performance waterboxer motors

[Tomswesty]

I would not be building anything to sell. I would like to have some reliability going down the road though and it seems like everytime I fix one thing another pops up. I realize it's an old vehicle but maybe the technology used isn't the best for now. I waffle back and forth about staying stock and everytime I do another issue comes up. Will converting to something different colve this problem, probably not but you never know.

[Dogpilot]

Well having to fix stuff all the time is a normal for 20 year old anythings, including humans. It is pretty much that way on aircraft, which are theoretically built to a higher standard. My understanding is that cars really are not made to last more than 10 years. Gas engines have a life expetancy of 150K to 200K. Diesel engines go from 250K to 300K. When you get over these numbers, you find out if you have the monday component or the wednesday component. Contacts on relays, and switches finally have a goodly amount of burn bulid up. Motor contacts in electrical motors are worn. Corrosion rears its ugly head. So I expect stuff to be failing.

The roll your own engine lets you select the best available for your project. My chief tech says, he has the cam done by a local racing shop in Atlanta. He selects the profile based upon my perferred cruising speed/RPM range. Wisco will custom build any piston you want. Getting your fuel injectors rebuilt is only $75 from Cruzin Performance. It would probably cost you the same to re-do your AMC heads than having GoWesty do it. Lots of magic can be done on your crank and the bearings. A well balanced rotating group (crank rods and flywheel clutch) can let you rev higher without grenading your engine. The computer limits you to 5200 rpm, which is actually faster than a van should go. I can't wait until someone adapts the Digifant with the knock sensor. Then you can go higher compression on regular fuel. Bore (CC's) gives you torque, compression gets you better acceleration.

Cheers,
james
_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

[lilweasel]

Nobody answered this- anybody know anybody that's done this? Seems inticing.

The only thing holding me back from a subaru is that I'm worried about getting parts downt the road. That might be the advantage of the Zetec engine.

[GeorgeL]

[benmac]

http://www.bostig.com/

zetec motor, i have one. its a 98 contour with 70,000 miles. i drive that because im working on my van, but should i look into converting it? i mean its a 16v. and runs real good. any opinions?

[westy87]

Disclaimer: I am not necessarily plugging GoWesty, I just shopped around a great deal and found the best choice for my needs.

I went down from Sacramento and picked up a 2.3 and a rebuilt 4 speed trans. in September. $5612.00 for both, including tax. The invoice gives an itemized breakdown of all costs and I would say they have done their homework.

They cut no corners. I did not see anything on the invoice that looked unreasonable, I DID see alot of items AND work that other builders don't even bother providing, when they should if their plan was to build an engine for longevity.

I spent another $300 total on belts, oil, spark plug wires, antifreeze, hoses, a rebuilt throttle body ($100) and other little goodies.

The engine DOES NOT leak or burn oil. It runs very cool and powers up any hill in our area, superior to my last motor in every measureable category.

It matches up fairly well with stock tranny gears, though I realize now why the original engine and the stock tranny were such a good mating. Any bump in hosepower and torque leaves you wanting a fifth gear.

I installed this setup myself. It is not difficult. It runs excellent and is problem free. I can't see the down side to this engine.

Once thing I should add - Lucas is NOT a humble Public Relations type. Far from it. But I am very satisfied with his product.

[bostig]

Hey Guys,

This is Jim from Bostig Engineering... feel free to fire any questions you have my way about the Vanagon Zetec Conversion.

I have to correct the approximated pricing below as well.. Our zetec conversion can be installed in far less time than any other engine conversion. A qualified shop should be able to do it start to finish in 10 hours. Which means the cost for a Zetec conversion is more like $7550+shipping instead of $9980. For $9980, you are about $100 from adding on the Ford Racing Supercharger, which gives you 210 HP (which is more than an SVX... just ask for a chassis dyno sheet)

[levi]

The prices he listed included transmission and clutch.....you saying a shop can install a zetec, new clutch and transmission for that price?

[bostig]

Thanks levi, you're right.. if you include the clutch at $150 and the tranny at $1095 (AA transaxle for instance) then it's $8795.

