Dear Vanagoners,

        This is a follow up to the "dead vanagon engine" post in April.
Recap: 91 Vanagon Carat ("weekender" package) blew engine at 80K. Local
dealer (Mobile AL) replaced engine March 95 ($3800.) Several major problems
over the next year, culminating in another complete engine failure, April
96; oil and coolant all over the highway. Local dealer says, "tough." 
        Towed vehicle to Pensacola dealer (Pete Moore Imports) for a "second
opinion" and "autopsy." Upon review of the records, the service manager,
after discussing situation with VWoA, offered me another new engine,
compliments of the factory, if I'd pay for new cooling lines. I took it. I
never had my curiosity satisfied by an engine dissection, but they said the
factory wanted the dead engine back, and besides, with lawsuit out of the
question, I didn't NEED the info. 
        They didn't say it in so many words, but my first dealer done me
wrong. Of course I get low points for ignorance and naivete, since remedied
by this list. The factory was doing this "...not to bail out Dean's, but to
keep my good will as a customer." Fine. Either they're great guys or they
thought I had a pretty strong case.
        All new hoses: $1222 parts, $325 labor. The factory "paid" $2417
parts, $367 labor. The actual engine ("long block") VWN 025 100 031 EX
*ngine-MV   $1833.00. 
        Plan to drive it regularly around town, replace coolant yearly, use
the 20-50W oil, tidy it up and sell it if I can get anywhere near wholesale
value for it. 
        One question: do the heads need to be retorqued at 1000 miles?

Philip
Mobile, AL
66 bug, 91 Vanagon