Looking for mechanic w/ VW inline-4 knowledge (Tiico type)

[pdm777]

I have a tiico conversion.

Looking for someone with experience who can
evaluate what I have, and advise about upgrades.
Possibly looking for a performance rebuilt long block,
or top end rebuild.

Fresno, CA (central valley)
Sacramento to LA would be the area I'm looking in.

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1990 Westy Full Camper

[pdm777]

Anyone?????

Are all the VW mechanics from the 90's retired???

Same basic engine as VW golf, etc.
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1990 Westy Full Camper

[MarkWard]

Ship it to South Florida, we can do whatever you want. Seems in Ca, if you want an upgrade VW inline engine, I believe Stephens in Ca. is the way to go. No affiliation or experience, but they have a 1.8T Carb certified.
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[Corwyn]

Peace Vans in Seattle installed mine. What wrong with it, or can it be done with photos?
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'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[Vanagon Nut]

[Tobias Duncan]

There is a guy in Eugene that has put a few like that together.
I think his place is called No Name Garage

[khughes]

The photo shows a bone stock Tiico, with the original Tiico fuel rail designed for WBX injectors. Also the "slab" accessory plate. The limitation is the fuel injection system as far as significant HP boost goes. You can certainly improve performance and driveability (assuming there's nothing mechanically wrong with the head or short block) by adding:

E-code ECU from FAS (http://www.foreignautosupply.com/parts-accessories/9-2lr-tiico-conversion-ecu-rsu-906-258e/) which will require upgrading to a 4-wire O2 sensor (if you have a 1, 2, or 3 wire), A2 fuel rail and injectors (or the one FAS supplies);
Ditching the Tiico accessory plate and going with an A3 serpentine setup (get the whole enchilada from a boneyard)

That will get the most performance out the "stock" Tiico configuration. If you do have mechanical issues, FAS does sell brand new heads, and they routinely build short and long block 2LR (Tiico) replacements, including with upgraded Wiseco forged pistons, etc. Being in CA limits your choices for bolt in gas engine replacements but you can call them to see current options. As mentioned, a 1.8T is a nice option if you don't mind raising the engine lid.
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'86 Westy FAS GenV Turbo (Marvin)

[pdm777]

Looks like perhaps a valve issue in #4.
Who is a reputable shop for rebuilding the head?

I'm seeing compression numbers of: 125,118,118,90
It runs great.
The plugs all look consistent, if a bit white from lean/heat. (see pics)
I really want to know how to get it to run richer.

I ordered a leak down tester and that's the next step.

I'm not interested in the 1.8T conversion.
~$20K all in is too much for an old westy.

I am fine with the Tiico engine, it is smooth and revs high,
simple to work on. and so far very reliable.

If I take the head off, I'd be interested in what can be done
'while i'm in there' to increase power and reliability.

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1990 Westy Full Camper

[MarkWard]

A 2.0 with 10:1 compression should be around 180- 200 psi on the compression. I’d suggest looking at Autotech and Techtonics if they are still in business. You should be able to get 150hp with some compression, head work and a mild cam.
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[khughes]

[tristessa]

[pdm777]

Test done with all plugs pulled, and the throttle wide open.

The idea of the rings leaking that much compression
would beg the question, if Yes, why is there no oil smoke screen
from exhaust and oil consumption is normal ???

It was a cold engine.

I will borrow a second compression tester
and warm it up first.

Got the leak down tester today.
that's also next.


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1990 Westy Full Camper

[MarkWard]

How about a 2.0 with a 16 valve head?

Compression tests and cylinder leak down tests should be done on a engine at temp for best results.

You also have to watch cylinder leak down percentages. I'd like to see less than 3% on my race engines, but what is 3% or 20%? Of what? It leaks or it doesn't to a point. 100% leakage would be a dead cylinder. 20% is still pretty sealed when you consider how much time the valves spend open at 4000 rpm anyhow.
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[Californio]

Not many mechanics like to work on these. They were the go-to conversion 20 years ago, but they've been superseded by the various other options. Part of the problem is that they're hybrid engines that were never used in the North American market, only in South Africa, and they have ECUs made by Motorola that never existed here.

Stephen's AutoHaus won't do too much on these, nor will BusLab and the others.

Your best bet is to call Foreign Auto Supply in Harpswell, Maine. Believe it or not, they're apparently the only people in the country who still support these old engines.

[khughes]

[Vanagon Nut]

[khughes]

[tjet]

I had my van serviced at Stephans in SAC. Good guy to work with. He has some experience with inlines

http://h2ovanagon.com/

[MarkWard]

Somewhere I have a VW block boring plate I had made when I raced a Scirocco. I would rent it out if you decide to have a block bored. PM me if you go that route.
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[dkoesyncro]

if you're heading for a NA build with vanagon in mind lots of options although the effort and expenses outweigh the bang for buck making it boosted!

Looking back at the thread, it read while the head is off. Short radius porting will allow the head to breathe better and increase torque. Add bigger valves, deck the head, match port the intake manifold to the head add a cam. I'd go mild nothing bigger than a 260 or even source out the caddy cam this was a euro grind used in the small delivery vehicles said to increase the low end grunt.