DIY or pay someone for a pro swap?

[cbiedenbach]

no way thummper. The story you tell does not add up. This guy has been doing this conversion since November 09' but "he still needed an airbox." That would be the Focus airbox that are a dime a dozen at the local junk yard? If he has no airbox what about the MAF?

I am finishing up a 2010 Bostig conversion and have contacted them with, in retrospect, some really dumb questions. They have always been professional and extremely helpful and had me moving on in no time. This seems to be the general consensus of others who have done this conversion but since you are posting, how about pointing us to the "large community of anti bostiggers to boot"?

Dude, if you don't like the Zetec for the Vanagon that is your right. WBX, Subaru and Zetec all work for different people with different goals. But bashing the Bostig guys as selling a motor that doesn't fit is blatantly false.

[presslab]

That Vanaru stuff looks super nice. When I did my EJ22 I bought a used conversion kit and changed out some of the parts. I'm very happy with it. Ideally I would have the EJ25 but in Kalifornia it's probably a bit more difficult than the EJ22 for smog.

So I'd say you should go with an EJ25 with Vanaru parts and DIY.
_________________
1986 Vanagon Westfalia EJ25
1988 Subaru GL-10 EJ20G --- 2000 Honda XR650L
2010 Titus El Guapo --- 2011 On-One 456 Ti

[funagon]

[ftp2leta]

[Destructo]

So since I actually have a Bostig Group 7 2.0 Zetec conversion (and I did it all by myself) I figured I would chime in.
I'm not a mechanic by trade, I just started wrenching 3 years ago. I have minimal tools and don't have an engine hoist.
I got my conversion running in 1 week. I did it after work and throughout the weekend. I think the hardest part was taking out my old 1.9, some things just wouldn't budge from rust.
There were a few hiccups throughout the install, mostly during the initial running trial. During that I was on the phone tons with one of the guys over at Bostig. They were short and to the point about getting things done. I'm sure every once and a while they were frustrated when I couldn't explain myself out of a hole, BUT THEY WERE ALWAYS AVAILABLE. I think your friend is paranoid if he thought they were laughing at him. It's a bunch of friends running a small business together, you don't think they f around and have a good time at work?
Anyway, I've had nothing but positive results so far from my Zetec. Solid smooth operation for almost 10k miles. Just thought I would have something positive to say about Bostig.
_________________
1985 Wolfsburg Edition Westfalia Camper Bostig conversion

Dude, where's your van?

[SeattleDownhill]

I completely forgot about Vanaru... With that kit, is it all there? Or will I end up having to source a few other parts? It apears to come with a motor in the 20-40,000 mile range as well from what I can tell. Right?

That seems like a rad option. What has the average install take with that setup? I would be working on it in the mornings and weekends really. I can realisticly see it taking about 2 or 3 weeks. I have to say that I'm quite mechanicly inclined and the more I do and figure out on the van, the more I feel like I can try and tackle. That being said, I'm very much a novice... I've never worked on my own car until my van.

I've gone back and forth with the Bostig, but like I mentioned, ground clearance is a problem. My wheelwells are sitting about 25 inches off the ground (24" up front). And if my calculations are correct, that would leave the motor right around or under 3" away from draging... Not stoked about that. For stock van height, rad. Just not with my van being so low.

[Christopher Schimke]

[GBA 88West LA]

hans did a install in my westy two years ago, and i am very very satisfied..complete package w/ 14k motor, bell housing, ss exhaust, clutch, modified ecu,oil pan...it truly is turn key fly by wire...hans is a genius..my only recommend is dont shy away from doing tranny & cv's & new radiator@same time these 170-180hp 2.5's WILL tear apart a 20= yr stock tranny in short time....then you have to pull the motor again to adress, do it all together...but vanarus product is top of the line cleanest install ive ever seen
_________________
88 Westy GL Vanaru 07 2.5 EJ25/AA Trans/oiling plates, 1.14 3rd-.77-4th..solar powered cabin

[ftp2leta]

[Jon_slider]

I have a Subaru 2.2 in a Syncro, it has about 7" of ground clearance with 27x8.5x14 tires.

