TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Sep 08, 2023 10:56 pm

Are there any engine swaps that are easy enough for someone who wants to do themselves?

What is considered the easiest and cheapest?

Are there any with a very good youtube or video guide?

Considering buying a 1991 with a seized engine

Fri Sep 08, 2023 11:09 pm

Why go through the effort and expense of an engine swap. Put another WBX in it.

Find out what's wrong with yours and fix it.

Stacy

Fri Sep 08, 2023 11:52 pm

What engines are cheap and readily available where you live? At the time I did my conversion there were 15 to 20, 2.2 Subaru engines for sale at our local wrecking yard, while there were zero VW inline engines as our only VW dealership within 60 miles closed about 30 years back.

Sat Sep 09, 2023 4:32 am

Search the member list from other folks in HI and reach out to them starting with the ones most recently active. I bet you'll get allot of help and direction on his you get your van running if you are nice,

You want Alika to be your friend.... If I lived in HI I'd be bringing him cookies or what ever makes him smile all the time!

Sat Sep 09, 2023 4:53 am

The fact that you used the word "sized" instead of stuck or won't turn, implies you know something about engines. But how much? What do you have for tools, experience in wrenching and do you have a place to work on it?

NO swap is easy unless you do a rebuilt and or a Go Westy 2.2 or 3. Even then, you will need a new exhaust system, clutch with throw out and pilot bearings. And there is also the "while I'm in there..." syndrome. How many miles? Maybe the tranny needs refreshing.

If you have someone do this including the tranny you are looking at 12 ish. Do your own labor and it's 7ish. Call up FAS and it's 20.

What do you want the car for? How long will you keep it? How old are you? All of these questions come into play.

Read these posts. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 There is a ton of info on this page which will tell you what you are getting into.

On the other hand, if you rebuild the WBX yourself and don't do the tranny now, then 3 to 4ish.

Just to give you an idea, about 10 years ago, I bought running rust free '91 tin top for $4500. I now have 18ish in it. Rebuilt engine and Matt Steedle tranny and many, many upgrades and I'm still not done. And the paint is now pretty tired and there are a few rust spots which needs attention. And of the total 10 years of ownership, probably only 8 ½ included a drivable car while the work was being done. These are cars you have to love passionately. They are not a vehicle you buy, put a couple of bucks in and drive trouble free for years. There is an ongoing topic on Samba entitled "A thousand mile trip--Did you make it?" I don't care how much money and time is thrown into these beasts, no long trip is anxiety free. I have a friend who bought a Subaru engined Westy for serious money and planned a trip to Arizona from New England. Before he left, he had to fix a broken electric window and part way through the trip there were mechanical and electrical issues. Would you swap with a zero miles engine?

Another recent topic was "I drove to Florida and Florida won." Remember a '91 is 32 years old. Do you buy a 32 year old car--say it is a quality brand--and expect it to jut go. There are 15,768 parts in a T3--just guessing--and they were all engineered to last about 10 to 15 years. AND that was the automobile engineering of 40 years ago with a few minor refinements. They are not Honda Civics or a Toyota Corolla. A car of this age need restoration, not just maintenance.

Duncan

Sat Sep 09, 2023 5:48 am

The problem is when you pull the engine there's things you could and should do and that list just grows. Fastest would be a knwon good wbx that was pulled for a swap.

Sat Sep 09, 2023 11:10 am

That's the rig in Kapolei? I would think you could talk them down some on the price - seems a little steep for a seized engine tintop, no rear bumper, etc. Especially considering the nightmare shipping parts to HI is.

And I think you'd have to have some pretty good fabrication skills yourself (MIG welder, etc.) to tackle a swap - I doubt you'd find a shop that's going to want to touch any part of it.

Like vanis says, reach out to Alika - he's a good guy and probably the best contact on the islands.

Sat Sep 09, 2023 11:13 am

Tuna! wrote: Are there any engine swaps that are easy enough for someone who wants to do themselves?

What is considered the easiest and cheapest?

Are there any with a very good youtube or video guide?

Considering buying a 1991 with a seized engine

Howzit!

It must be the $4,000 white van listed for sale in Kapolei?

I inspected it for a customer last friday, for parts. This thing is a total pile of rust, structural issues by the jacking points, rust flakes pouring down the B and C pilars. Front end gone to rust, hole in the roof by the left side gutter above the sliding wiindow, and more gas tank rear mount hit a rock or a parking stall block etc....

The cheapest is to fix the engine yourself, installing any other non stock engine will bring you way North of 10K, which the van is clearly not worth, and you will still have to address everything else to make it somewhat reliable a minimum.
I work on these vans full time, I've seen it all, and this is a money pit. It's a parts van only and it should stay that way for the safety of others.

