewhere that seem hubristic. That is my impression. I have had management training, I supervise people, I interact with clients, I get along on other internet venues.

Seems I am attacking some kind of cult. Lighten up guys, I am sure Bostig can handle a little critiquing, and can mull over suggestions and prioritise what they need to do to develop their product. I read with an open mind Jim's rebuttal and had a rebuttal of my own. Take a step back and read the thread and think about what a non-vanagon gearhead would get out of this.

Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:24 pm

Speaking of Ford and dipsticks-I remember when they did away with the tranny dipstick.No one really seemed to care.Now if I'm not mistaken,most all newer cars have no tranny dipstick.Ya gotta check it on a lift with the engine running,etc.You learn to adapt.

Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:12 am

Hey Gordy,

I wasn't referring to you, not really sure why you thought i was? It seemed to me after reading the latest part of the thread that people were getting angry over this issue and all i was trying to say was I didn't really get it, no harm meant to you. Todd.

Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:24 am

come on kids.... Bostig, Subi or even the great diesel conversion that Karl does are all good option for our van!

I don't have the extension to "easy" access the dip stick behind the plate, who frigging care!!! Like someone as stated. It's a very small price to pay! So yea, once in a wile i remove all the stuff to have a general look, it is simply normal to do so on very long trip.

Even if in the case of Subaru, you can simply put you hand into the license plate hole and reach the Dip Stick.

I agree with Jim that money should be invested elsewhere! Sorry my good friend Karl :-)

Anyone who do a drive test in a nice converted van will forget VERY fast where that thing is! You should have seen the face of my passenger in FL when we took a quick trip to St-Pete beach, i floored the gas pedal in second gear at 6500 rpm and the front of the van rise up a few inches :-) All 3 passenger simply stop talking.
I don't think they where thinking about any dip stick location!

Ben

Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:08 am

After completing many conversions I have to chime in and say........

If you want a dip stick in the factory location, put it in.
Remote oil cooler, remote oil filter, scavenger screen, Aeroquip lines, -AN fittings, rear disc brakes, 17 inch wheels.....you get the picture.

Anything is possible when converting.

Jim has impressed me with his understanding of what the conversion market has asked for and they are providing a great option for our vans.
What I am reading from this thread is that most Bostig converters are not looking for a dip stick in the factory location, no biggie.

Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:36 am

I have two subaru 2.2 powered vehicles, one is a Syncro Westy, the other is a Subaru Impreza. Both engines have about 60k miles, and they both use about one quart in 5000 miles.

I am not aware of any oil leaks on any of my engines. Im kind of fussy about that, and had a valve cover leak on one of them that was resolved with a new gasket.

I previously had a 2.2 in the Impreza with 160k miles, and it would consume a quart in 3000 miles.

So I think you are right that higher mileage, uses more oil. As far as when it uses oil, I dont know, I only know the interval.

In fact, I use being down a quart, as an indication its time to do an oil change <g>

thanks for the brainstorming, and the awesome commitment to quality that the Bostig kit offers.

Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:26 am

Jon_slider wrote: I have two subaru 2.2 powered vehicles, one is a Syncro Westy, the other is a Subaru Impreza. Both engines have about 60k miles, and they both use about one quart in 5000 miles.

I am not aware of any oil leaks on any of my engines. Im kind of fussy about that, and had a valve cover leak on one of them that was resolved with a new gasket.

I previously had a 2.2 in the Impreza with 160k miles, and it would consume a quart in 3000 miles.

So I think you are right that higher mileage, uses more oil. As far as when it uses oil, I dont know, I only know the interval.

In fact, I use being down a quart, as an indication its time to do an oil change <g>

thanks for the brainstorming, and the awesome commitment to quality that the Bostig kit offers.

Oil consumption may rise with altitude and mountain/hill driving/climbing....
Especially when a 4cyl design to push a small car is now pushing an heavy loaded van.

It took more oil in the mountain of Mexico at 8000feets than driving on a flat I95.

On this trip i drove a steady 72mph, top speed once of 94mph (i'm looking at my GPS data), i did 3873 miles, i added about 1 quart, not even. Last year in Mexico i did well over 4000miles in between oil change, i added 2 quart once in between oil change, that was in the mountain.

It's good to know your engine and type of driving, oil consumption is pretty steady on most engine, + or - half a quart.

Next year i'm going back to Mexico and i'm going to bring a trailer and dirt bike. That is why i have decided to built another engine, not the monster one i'm working on in my spare time but a stock 2007 WRX. Turbo are nice for climbing and in high altitude.

Honestly, even if i have about 200HP now, it's not enough anymore!
Yesterday i was battling some very very strong head wind in the Adirondack, wile climbing and with the higher fourth gear, i could not reach 75mph. I was heavily loaded but still.

I'm egger to see what the Turbo Bostig version will do as torque and HP, that will be an interesting kit. So i'm happy to see that Jim and Brady are working hard on that part instead of the dip stick location :-)

Who knows, i may start offering Bostig kit soon to my customer!
I lately started to offer Tenc engine for the one that want to stay stock!

I'm taking a different path this year...

Peace

Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:34 am

Ben,
Sounds like you may be headed for a STI turbo or SVX on the Subie side, if power is what you need.

I too would like to see the supercharged or turbo charged Zetec next to one of my Syncro SVX vans.

Tuned I am at 276hp to the wheels and have not yet needed more.
This van is a 7 pass. Syncro and is light compared to a Westy Syncro.
I primarily tow with it.

I just picked up a 91 Carat Wolfsburg in Tornado Red with a 4 speed.
I have wanted to convert this van for a long time.
I have a 3.3 sitting here ready to go, but am still looking at other options.
WRX STI would be nice or a worked Zetec.

dylan

Thu Mar 05, 2009 3:34 pm

I checked my mileage on a recent trip. With my GPS counting the mileage.
I went 201 miles on 9.05 gallons.

Thats just over 22mpg. My best reading so far.

This is driving a steady 60 mph at 900 feet elevation.

Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:14 pm

alright i know im resurrecting an old thread...sorry

anyway i just had a couple questions.

im 17 and building a baja bug and ive got a friend that will give me a complete 2000 ford escort ZX2 it has the 2.0 liter 4cyl zetec engine with DOHC (wrecked)

so i have the engine and all the wiring harnesses and everything else to hook it up.
its a good running car he just drove it and then pulled the tranny for another car.

how much would it cost me to do the conversion? im talking the bottom price that i could get away with.

can i just use all the stock parts so that i would only have to buy the adapter plate itself?

i checked the bostig site but theres absolutely no way that i could dish out like $2000 (or whatever it was)

thanks alot guys

Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:58 pm

vindeta wrote:

how much would it cost me to do the conversion? im talking the bottom price that i could get away with.
............... theres absolutely no way that i could dish out like $2000 (or whatever it was)

They don't sell any of the pieces of the conversion (like the adapter) separate, so your out of luck. Maybe Kennedy makes an adapter, but there is a whole lot more to the conversion.

Their conversion is $4299 plus the cost of a motor.

Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:51 pm

yea Kennedy does make an adapter for it.

i really dont know a whole lot about doing engine swaps, so if someone could kinda explain the overall procedure or if theres a thread somewhere with alot of good info on it that would be great to.
so what all do i need?

ill have the engine, all the wiring harness, radiator, ecu (computer), everything else to make the car go, it was a running, driving car before.
(he only wants $150 for it)

so in theory i just need to "unplug" it from the escort and "plug" it into my car??

is that correct?? is it just a matter of wiring it in?
(besides hooking up the radiator)

thanks alot guys i really dont know much about this so any effort you put to explain it is appreciated.

Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:54 pm

Dude, you need to rethink what you are doing......
Bostig makes a Vanagon conversion, not a Baja all that will need to be customized......
So you will need to make numerous custom parts to do what you speak of
which will cost thousands of dollars....... ](*,)
Your budget is 2k and the bostig set up into a vangon is around 5k ] #-o

Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:58 am

I'm with smurf on this one.

Baja bug = air cooled, right? Vanagon/Zetec = water-cooled. You really up to the engineering involved here?

I know I wouldn't be.

Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:13 am

Changing subject,

I'm not sure this has been asked or answered before, are we ever going to have a Bosting option in California? I mean, I'm drooling over the idea of having a Zetec reliable engine in my Westy but it needs to be CA legal for me to go for it....I bet there is a good market in Cali for the Bosting guys, there are plenty of Vanagons around here and engines are getting older by the day

Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:18 am

Mad span
I spoke to a guy who attemting to do so. Some different steps need to be taken. He said he has spoke with Jim and Brady and they are working on it..... Curious to see how it turns out. Thatd suck if you do the install and it doesn't pass....

Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:37 am

well,
looks like i may be headed down the zetec route this winter. my question to the syncro guys with zetecs, What are you doing about your stock skid plate? will they fit with some mods? I am concerned about having my drivelline exposed

Wed Dec 30, 2009 2:34 pm

there are aftermarket dry sump systems available for the zetec.