my vanagon needs a rebuild

[M_atthewanderson]

I just received some bad news form a good mechanic wagenschmitt here in Seattle and he told me I have no compression in cylinder #1 and I need and engine rebuild. Im just looking for some advice, or someone who knows a cheaper way. The trouble is I live in an apartment and don’t have any resources to do it myself and no way do I have $2,000—dollars. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Maybe some one knows of a wrecked 1980 2.0 j-letronic engine here in Washington.
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1980 2.0 Sunroof Vanagon

[Captain Pike]

the next step is a leak down test. TDC cylinder #1, remove the spark plug,use a compressor to inject air into the spark plug hole. If you hear air hissing out of the intake or exaust than you most likely sucked a seat and need a new head.Much cheeper than a complete rebuild. What were the results on the rest of the cylinders?
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LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current.......................

[weinerwagen]

I think the guy is high, but there is a Vanagon seller of parts in Lynwood, WA

I bought a 2.0L for 500 bucks, complete,
so beware of high dollar rebuilds
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Retired attorney--Tort King.

[M_atthewanderson]

the compression was #1(95) #2(0) #3(125) #4(135)
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1980 2.0 Sunroof Vanagon

[Captain Pike]

that's gotta be a bad valve. find a used head and bolt it on.first do the leakdown test
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current.......................

[Randy in Maine]

Could just be a valve seat or a cracked head due to running too hot.

Do both heads, and install the stainless steel valves that are out there. there may be other lean running things happening in there like vacuum leaks or bad timing.

Install a CHT gauge also so you will know when it is getting hot.

[[email protected]]

I found a nice turn key on ebay that was only 100 miles for home.
for under 500.

[H-four]

The guy is high. You should be able to buy a brand new complete head for about $350, and rebuilds about $200. I had a mechanic quote me that $2000 price for installing one head in Gig Harbor, but looked around a found much more reasonable prices.

You've got very good comp in 3 and 4. I agree with the leak down test.
But it doesn't sound like you need a complete rebuild.

I have heard rebuilt heads can be unreliable, but that may just be where you get them.

I paid about $700 for a rebuilt head installed on my '80, but the same valve went out in 3000 miles. My bad....bad choice of mechanics...he wouldn't fix it. So my options were $600-800 for another rebuilt, or $700-900 for a new, from a good reliable shop.

So now its sitting as I haven't decided what to do with it (I bought an 87 with a new motor).

Its not going to be cheap, however you go.

Good luck.

[M_atthewanderson]

Is their any thing I should know about another engine fitting before I put it in my Vanagon?
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1980 2.0 Sunroof Vanagon

[M_atthewanderson]

after years and fuel types
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1980 2.0 Sunroof Vanagon

[Randy in Maine]

I think you can use any air cooled vanagon engine from 1980-1983. They are all 2.0L with hydraulic lifters. The square ports heads that the vanagons used were the same as in a 1979 baywindow. There are some other differences in using a baywindow engine though, so I would discourage that.

Some interesting reading here:

http://www.tunacan.net/t4/index.shtml

You compression is generally pretty good except for that one cylinder. I would focus on a "valve job" doing both heads if it were me. If you could get the engine out, you can take the heads into a good machine shop and have them rebuilt for pretty reasonable money. The machine shop would be able to tell you if they are cracked or what, but valve seats are what usually happen to these due to running too hot. Vacuum leaks and poor timing are death to these since they run pretty hot anyway. Ask around up there, somebody can point you to a good place to go.

You need a cylinder head temperature gauge to make sure that doesn't happen. It will cost you about a $100 or so to buy it.