You could call Bostig and ask how much ground clearance you would have with your tires, and their shortened oil pan.

fwiw, the photo of thummpers thumb on the oil pan made me measure my hand in that position, 6.5" (his might be smaller, dont know)

so, if you could have a 2.5 from Vanaru for $9000 plus install, you end up with 160 horses

or you could have a bostig for $6000 plus install, 110 horses

or a Subaru H6 3.0 installed in Santa Barbara while you wait, for $9000.. 212 Horses..

lets see, road trip to santa barbara, pro install, or stay in seattle and get less horses, and you have to do the install yourself or pay someone.. for less horses..

I say road trip, more horses, less money

[Vanagon Nut]

[Brad4]

Han from Vanaru did my Subaru 2.5 conversion. I drove to his shop and 3 weeks later drove it home. The work that he and Ben do is so professional.
When I took my van to get inspected in NY, the mechanic had no clue that it wasnt the factory engine.
I had Hans do the installation because I do not have the time to do it. It was worth it. I follow the Yahoo Subaru / Vanagon list to further understand the engine.
I just got back from an 8000 mi NY to California road trip with total confidence in the engine. The thing was amazing pulling up steep mountians without loosing any speed.
I know several people who have done a Bostig conversion. They all have done it them selves and are very happywith the results. They do not hang any lower than a stock engine or a Subaru. Brady and the gang at Bostig keep improving the kits. His Turbo version is very impressive.
Wether you do the conversion or pay someone, you will be very happy with the final results.
_________________
91 Vanaru westy
07 GTI Fahrenheit
14 GSR Beetle
66 single cab
64 Herbie Beetle

[Destructo]

[ftp2leta]

[Destructo]

That's relieving to hear, Ben. I'm sure the best thing to do is rehab the transmission before any conversion just to be safe.

To the OP, as you can see there is lots of debate on which conversion is best. Lots of pros and cons for all of them. But believe me, when you do get yours running, whichever you choose, your face will hurt from smiling so much after that first run. However, nothing compares to the feeling you get after completing it yourself.
_________________
1985 Wolfsburg Edition Westfalia Camper Bostig conversion

Dude, where's your van?

[ianstone]

[syncrodoka]

Talk to burley motorsports, he can get you in contact with eric. The price I was unaware of though.

[ianstone]

thanks everyone on this thread, including the OP for starting it....
i have been following along and learning a lot.


I have a 1987 VW Westy with 73,000 original miles. I have had my share of problems though, since purchasing it about 6 years ago.

I had various issues with the cooling system, a hose here, a plug there, etc.

also had a major coolant leak, which resulted in replacing one of the heads.

Last year i redid all of the cooling lines, fuel lines, and got a new German transaxle (rebuilt) trans.

I am of the group of people who is a novice when it comes to car repairs. Most if not all work on my van has been done by a shop.

I have put in a great deal of money to this van, so probably would want well above market value if i were to sell it, and use the money to buy a van that has already been converted.

i had a new water pump put in last year, among other things.

Now, it seems that i may have some hydrocarbons in the coolant, which likely means an internal head gasket leak.

Van cafe (in santa cruz) did the work on the trans last year, and i remember since then i have had some slow idling issues but always just figured the van needed to warm up more. (ie. stalling at a stop light). Now, it is clear that has been an issue related to the gasket.
I contacted them to ask about the potential gasket issue, if it could have been caused from the trans replacement, etc. but didn't get a reply.


So, now the question that is looming for me is - do i spend upwards of $2000+ to reseal the gaskets internally on the stock engine.? or put that $2000 towards a conversion?
The sucky thing is i had one of the heads redone about 3-4yrs ago, but i am told there is no way to know which head is leaking internally and that both should be resealed.

So, samba - would you do a conversion in my case?

Everything else on the van is pretty solid - i just had a new power steering rack put in, and some work done on the brakes. I feel like with the amount i've already poured into this van, i'd like to keep it but i don't really know what my best move is at this point - ideally the most cost effective option in the long term is what i'm looking for

thanks in advance for the advice and sorry OP i hope you don't think i am jacking your thread.

i thought this was appropriate here because its more of a 'to convert or not to convert, that is the question'

[ftp2leta]

wrong state ianstone for having a conversion done... wrong state also to own a sick van engine wise.

Ben
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

[ianstone]