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Thomas18
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2023
Posts: 1
Location: ca
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 Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 8:37 pm Post subject: 1990 Vanagon Engine Rebuild |
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Just got a Westy (1990 Vanagon) to restore in Southern California. Car has a 1.9L in it, swapped before the last owner. Trying to debate my options for swapping the engine or rebuilding.
It starts. But is very sad and drips oil.
Options that I’m seeing.
1.) rebuilding this engine. Having a hard time finding a mechanic that is even interested in doing this in San Diego. But think I have someone. No idea on cost.
2.) Buy a rebuilt 1.9L or 2.1L and swap em. 4k
(I’d feel comfortable swapping engine/clutch, just not rebuilding the engine itself)
3.) go for the GoWesty rebuilt engine. 6-7k
Any thoughts. Most of the previous comments are pre-inflated 2023 costs. And looking for advice for what people are paying right now.
Just not sure if the GW options are worth almost twice the cost as a rebuilt motor.
Just looking to do western highway driving with not much off-road. |
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mikemtnbike
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Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2793
Location: North Carolina
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32561
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2023 8:06 am Post subject: Re: 1990 Vanagon Engine Rebuild |
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| Thomas18 wrote: |
Options that I’m seeing.
1.) rebuilding this engine. Having a hard time finding a mechanic that is even interested in doing this in San Diego. But think I have someone. No idea on cost. |
This leads me to believe you are not mechanically inclined or have the facilities to rebuild the engine yourself. This is/was me.
I bought a rebuilt 2.1 from a fellow who went to Subieland. The engine he took out had been rebuilt <5k before the swap. $800. From another guy who went with Bostig, but had bought a bunch of stuff to fix his WBX and never got around to it, I bought new heads, ECU, engine harness and some other stuff. I had my local mechanic do the swap. While-in-there syndrome, I did a new exhaust system, swapped out the heads, all new clutch parts. $5k. Part of the cost incurred was a ground he couldn't find and took many hours trying to track down. So let's say 5k all up including the engine if you had a T3 knowledgable guy doing it. Others will have much to say about the cost of just the swap, but you probably should do the exhaust. A GW engine will have the clutch parts installed.
Read this, a good GW article. https://gowesty.com/blogs/article-library/engine-replacement-what-does-that-cost And to add to what they say, what about the 30 YO plus ECU/engine harness? I am currently have extremely frustrating problems with intermittent harness issues. Remember a 30 YO car needs more than just maintenance as GW says. IT NEEDS RESTORATION. A very different kettle of fish. If I were to do a WBX rebuilt today or a new GW 2.2, I would do everything GW says in their article PLUS the harness. Also new major battery and alternator wiring, And add to all of that the cost of having every single engine bay ground being polished with protective grease added afterwards. With cooling and fuel hoses, thermostat, temp II and O2, I can't imagine doing this for less than 6 or 7 for the labor and parts install on top of the engine cost. And with while-you're-in-there, a tuned SS exhaust?
Remember all this is said from my personal experience as a non gear head and others will have far different opinions.
Of course, you can do a Q & D swap and then patch it up as you have break downs from auxiliary systems, but............... For example, a total catastrophic coolant loss from breakage of the old plastic coolant tower could easily fry the engine and you are back to square one. GW's last sentence on this is worth remembering. "There is never enough time or money to do it right, but there is always plenty of both to do it again!"
Good luck with whatever you decide to do..
Duncan |
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sanchius 
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Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 1450
Location: IN
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JEL91Westy
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2020
Posts: 211
Location: Central PA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2023 8:06 am Post subject: Re: 1990 Vanagon Engine Rebuild |
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Not to question anyone else’s numbers, but I JUST did this and without really adding it all up (some things are best left vague), I am in for probably $10k.
Roughly as follows:
$7k- with me removing and installing the motor for the rebuild. This includes a complete rebuild including cam, pistons, heads (with machining),etc. and rebuilt tranny and new clutch.
Then all new hoses, new radiator, new GW SS exhaust w/cat, new thermostat housing and all the associated little bits and pieces add up to another $3k or so.
Add in a lot of time hunched over the engine or under it, and consulting this forum and Bentley and it amounts to a “memorable” and certainly not inexpensive experience.
Justifiable to me, and probably many others on here, because in my opinion 30yrs later there is still nothing truly comparable.
Good luck!
Joe
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91 Westy
85 911 |
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sanchius
Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 1450
Location: IN
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| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2023 8:23 am Post subject: Re: 1990 Vanagon Engine Rebuild |
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Yeah, the more data points on this the better. Hopefully others will spreadsheet document their builds.
My build required no machining, no trans rebuild, no timeline, and was prepandemic. I also had two motors in relatively good shape to build from, the second motor was free and had fresh heads. A change in any of these would have increased my costs.
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The Syncro years (2005-16) - The 2WD years (2017-23) - Westy & WBX rebuild spreadsheet - Sanchius & Tuna: The Video
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