I'll have the same van in blue for sale soon with a new engine, new everything, 16" rims and new tires, AC cold and renewed with electric upgrades etc...Well everything is new on this van except the rear wheel bearings and the rubber bushings. It won't be 4K but you'll save money for sure :lol:

Sat Sep 09, 2023 11:24 am

What about this one, running and driving AND for about half the price and in almost the same location??:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/19965158..._type=post

That body rust-through in HI is terrible - looked at some A3 Cabrios up above Kona a few years back and they were all rotted right through at the back below the convertible top. Never seen that on the mainland.

Screenshot for posterity once the link is dead:

Sat Sep 09, 2023 11:26 am

ALIKA T3 wrote: Tuna! wrote: Are there any engine swaps that are easy enough for someone who wants to do themselves?

What is considered the easiest and cheapest?

Are there any with a very good youtube or video guide?

Considering buying a 1991 with a seized engine

Howzit!

It must be the $4,000 white van listed for sale in Kapolei?

I inspected it for a customer last friday, for parts. This thing is a total pile of rust, structural issues by the jacking points, rust flakes pouring down the B and C pilars. Front end gone to rust, hole in the roof by the left side gutter above the sliding wiindow, and more gas tank rear mount hit a rock or a parking stall block etc....

The cheapest is to fix the engine yourself, installing any other non stock engine will bring you way North of 10K, which the van is clearly not worth, and you will still have to address everything else to make it somewhat reliable a minimum.
I work on these vans full time, I've seen it all, and this is a money pit. It's a parts van only and it should stay that way for the safety of others.

I'll have the same van in blue for sale soon with a new engine, new everything, 16" rims and new tires, AC cold and renewed with electric upgrades etc...Well everything is new on this van except the rear wheel bearings and the rubber bushings. It won't be 4K but you'll save money for sure :lol:

This is the easiest solution. :D

Sun Sep 10, 2023 9:47 pm

Wow was not expecting so many replies so quick! Ya that $4000 Kapolei one was da one. Definitely not interested now. I saw your blue one. Looks very nice but a bit out of my budget. I definitely like the Vanagon but I don’t think I’m ready for one. I think I will keep looking for a Miata lol

Sun Sep 10, 2023 9:59 pm

I will check out the cheap one for sure. There is a nice one on FB I’m interested in but no reply. I want the Vanagon to fix up, and to take camping. Was thinking of doing a interior conversion but that would probably hurt its value

Mon Sep 11, 2023 6:43 am

Like any addiction, Vanagon's wont end up being cheap! :shock:

Mon Sep 11, 2023 7:20 am

Tuna! wrote: I will check out the cheap one for sure. There is a nice one on FB I’m interested in but no reply. I want the Vanagon to fix up, and to take camping. Was thinking of doing a interior conversion but that would probably hurt its value

Cheap does not equal most affordable. Also, it's a toy not an investment- if you're talking about buying a non-Westfalia, you won't hurt the value at all wiht interior modifications IMO.

have fun!

Mon Sep 11, 2023 9:08 am

my advice to those entering the hobby

often the most expensive ones come as the cheapest

and to really scrutinize any at any price that are pretty and shiny

all too often it's lipstick on a pig just for a flip knowing many buy by emotion not pre-purchase inspection

Mon Sep 11, 2023 2:15 pm

danfromsyr wrote: my advice to those entering the hobby

often the most expensive ones come as the cheapest

Ain't that the truth!

Mon Sep 11, 2023 4:03 pm

The "easiest" engine swap would be replacing what you have with another of the same engine. No wiring complications and all the hoses and bolt holes will match right up.

Mon Sep 11, 2023 4:24 pm

Most vans for sale in Hawaii right now under 10K are total piles of shit. Don't do it... or at least keep my contact, you'll need it...

Mon Sep 11, 2023 7:43 pm

khughes wrote: danfromsyr wrote: my advice to those entering the hobby

often the most expensive ones come as the cheapest

Ain't that the truth!

^

This.

If this is something you really want to do just jump in. I just bought a huge project and really only have enough knowledge to be dangerous. If you really want one of these vehicle just embrace it and ride the wave.

Chris

Sat Sep 16, 2023 4:00 am

danfromsyr wrote: my advice to those entering the hobby
often the most expensive ones come as the cheapest

This.

The conclusion I've reached is that a basic entry-level vanagon will end up costing you ~$8-10K no matter what the initial purchase price is.

You can either pay the $10K up front and enjoy your van right now or you can buy a cheap $2-4K van and spend years suffering with an unreliable vehicle while still spending $4-6K (if you do the work yourself and much much more if you don't) to make it trustworthy. See the spreadsheet link in my .sig below.

Of course there are the edge cases, you might find a unicorn solid trustworthy van for $2K or you might spend $14K for a lemon. That's where a good pre-inspection comes in.

What's your time and life-energy worth?