TheSamba.com :: View topic - Gowesty 2200 vs. 2300

Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:23 pm

Hey all,
Looking for a bit of advice. Finally taking the plunge and having a gowesty engine installed. After dealing with an internal headgasket leak, even though the engine only has 73000 on it, I decided a new engine was the best route.
I've already done the entire cooling system, radiator, fuel lines, rebuilt german transaxle, among many other things.
Since i had so much invested into it, i thought the block really was the last thing that needed to be redone and is really the reason i opted to go the WBX route instead of subaru or zetec.

I know, I know. I should have gotten a 10cent motor. Please, spare me...

I'm not a mechanic and no way could i even come close to attempting an engine swap, and i don't know anyone local i can trust. Unfortunately, i'm no wrencher - i just love driving my westy and want it to be more reliable.

So my van is now at gowesty, and what I was afraid of is reality - i need a new exhaust system. Bummer. This will add about 1300 to my final bill... so it puts me in a tight spot financially if i go with the 2300. The 2300 was my original plan.

Now i am considering the 2200 due to the cost savings and due to the fact that i can still run 87 octane fuel.

Can anyone here lend some advice as to which route you would go? the 2300 vs 2200.

thanks.
ian

Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:48 pm

Hey back, I installed a GW 2.3 couple years back I really like the power boost (from a 1.9 w/ 125k miles) and runs great. I always run 89 octane. I'd say if 87 octane is a must for you than go w/ the 2.2 just to avoid pre-ign. possibilities. I would also highly advise an external oil cooler (see 10cent- :D ), once installed my oil psi was up about 10lbs across the board.

Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:58 pm

Westcycle wrote: Hey back, I installed a GW 2.3 couple years back I really like the power boost (from a 1.9 w/ 125k miles) and runs great. I always run 89 octane. I'd say if 87 octane is a must for you than go w/ the 2.2 just to avoid pre-ign. possibilities. I would also highly advise an external oil cooler (see 10cent- :D ), once installed my oil psi was up about 10lbs across the board.

thanks. go westy suggested that but they are out of stock.

any suggestions on where i can get one locally in the bay area, and who will install it?

Thu Apr 21, 2011 1:15 pm

Hello I have the Gowesty 2.2L and very happy. Personally I love it and I feel it is enough power for the type of driving I do (Mountain) In the mountains I tend to do a lot of up hill in 3rd for long periods of time. I use a Taleer 3rd and 4th gear for lower RPM's.65 MPH at 3000rpm I run 91 octane and feel that if I had a larger engine I would use more fuel than needed to get the job done. I hope this helps. :vw:

Thu Apr 21, 2011 1:27 pm

Jedi wrote: Hello I have the Gowesty 2.2L and very happy. Personally I love it and I feel it is enough power for the type of driving I do (Mountain) In the mountains I tend to do a lot of up hill in 3rd for long periods of time. I use a Taleer 3rd and 4th gear for lower RPM's.65 MPH at 3000rpm I run 91 octane and feel that if I had a larger engine I would use more fuel than needed to get the job done. I hope this helps. :vw:

this does help. how long have you had it?

Thu Apr 21, 2011 4:03 pm

I vote 2.2

dylan

Thu Apr 21, 2011 4:35 pm

on my recently sold 2wd westy, I had a 2.3 GW engine installed following head gaskets issues you describe. I really enjoyed the added power and torque over stock. It is very zippy on the flats and it did really well on the multiple trips over the Sierra Passes near Reno (Mt Rose, Carson, Ebbetts).
It's a tough comparing 2.2 vs 2.3 because with out knowing your driving style and how often you tackle the big contrasts in elevation, it a toss up. My preference would be to go with the 2.3 and make sure the rest of the engine electronics are gone through..

There used to be a table comparing the time it took to go from 0-50 (?) mph for various engines. Search for it on the samba and compare the results of the GW engines.

Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:00 pm

ianstone wrote: Hey all,

So my van is now at gowesty, and what I was afraid of is reality - i need a new exhaust system. Bummer. This will add about 1300 to my final bill... so it puts me in a tight spot financially if i go with the 2300. The 2300 was my original plan.

Now i am considering the 2200 due to the cost savings and due to the fact that i can still run 87 octane fuel.

thanks.
ian

you could just sell me those mk21's. :wink: Good luck with your new motor whichever you choose.

fsulloway

Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:22 pm

insyncro wrote: Tencent motor, exhaust and oil cooling should be considered!!!
I will be installing one next week and will be photo documenting.
Watch for it.

dylan

I fershure will be watching that thread! Thanks for documenting it.

-CJ

Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:31 pm

Home Team Van wrote: ianstone wrote: Hey all,

So my van is now at gowesty, and what I was afraid of is reality - i need a new exhaust system. Bummer. This will add about 1300 to my final bill... so it puts me in a tight spot financially if i go with the 2300. The 2300 was my original plan.

Now i am considering the 2200 due to the cost savings and due to the fact that i can still run 87 octane fuel.

thanks.
ian

you could just sell me those mk21's. :wink: Good luck with your new motor whichever you choose.

fsulloway

hey frank!
i have a single mk21 - i would consider selling it. I think i've only used it once for M/S with my figure 8.... and i hardly tape that much these days anyways....

i think i am going to go with the 2200.

oh and thanks insyncro - i know, tencent motors are the best. but i have no way to install it myself nor the know-how... and i don't know any local shops here (THAT I TRUST) who can do it for a price that would be comparable to what i'd get all in @ GoWesty.
For someone like myself, who doesn't wrench, this seemed to be the best solution...

Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:58 am

insyncro wrote: Tencent motor, exhaust and oil cooling should be considered!!!I will be installing one next week and will be photo documenting.
Watch for it.

dylan
Absolutely.

If I were not going SVX.. I'd be putting a deposit down on a 10cent motor.. and I'd wait in line as long as I needed to get one.

Fri Apr 22, 2011 1:04 pm

ianstone wrote:
oh and thanks insyncro - i know, tencent motors are the best. but i have no way to install it myself nor the know-how... and i don't know any local shops here (THAT I TRUST) who can do it for a price that would be comparable to what i'd get all in @ GoWesty.
For someone like myself, who doesn't wrench, this seemed to be the best solution...

Did you try contacting Fred's Garage in Redwood City? I don't know if they do engine installs (I would bet they do), but they are very reputable shop...I have always been satisfied with their work.

Also you could try Weiss Enterprises in Mountain View. Small shop - but Steve may be able to do the work as well.

Fri Apr 22, 2011 1:08 pm

I'd get the 2.2. It's a big improvement over stock and you'll be more than happy with it. I drove a friends and it's real nice.

Fri Apr 22, 2011 2:27 pm

j_dirge wrote: insyncro wrote: Tencent motor, exhaust and oil cooling should be considered!!!I will be installing one next week and will be photo documenting.
Watch for it.

dylan
Absolutely.

If I were not going SVX.. I'd be putting a deposit down on a 10cent motor.. and I'd wait in line as long as I needed to get one.

Yeah, but... it isn't always a realistic choice.
I think he'd be waiting months for a 10c motor, that would mean he's out of action for the whole summer, and the guys already got it on the ramps at gowesty. Sounds like he's commited, no?

Never having driven any of the gowesty powered vans, I can't comment on any perceived difference between 2.2 and 2.3, but geesh, can there really be enough of a difference that anyone could actually notice it with just an extra 100cc?

Surely gowesty must have a similarly equipped van with both engines in them for a test drive?

Fri Apr 22, 2011 2:33 pm

levi wrote:
Yeah, but... it isn't always a realistic choice.
I guess so..
Ianstone posted here many months ago about doing a Subaru swap. But he was put off by the expense of doing one using professionals like Buslab.

Looks like he procrastinated a few months too long... and is now stuck at GoWesty?

Fri Apr 22, 2011 2:38 pm

Nothin' wrong with being stuck at GoWesty. I can only take care of a handful of customers, so someone has to take up the slack!

No really, they offer an excellent product and great service, you can't go wrong. If your problem is a choice like the OP is facing, well, we should all wish to have such problems!

Fri Apr 22, 2011 2:51 pm

I've been running a GoWesty 2.3 for 3 years now and have been very satisfied. Not only with the engine but with the service that GoWesty has provided me with since the install. 2.2 or 2.3, you'll be stoked. It's a bummer about the exhaust. It is a 20+ year old ride. Enjoy you new engine.

Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:24 pm

Perhaps you have your answer -- but FWIW I have had the GoWesty 2.2 for 5 years / 32,000 miles and am delighted with the performance & mpg. Had a 1.9L before so the bump was noticeable. I do a lot of mountain driving and get to use 4th gear much more often now.

Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:00 am

ianstone wrote: So my van is now at gowesty, and what I was afraid of is reality - i need a new exhaust system. Bummer. This will add about 1300 to my final bill... so it puts me in a tight spot financially if i go with the 2300.
I don't know squat about tencent or gowesty, but the testimonials for both gowesty's engines seem fine. Therefore, don't put yourself into a financial bottleneck because you had your mind set.

If you can wait, then your decision is based on whether you want to wait. It sort of sounds like you can't or don't want to.

I had a Super Beetle a few years ago and I was budgeting for an eventual 2270cc Type IV engine. Along the way, a great deal for a 2056cc Type IV became available. I decided to go for it. As much as I may lean towards a 2270cc for whatever my next project might be, getting the 2056cc was a blast to have.

Personally, I think you answered your own question. Go with the 2.2 you can afford with the new exhaust and enjoy it. You may not enjoy the 2.3 so much if you're always driving around with a financial cloud over your head.

Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:06 pm

rockfish wrote: ianstone wrote:
oh and thanks insyncro - i know, tencent motors are the best. but i have no way to install it myself nor the know-how... and i don't know any local shops here (THAT I TRUST) who can do it for a price that would be comparable to what i'd get all in @ GoWesty.
For someone like myself, who doesn't wrench, this seemed to be the best solution...

Did you try contacting Fred's Garage in Redwood City? I don't know if they do engine installs (I would bet they do), but they are very reputable shop...I have always been satisfied with their work.

Also you could try Weiss Enterprises in Mountain View. Small shop - but Steve may be able to do the work as well.

I'm sure there are ways around it but nobody as reputable as Gowesty. I have had some good and some bad experiences with small shops and I wanted something where I would have a warranty.
I'm not sure that with a 10cent motor i would get a 4yr/48k warranty.

Also, the van is already at go westy.