$5000 or more to do a partial rebuild?   That sounds pretty
silly-expensive, especially with the rest of the motor left untouched...but
if you have the money and you simply must have a WBX motor, why not do it
that way and have a little more peace of mind when you go traveling?

  When I was racing and I asked myself a question like that.....I made it a
practice to just go ahead and  do the work, spend the money...If I didn't,
and something blew up or failed during a racing trip....I'd have cursed
myself and wasted lots of money only to have a bad experience..(I once went
from Portland to Wisconsin for a race and got just three laps before my
timing belt failed...even though my engine builder (ex-engine builder) said
he replaced it.....Waste of time and lots of money, not to mention towing
across the plains for nothing......I think it would be the same to go on a
trip with your family after deciding..."Oh, I guess I don't really need to
replace or rebuild the ______, and then to have the _______ fail in
Wamsutter, Wy or some other garden spot and spend days repairing it  rather
than getting on with your fun vacation travels..

  Personally I could find a lot of better things to do with $5k than put
new stuff on an old WBX motor...but that's just me...and maybe Stuart...hee
hee.     One thing I would do for certain is whatever you do to the motor
be sure to put on a good chunk of normal miles before you head out....to
make certain everything is working as it should after that much work...

On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 7:01 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
wrote:

> There are some serious "while you are at its" here!  He'll be into it $5000
> or more, and I would not do the Go Westy 2.2 kit without doing the bottom
> end too.
>
> That's why I'm nursing my stock 1.9 for a while longer, and he may be able
> to use that old engine too.  I'd rather put the $5000+ into a Subaru
> conversion.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> John Schwartz
> Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 4:26 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: WBX Recommendations Sought
>
> My van was a similar situation that is sat for many years.....  once I got
> her running there were a few coolant and oil leak that I wanted to tend
> to....   She had about 95000 on the clock..
>
> Once apart we went ahead and did a rebuild similar to what you're looking
> at...  I only did this in place of a new engine because I know I'll be
> swapping it out for a Subi in another year or so.... and have some serious
> road trips planned for this summer...
>
> With that:
>
> I would recommend going with the Rocky Jennings or GoWesty configured AMC
> heads....  You spending about $100 more, but they will have the upgraded
> valves and machined ports etc.....
>
> Your cylinder barrels should be OK, but sitting there may have been some
> rust and pitting which could cause some burring oil from oil blow by....
> check them.... may be able to get by with honing them.    if you do go with
> new barrels etc.. may as well go for the gusto and get the 2.2 kit from
> Go-Westy.....
>
> H2O Pump.... absolutely...  and while you're at it change out the plastic
> coolant system fittings that come off the engine.... what the hell was
> Dieter thinking about when they installed theses at the factory....  and
> while the system is down may as well change ALL the hoses....  Van Café has
> a kit alredy to go... A little pricy, but in the end it is cheaper than
> having to go to five different places....   Also flush the system and
> replace it with G12....  I know I'll hear some push back on this...
>
> Your oil pump should be OK.....  but considering it is a $50 part and four
> bolts, may as well go for it....   Also, you may consider installing an oil
> pressure and temp senders/switches...
>
> Also, no mention of your fuel lines....  it goes with our saying....  and
> your pressure regulator may need to be swapped out too....
>
> All in all, my engine feels pretty tight, has good torque, hums like a
> sewing machine, and I wouldn't think twice about a 3K mile run in her
> tomorrow...    I may postpone the Subi for another year....  but I am still
> collecting parts!!!!
>
>
> Good luck
>