Stock engine Vanagons

[Zero419]

What is wrong with you!
Why don't you pull that lump and get with the program???
(sarcasm)


Lets here it for the original 2.1 engine
hip, hip, hurray!

2.1 or 1.9?
auto or stick?
full rebuild or original?
years owned
miles?
miles per year
Reliability?

Me.
2.1
rebuilt auto
full rebuild
10 years
~6,000 miles (~120-150,000 total)
~3,000
Never ever left me on the side of the road. (but always in the back of my mind.)
_________________
1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec

[jeffklein]

The 5 Kleins

1.9 -1984
manual
no rebuild yet
2 years
146,xxx miles
Approx. 5,400 miles per year.
Always wondering if I'm going to get to do a conversion, but she has not let us down yet.

[Paul Bus]

what no love for the aircooled 2.0 or the 1.6 diesel crowd
_________________
Whos got my heady westy

Residue for president !!

[BitterBeerFace]

2.0-1980
Manual
No Rebuild
Been in the family since 1980
~93K miles
Recent milage ~1500/year
Hasn't failed me yet (only a few months in my care)

[kamzcab86]

Engine: 2.1, original other than the head gasket (as far as I know)
Trans: Auto (rebuilt)
Owned since Feb. 2010
3,000 miles (160,000 total)
Has yet to break down on the road... but a trip to Utah is coming up

Edit: total mileage
_________________
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子

[heidi85ho]

1985 westy
1.9 engine
replaced original engine at 165,000 with vw factory rebuild.
current mileage 384,624
love that ole 1.9!!

only towed twice, but hey, whats the rush, pop the top, cook your dinner, have some wine, and wait for the tow truck!!

[BushChicken]

Van:
'87 Westfalia Camper
Purchased in '03 with 110,000 miles on it.
Putting 8-10K miles on it per year on average.

Engine:
2.1 with 177,000 miles.
Never rebuilt but it has gone through a couple of waterpumps and an oilpump. Has a slight low oil pressure issue right now but is still running like a champ.

Transmission:
Manual, rebuilt to replace the 3-4 slider before I purchased it.

Reliability:
Great! Never left me stranded (knocking on wood as I type). Just took me from the coast up to the high country twice in as many weeks with no issues at all.

[Love My Westy]

1986 Westy Wolfsburg Camper
134,000 miles
Bought new in November 1986 for $15,800
only 3000-4000 miles per year.
generally reliable

Original 2.1 engine never rebuilt.
Did head gaskets at 108,000
Left me stranded 1 time when water pump went out @ 88,000 miles.
I am replacing water pump again this weekend

Original manual trans

Hoses and fuel lines replaced last year.

[Zero419]

This is awesome!
So whats is up with the conversion hype??

If you check out the conversion thread they all have had some sort of shakedown aches and pains. Doesn't seam worth it to me. I have thought about the Z-tech, but now I think I need to trust my 2.1.
_________________
1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec

[240Gordy]

85 GL just installed a 2.1L
originally from the Palo Alto area
20 miles on the "rebuild", just drove it to Aircare, it passed, and drove it to the storage yard where I keep it, since I have a new DD.

the 2.1 got new rods and bolts, new lifters, cleaned up pistons,
new rings, a gasket set, and a valve job.

I had a shop check it out and reassemble it, I already had a new 1.9 style water pump, thermostat, breather tower, and what not ready to go on. I cleaned up the "headers" and had them powder coated, along with the intake plenum and runners.

After aircare it wouldn't idle and I haven't had time to mess with it. maybe this weekend.

Since I have a few bucks in this engine now I won't be looking at conversions for a while. Maybe a mild Turbo.
_________________
Tencentlife said,
"So, now that you know what you're doing, go to town."
2010 GOLF TRENDLINE 2.5
1985 GL now with more! a 2.1L
H&R SPORT(RED) Springs FRONT , SLAM SPECIALTIES RE6 AIRBAGS REAR

[Captain Pike]

90 auto
2.1
15,000 on my rebuild
20 mpg
no trouble at all

[ddonnell]

2.1 auto 1990
92,270 miles
I've put on 28,000
Had to do a few things, but nothing major.
She's left me for dead a few times, but nothing my local mechanic couldn't fix. Mainly just tuning, electrical, etc.
_________________
1990 Vanagon Carat-SOLD
1995 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 V10
1966 Baja "The Beast"

instagram #bajabugproject

[thummmper]

90 gl /2.1 ran flawlessly in between syndrome, [30% of the time]
bought the van specifically to save it from the scourge.
what if vw had put a real engine in there? comprehensively?
there would be 20 years of vanagons to choose from, not just 10.5.

[AndyBees]

2.0 Air cooled been in the family since April of 1985.

Major Trips from Kentucky:

To New Orleans and all along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida, summer of 1985

To Alaska summers of 86, 93, 96, 97, 99, 01 and 03

To Key West in the Fall of 1998

To my brother's place in Atlanta numerous times!

The 2003 return trip from Alaska was via Northern Michigan, thus completing the entire length of I-75

Total miles on Van.................212k ............ one rebuild due to failing exhaust valve seat in head.

The 2.0 is a hoss if you got 'er tuned right!

The '84 Vanagon is in the process of getting a TDI diesel..yes, it will be going to Alaska and hopefully Labrador!
_________________
'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful.

[bjrogers86auto]

According to the old guy who got it running it's a VW rebuild. No idea if that's a fact. No paper work to confirm it.

86 Auto 2.1

210kms

2 years of pretty clear sailing.

From N.S. to B.C and back summer 09. 14k.
_________________
2020 T@B 320 Teardrop(Has been van guy)
21 Ford Ranger XLT
19 Honda Civic Hatchback

A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day. Calvin and Hobbes.

[DAIZEE]

interject here: I think this thread is as valuable as the conversion one. Very valuable to all including newbies.
_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

[Salem7]

1.6D stock rebuilt at 125K, Slow but fun 129K now.
_________________
1982 Westfalia 1.6NA diesel. Converted to Turbo 1.6 and sold.

1995 Eurovan Camper Winnebago, early serial number 5 speed

[John Of the north]

I have 137000 miles on my 1990 mv with a 2.1l. I've only had it for 5000miles.
I have gone through all the maintenance records from the previous owners. The head gaskets were done at 65000. Other than that this thing has been very reliable. For the size of the engine and what it's being asked to do, I think these are very good engines. I wouldn't mind a little more jam when driving through the Rockies but even that's not so bad.

[240Gordy]

I don't think it was the lack of power or engine problems that killed the vanagon. It was the consumers desire for something more conventional, safety issues, and what not. VW kept building and selling them in markets that would buy them. (Africa, SA)
_________________
Tencentlife said,
"So, now that you know what you're doing, go to town."
2010 GOLF TRENDLINE 2.5
1985 GL now with more! a 2.1L
H&R SPORT(RED) Springs FRONT , SLAM SPECIALTIES RE6 AIRBAGS REAR

[strawhouse]

My 2.1 treats me like a girlfriend I should break up with but I dont....
_________________
Pacifist with a gun