Jim

[gears]

Since I live at the base of the Sierras and do a lot of uphill driving with excess weight, I went with the Subaru SVX 6-cylinder for my '90 Syncro Westy. 10:1 compression ratio, 24 valve, 4 cam, 230 hp, 7,400 rpm. I can pull in 3rd gear from 1500 rpm, no sweat; hold fast lane position on any stretch of I-80; easily pass slow uphill traffic in 3rd gear at 75mph; and do 100 mph with PLENTY reserve poop.

I'm not going to jump up & down claiming this engine is "THE BEST!!", but I look in the engine compartment and see an engine that was made for this vehicle. The fit is perfect, the power is exceptional, -- there's even a new ECU upgrade for added low-end torque and allowing the switch to 87 octane.

SVX engines are relatively cheap -- around $800. I got a 55K engine, paid for new oil pump, belts, seals, etc. to be installed, and engine costs totalled around $2,200 (with air-con compressor). If I see the availability of engines dropping (and prices going up), I'll just purchase and store a spare.

[r39o]

Gears,

Are you the CAlifornia side? If so, are you CA smog legal?

Only the smaller 2.2 seems to to an easy one for smog.

-Walt
_________________
"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

[gears]

You have to go to one of the intelligent referees for a permanent tag ---

[r39o]

I've done that. OK. So you can smog it in Cali. Just have to get the sticker. OK, that means all the smog stuff has to be there and no fault codes being thrown.

Any other tips? I am down South almost on the Mexican border. I think I had my other conversion done in Santa Ana about 15 years ago. Not so bad, if you can show them documentation and the location of the various things.

What's funny was that when I went to get it smogged, on the very same day they applied the sticker, the ding dongs at the smog place refused to do it, because the air filter box had been modified. What a joke that was....Idiots.

Great. Thanks....
_________________
"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

[gears]

Once the referee signs off on the installation, the smog ding dong is obliged to pass it (so long as emissions are within range). Power tripping by a referee wannabe, no doubt --

[GeorgeL]

[vwmaniaman]

How many Suby parts will be available through our usual supply stores in 10 Years. I am keeping mine stock and buying from the vendors I can count on being there for me whenever it breaks as I know it will.

[GeorgeL]

[Tomswesty]

The VW dealership in town refused to even talk to me about working on my westy. It's too old they said and wouldn't even change my transmission fluild. Parts are not carried there either so if it wasn't for the places on the internet I would really be out of luck for parts. But then again I am also putting a 2.2L EJ22 135 HP in instead of repairing my leaking head.

[GeorgeL]

[psych-illogical]

There's an awful lot here in this thread already so I didn't read everything here. Kinda skimmed a few of the comments so forgive me if I'm repeating too much.

I've got the 2.2 GoWesty in mine. 12,000 mi. and no problems. Still no rocket ship but noticably more oomph than stock. I'm quite happy. To go any bigger, if you're exchanging a 1.9L, they nail you for a core charge since the 1.9 and 2.1 blocks are different. This runs the price up a fair bit and I'm a cheapskate. Would've loved the 2.4L but not at the extra $$$.

The Suby motors seem to have quite a strong following and I'm sure they're a really great motor at a relatively reasonable price. The big issue I can see here is that you either have to be very mechanically inclined and willing to take on the conversion yourself or, find one of the few shops around willing to do the work for you. And then, be sure you live near one of the few shops willing to service/troubleshoot any future issues you may have. Granted, the Subaru's are inherently very reliable but once in a while, things need attention.

There is only one shop here where I live that'll even touch a Vanagon so I've learned my vehicle top-to-bottom and inside-out. I also have the mechanical savvy and backround to have done a conversion myself but I didn't have the time. This is currently my only car and I literally needed something I could yank the old engine out of and put in a new one and get it running in a weekend. The GoWesty motor was literally a plug-in job. I'm sure I coulda messed with a Suby conversion for weeks.
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83 1/2 Westy waterboxer
'57 Beetle-sold
Coupla '81 BMW motorcycles (R80G/S; R100RS)
'96 BMW R1100GS