2.1 or Subi...What to do, what to do???

[AZ Landshaper]

DIY suby will run you 5-10k depending on the work you do to the engine and what kit you use.
Buy a propane heater and a roll of 6 mil plastic for that garage.


No one should be out in the cold.
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Support Small Business.

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85 Weekender w/ EJ22
Previously
64, 71, 72, 73, 76, 81, 84, 85 & 87 Campmobiles and Westfalias
and a 67 bug.

[shagginwagon83]

For what it's worth, I had lower compression in two cylinders. I adjusted the valves and it fixed the issue.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[bobbyblack]

The Subaru engines do make more horses/torque, but you should know WHERE they make it. IF a VW engine were good to 7K RPM, it might be putting out much more power. Right?

SO.. Whereis your transmission with an engine wound out to 6 or 7K? Starved of oil, for sure.

You got to match things up.
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[thomast]

Another option I hadn't thought about till this morning is would having the 1.9 rebuilt along with the high zoot rocker, injectors and RMW muffler be a viable, less expensive route to take?

[Zeitgeist 13]

As already mentioned, you could have the 1.9 punched out to 2.2 during the rebuild--plug n' play
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[thomast]

Yep, hdenter did suggest that. Good catch. I'll look into that route as well.

Thanks!

[dabaron]

[jimf909]

Given your plans to drive this van good distances, putting a $500 rebuild w/out multiple certifications of good health seems like option #4 or #5 on the list of possibilities.

Rebuilding or installing a quality rebuilt makes sense for a long term solution.

You're in Minnestoa? Perhaps some folks here know of skilled rebuilders to recommend in the area.
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- Jim

[thomast]

Thanks! I'm going to discuss the rebuild option with my mechanic today.

My mechanic is Tristan from Further Performance in Minneapolis. He's the owner, a great guy all around. Very honest and a well respected shop in our area. Also, my 17 year old son works there, so I have a lot of faith in his abilities and recommendations.

I'll update once i go over some of these new options with him.
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1986 Westy Syncro SVX

[shagginwagon83]

How soon are you wanting to be back on the road?

I personally would want to ship my engine off to an experienced waterboxer rebuilder VS a mechanic's first waterboxer rebuild.

I don't know anything about rebuilding an engine however.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[bobbyblack]

[Ahwahnee]

[RoryGirl]

[thomast]

Ha! Not free yet. He's a parts runner, floor sweeper, extra set of hands guy right now, but it's a start!

I called Gowesty and they do except 1.9 cores back when you purchase a 2.2 or 2.3 motor.
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1986 Westy Syncro SVX

[thomast]

shagginwagon83 - Looking to have it all done by mid May 2019.

We had our 1970 bus 1600cc motor rebuilt by a guy in town and he did great work, so that's where we'd most likely go if I decide to rebuild the 1.9.
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1986 Westy Syncro SVX

[jayinduluth]

I have a friend of a friend who got a subi installed into his 84 by Further Performance in Minneapolis, he raved about them.
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85 Westy with 91 2.1L

[bobbyblack]

[jayinduluth]

https://www.instagram.com/minnesotawesties/

https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/minnesotawesties/
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85 Westy with 91 2.1L

[mikemtnbike]

My question is: do you think you might want more power, speed, torque etc someday? I love my van and it's slow but steady pace just the way it is, but pretty sure I'd like the power of either a very updated WBX or a conversion someday. Once I start spending more than a couple thousand bucks, it's ridiculous play money anyway and I'd want to make sure I got what I wanted the first time.

Not sure if that helps, but its my .02.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[shagginwagon83]

My 1.9L is running great. Yeah it's not fast, and its not a big deal as long as it gets me there.

However, for sure looking at getting a new power plant once it starts giving me issues.

What I see in an engine conversion

1. More power (A/C one day)
2. OBD port - Torque app always running with digital gauges
3. Part availability at FLAPS
4. There are more subaru engine mechanics out there
5. Engine availability. You can find a running EJ25 locally faster than an old VW engine.
6. Wiring harness refresh + updated.
7. Better MPG

I am on hunt to find an 00-04' 2.5L subaru manual trans for 1k. RMW kit ~3.5k. Get the EJ25 rebuilt per vanagon specs ~3.5k. Wiring harness modified by Jeff at Autoventures ~$700. Install myself ~9k total. I'll figure it out.

Once trans goes out, I'll have me a subaru trans on hand to send off to get rebuilt/subaru gears kit installed.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan