Vanagon is now Vanagone

[Alleycat1990]

I was driving down a main road in Ottawa today and my 2.1 imploded. I called Hagerty but I am pretty sure they won't cover it. I am researching now I think I blew one cylinder. She is currently sitting at Ajs garage waiting for him to do an assesment hopefully Nonday am.

That is why I said they probably won't cover it..

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1990 Vanagon GL purchased fall of 2024
never winter driven and well maintained
minor repairs needed example odometer

[skills@eurocarsplus]

why TF would Hagarty cover your engine? Unless a manhole cover that jumped up, grabbed your sump and pulled your crank out I've never known ANY insurance company to cover mechanical issues....ever.
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[Alleycat1990]

Never had it happen before. That happened before with my 2018 Kia Soul and the dealership replaced the engine.
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1990 Vanagon GL purchased fall of 2024
never winter driven and well maintained
minor repairs needed example odometer

[bobbyblack]

Imploded, hmm... Like a big noise from the rear end? Did the rear end lock up? Did it make a noise and immediately engine stopped? I assume you had it towed? Was it leaking fluids? Chunks strewn along behind as you came to a stop?
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[latelogan]

sorry! let us know whats the assessment. Go grab a drink/snack and try to enjoy the rest of the day
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1991 Westy stock 2.1 auto transmission
1978 Westy (Sold)
1971 Westy (Sold)

[Alleycat1990]

Luckily I had enough speed to pull over loud noise then nothing a few chunks of metal in the engine bay. I didn't notice anything on the road. Towed to a vw mechanic I usually go to.
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1990 Vanagon GL purchased fall of 2024
never winter driven and well maintained
minor repairs needed example odometer

[bobbyblack]

Well.... Hmmm, I'd be guessing here, but you mentioned metal chunks in the engine compartment. That's likely a thrown rod.

If you've done upgrades to your engine, like stainless exhaust, updated throttle body, performance rocker arms, etc. you'll want to pull those off to save. Start asking around at any nearby or local shops that do transplants, you might find a reasonably decent pull that was done only because the owner wanted more "power" or something else like "reliability"

Hope things get back to where you left off, after you get this sorted!

-bobby
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[ThinkingD]

Time for a conversion. Contact https://mecaniquemartin.com/ and get a 2015 VW 2.0 SOHC turn key for a very reasonable price.

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87 Titian Red Westfalia 2.0 VW I4 SOHC manual Ottawa, Ontario

[Alleycat1990]

We are both in Ottawa. I contacted Eurotech they actually rebuilt my engine in 2020.
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1990 Vanagon GL purchased fall of 2024
never winter driven and well maintained
minor repairs needed example odometer

[zerotofifty]

[Alleycat1990]

Oil change was done last week and installed a good oil pressure gauge. 215 k on motor but i should look to see if the mileage is listed on the rebuild.
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1990 Vanagon GL purchased fall of 2024
never winter driven and well maintained
minor repairs needed example odometer

[Glenn]

[Captain Pike]

Rebuilt 2.1. If your rod bolts were not replaced it was only a matter of time.
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LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
....Bad Sneakers....

[Glenn]

[Wildthings]

IIRC, 10c says that 2.1L Rod bolts should be installed using 1.9L torque specs and procedures.

[Wildthings]

[ThinkingD]

Would like to know when (year) Eurotech re-built you motor. Was it Eurotech or a Frank Condelli build. Was it a full re-build or new heads...?

Eurotech will install a FAS kit but I found that too expensive for my budget and went with a Mechanic Martin conversion.

In 2022 it cost me $7500.00 can for a 2015 VW 2.0 with 132,000 km on it, new timing belt, coil pack, water pump, accessory belt, drive by wire, ODB2 port up front. Turn key.

I gave him my old 2.1, it was running fine but oil pressure was starting to drop. You could reach out and see if he has any 2.1s. Phone is best.

Is yours the white tin top I see in Westboro from time to time?.
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87 Titian Red Westfalia 2.0 VW I4 SOHC manual Ottawa, Ontario

[Howesight]

That picture clearly shows a failed connecting rod. In the 2.1 WBX engine (1986 to 1991 models), the connecting rods feature "torque-to-yield" bolts. Sadly, there are two big problems with these connecting rod bolts:

1. They are NOT re-usable; and
2. They ALWAYS fail eventually, although the time of failure may be at 150,000, 200,000 or 250,000 miles. Typically, as the connecting rods approach the point at which they are likely to fail, the oil pressure drops. This can allow a careful owner to rebuild before the engine "blows up good", as John Candy used to say:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wf4exIiQr8

By contrast, the 1.9 engines used "standard" connecting rod bolts and those connecting rod bolts almost never failed.

So, my guess is that either the rebuilder re-used the connecting rods bolts that were in the engine before rebuild or your engine suffered a low-or-no oil pressure event that caused the connecting rod failure.

You will need a replacement engine. If you have never found the WBX to be underpowered for your needs, then a good core engine from a person intending to do an engine conversion can be found, often at a decent price.

You can rebuild a core with replacement connecting rods that are sold, with new bolts and correctly machined:

https://vwparts.aircooled.net/Waterboxer-Connectin...ods-rb.htm

You can also buy a kit from GoWesty:
https://vwparts.aircooled.net/Waterboxer-Connectin...ods-rb.htm

It remains possible that the cylinder heads associated with the failed connecting rod in your "blowed up real good" engine, with relatively low miles, might be re-usable in such an engine build.

Hope this helps!
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'86 Syncro Westy SVX

[wesitarz]

$7500 CAN all in? That is reasonable. 115hp?

[Wildthings]