fractured block at engine mount, warning to tiico owners.

[Vanagon Nut]

[Paulbeard]

Interesting to find this thread. I bought an 87 Tiico conversion from someone in B'ham and it matches the description of this one pretty well. Except the seller was not at all forthcoming about the leak and I completely missed the safety strap. Had the motor replaced when all was revealed by my local shop…and a few other improvements.

If I had it inspected, I never would have bought it and I'm not my life hasn't been more interesting with it than without.
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Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[jimf909]

What an interesting genealogical discovery. I wonder if I’ll come across my van’s past life on thesamba.
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- Jim

[thatbaldwinlife]

I looked at that burgundy van in B'Ham and did not buy it because of the hole in the block.
Glad to hear it was finally taken care of the right way.
nate
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1987 Westy
Insta: @Thatbaldwinlife
Vanagon Adventure and DIY videos:
That Baldwin Life YouTube Channel

[pdm777]

Geez, JB weld Mickey Mouse repair on an engine block/mount?

WTF???

I have a Audi 3A Bubble block and it doesn't leak a drop.
It has ventilation at the valve cover.
It's a GREAT engine! High compression, high redline, good mileage.
and none of the issues with the orig wasserboxer.

If that engine was losing copious amounts of oil as the OP said, there was
an obvious reason. And apparently having a real mechanic check it out
was not happening- another example of some cheap azz Westy owners.

If a mechanic noted the engine mount problem, and oil leaks,
this problem could have been averted before the block broke.
Difficult to believe that the loose engine mounts didn't make a horrendous noise.

Tiicos have a bad rap, because the 'rebuilt' engines supplied by the kit were total crapholes- well documented. Throw that Tiico engine away and swap in an original Audi 3A 2.0 Bubbleblock, they are a great alternative -and all VW.

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1990 Westy Full Camper

[Paulbeard]

The new motor — a Jetta Mk IV 2.0 — has been solid, and the installer has a lot of experience with half-baked Tiico kit. Some welding on the carriers, a custom exhaust of his own construction…it wasn't cheap but it's been solid since. Looks a lot like the one you show in your identically painted engine bay.

I didn't get it inspected, for a few reasons, none of them good, in hindsight. I trusted the seller and, more importantly, myself, and that was a bad call. Water over the dam, at this point. I was just surprised to see what looks like the same van pop up in a thread. If I find the pictures, I'll post them.
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Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[Paulbeard]

Found 'em:

My assumption was that someone broke off the mount through an excess of ugga duggas…it looked to me like the mounting bolt was driven too far and popped the mounting stud off the case. Maybe that's just an artifact of the casting process.
_________________
Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs