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Tue Apr 21, 2015 4:08 pm

Don't know if Jim has received enough kudos over the years...
So glad I pulled the trigger on this conversion 2 years ago. ($6.7k total ! )
I never question whether I should go somewhere at a moment's notice.
It just works and works well! Not so much as a hiccup, check engine light or consumption/leak. That is not my history even with WBX rebuilds and, more oomph to boot.
Thanks again Jim, and previous company! You should be proud.

Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:21 am

There is always going to be some degree of separation covering manufacturer/engine orientation/originality. All the discussion in the world will not budge some people lol. The Zetec is (for all the aforementioned reasons) is a fantastic choice for a lot of us. Robust and simplistic, delivered in a well thought out package. I for one came to the realization that my van doesn't care what I do to it. :wink:

Wed Apr 22, 2015 8:06 am

Kudos again to Jim for the patient explanation of the bostig philosophy!

As I like to say, "an ounce of empirical data is worth a pound of theoretical speculation" -- and the empirical data on bostig is that it works and is reliable. period.

Wed Apr 22, 2015 9:45 am

Jim and the Bostig Kit are great. I put in the Zetec in 2010, best thing I ever did. I live near the Bus Depot. I was a very regular customer prior to the Bostig. Now when I visit, they always mention not seeing me lately... Reliability is way up. Turn the key and go.

Thu Apr 23, 2015 7:30 pm

I just want to say (again) that Bostig (Jim at al) is fukin amazing. I am not a wrench, I was probably one of Jim's worst worrying customers of all time. But he and the crew were patient and professional through every step of the install. Sometimes I still can't believe that I did it! I cannot tell you the sense of satisfaction and wonder that I get every time I drive my van, and I drive just about everyday. I love it, and I never think about it NOT WORKING. It just works every time. That's enough from me for now, I cannot reccomend Bostig highly enough. If you buy this kit you will love it.

Now about Jim's teaser...I have a 1990 Syncro Westy which is
'heavy as lead' so I am VERY interested in Jim's post on this thread - '... power adders...'... this summer... I'm sending an email to Bostig about this for sure!

Tue Apr 28, 2015 9:59 am

Another excited member of RG4 here. Got my Zetec and parts just waiting for the transplant. When the kit arrives, I'm sure I'll end up with plenty of questions for the group, but I am confident (based on what I've seen here) that the conversion will go well and I'll be cruising happy in short order. Living at altitude, I'm sorry I missed out on the turbo, so a new power adder solution is definitely intriguing too!

Tue Apr 28, 2015 1:47 pm

RG5 is filling up quick. If you're hoping to get a conversion done this summer / fall you better pull the trigger soon. As of today just four kits left, I think they started with 15 just over a month ago!

http://www.bostig.com/bostig-vanagon-conversion-rg5-20-deposit-total-price-5999/

Wed May 06, 2015 8:37 am

Just got my first packages yesterday afternoon! It was part of the "A" sub-kit (adapter plate and hardware, but not the flywheel), and the C, E, I and In sub-kits. So, I can't do the full transplant operation yet, but have plenty to keep me busy while I'm waiting. The Waterboxer is just about ready to be dropped out, and then I've got all the engine bay prep. So psyched it's finally started!

Wed May 06, 2015 7:11 pm

I pulled the trigger on the RG5, now I'm looking for a engine with low miles, it's going into my 86 Syncro Weekended. I'm looking forward to the project.

Thu May 07, 2015 10:56 am

RG4 buy in! Just got my packages yesterday. The only thing I was bummed about was not getting the blue book but that was just so I could start reading up. But Im sure it will come soon enough.

I picked up a Contour metal cam cover b at a pick-n-pull in Portland. Gunna go Ford blue on it. Adds horsepower for sure, just ask all the focus tuners :wink:

Im in Bend Oregon doing the conversion, anyone close?

Thu May 07, 2015 11:06 am

thasty07 wrote: Im in Bend Oregon doing the conversion, anyone close?

Ann Arbor, MI here. So no. :)

Thu May 07, 2015 11:10 am

CampWesty wrote: thasty07 wrote: Im in Bend Oregon doing the conversion, anyone close?

Ann Arbor, MI here. So no. :)

It'll be close once we get a reliable engine in! :D

Thu May 07, 2015 11:27 am

I don't think Bostig sends out a blue book anymore, you just download it from the website. I never got one.

I drove my Bostig Westy out to Ann Arbor, great city! UofM is great school!

Thu May 07, 2015 1:01 pm

JudoJeff wrote: I don't think Bostig sends out a blue book anymore, you just download it from the website. I never got one.

I drove my Bostig Westy out to Ann Arbor, great city! UofM is great school!

Good to know! Thanks!

Thu May 07, 2015 1:03 pm

JudoJeff wrote: I don't think Bostig sends out a blue book anymore, you just download it from the website. I never got one.

I drove my Bostig Westy out to Ann Arbor, great city! UofM is great school!

I downloaded the manual and UPDATES, emailed it to Staples and had it printed and spiral bound for under $20.

Fri May 08, 2015 1:15 am

I missed out on RG4 (waited too long - hoping there would be a free HC oilpan sale) and then jumped in on RG5.

I followed the engine call sheet script and after about 4 calls found an '03 with 37K for $250 +$150 shipping (PA to Portland). The script worked great.

I had engine delivery questions and found out from Jim that freight companies sometimes deliver to residential addresses but you usually need either a forklift to unload, or you'll pay extra for delivery with a liftgate equipped truck. Otherwise you'll need to deliver to a commercial address (with similar forklift-like capabilities) or you can pick it up at a local freight terminal.

Excited for the adventure of the install and the adventures thereafter.

Fri May 08, 2015 4:27 am

Hey stop buying all the good engines from PA! 😄

Fri May 08, 2015 6:29 am

thast07,
I live in Bend. You're welcome to look mine over any time and ask questions or if you need help. You may see my brown tiptop heading up to Phil's trailhead or REI :P
AL

Mon Jun 01, 2015 5:52 pm

So, I'm slowly but surely progressing on my build. Have almost all of my kit now, but still waiting on the oil pan before I put the zetec in the van. While I'm waiting, I decided to do some of the other little things, like replacing the resistor in the tachometer. Broke it down and got in there, ready to solder, and what I found looks very different from the pics in the manual.

My van is an 88, but is it possible that the tach got swapped for an 85 or 86 at some point? Anybody ever see the circuit board for one of those? Or know of another way to confirm the vintage of the tach? I'd be fine if I don't have to replace the resistor and can just put it back together, but I want to be sure first.

Mon Jun 01, 2015 6:47 pm

I have all good things about the bostig and I do have some interest in this conversion. I have an 81 air-cooled. I have sourced all the cooling bits I need for the job (rad, fan, lines, heater core...) Has anyone converted an air-cooled using the Bostig Conversion?
The only issue I can see is the location of my air-cooled trans being further forward and possibly causing the motor and the firewall to conflict. Also, the wiring harness would need aircooled attention, but that should be doable, as it is with the Subaru conversion.