Engine from scrappie - advice please!

[chuckle-bus-tom]

Ok, so my engine is dead.

I've looked into the re cons at Elite VW and figure I'd rather keep hold of my old engine for the various salvageable bits, and also reconnecting my LPG conversion will void their 2 year warranty.

This leaves me with the option of hitting up the South Easts scrap yards and doing the swap myself with the help of my Old Man and Old-Man-in-Law.

I have the detailed list from the Aircooled snobs at Jacks Garage of whats wrong with my engine, but I'm counting on the knowledge of you guys on what to look for in a water-cooled engine. The good and the bad.

The 'Bolt-ons' (water pump, starter motor etc) are all good on my '84, it's just the carb has stuck so the engine revs to infinity, and the mount is cracked, as well as all the other leaks, seizures and detriments.

Your help is much appreciated!

[ermie571]

and also reconnecting my LPG conversion will void their 2 year warranty.

Why?

We have one with them at the moment on LPG, and have just had one for two years on LPG... The LPG was fitted at 500 miles on that one, after they did the first service. They have serviced it for two years, and were fine about the warrenty.

Mine is with them now, but is already LPG, so I hope they will fit the manifold, carb and mixer as it is now to the new engine. Yes I have to run it on petrol for 800 miles, but hten I will switch back to gas in the cab.

I better check what warrenty I will have.......you got me worried now....

Em


Just spoke to them...if it leaves them ok, the warrenty will be fine....phew...

[Ian Hulley]

I thought from what Ermie Emma said before that Elite insist on you running in on fool's gold and then you can run on gas ? There's no reason why not.

How and why did your old (DG ?) die ?

Ian.

[ermie571]

Ian...

It was Gasure's advice that we run in on fools gold! (though I would expect Eliote to say the same if asked)

800 miles on unleaded.....hope I get a good pay rise this month

Em
x

[kathyshack]

I've got an elite engine running on lpg. as far as i'm aware its fine! just looked at my paperwork though and it actually says 12 months warranty and i was told 2 years.... mmm
emma what does it say on your receipt? mines been serviced by gasure as previously agreed by elite.

[ermie571]

Kathy - I think they would honour the two years...the twelve months is automatic, and you have to have the servicing done to get the further 12.

That is how it was explained to us. If they put 24 on the receipt, they would have to honour that even if you didn't have it serviced. Put it this way...they have always been willing to discuss any issues, and have it in if neceessary....fortunately, it has never been necessary!

Emma

[kathyshack]

cool, i thought as much as when i discussed it with him he was happy to honour the 2 year warranty if gasure regularly serviced it for me.

[shepster]

This leaves me with the option of hitting up the South Easts scrap yards and doing the swap myself with the help of my Old Man and Old-Man-in-Law.

I doubt you'll find many WBX motors in scrap yards these days.

[toomanytoys]

False economy.. unless you can be assured the engine is fresh and in good working order it can cost you more to go that route.. (when it packs up and you have to buy another, get recovered etc etc....)

Elite are about as cheap as you will get for a "fresh" (its been apart and has some new stuff in it) engine, regardless of warranty or not..
Talk to them though.. they seem to have a good rep and honour there work and can be talked too..

[ermie571]

This leaves me with the option of hitting up the South Easts scrap yards and doing the swap myself with the help of my Old Man and Old-Man-in-Law.

I doubt you'll find many WBX motors in scrap yards these days.

and I guess that they will be there for a reason....UNLESS you can pick one up for pennies and use that as an exchange for a put some new stuff in engine! (or, if you really want to keep yours, swallow the 100 ish surcharge on the engine.)

Emma

[chuckle-bus-tom]

I thought from what Ermie Emma said before that Elite insist on you running in on fool's gold and then you can run on gas ? There's no reason why not.

How and why did your old (DG ?) die ?

Ian.

As I said, had it all looked over by Jacks Garage after I bought it and there were alot of problems there. Most of them are easily fixed (water-pipes, loose fittings, CVs, messy wires and incorrect coolant reservoir) but there are some stinkers in there too. Somehow the engine has the wrong exhaust which is in need of replacement and is rusted around the join to the head. They said that the likelyhood of the threads in the head remaining in tact were slim and that once debris goes in the manifold it's game over. Also the mounting block is cracked, the choke is constantly on and now the Carb has jammed causing the engine to rev like my foot is past the floor of the cab.

My van is a super solid '86 panel needing minor tweaks elsewhere, a visit from the lowering fairy and a lick from a roller.

Everyones advice has been great as I'm like a bunny in headlights right now!

What does the jury say? Rebuild or recon?

[toomanytoys]

I thought from what Ermie Emma said before that Elite insist on you running in on fool's gold and then you can run on gas ? There's no reason why not.

How and why did your old (DG ?) die ?

Ian.

As I said, had it all looked over by Jacks Garage after I bought it and there were alot of problems there. Most of them are easily fixed (water-pipes, loose fittings, CVs, messy wires and incorrect coolant reservoir) but there are some stinkers in there too. Somehow the engine has the wrong exhaust which is in need of replacement and is rusted around the join to the head. They said that the likelyhood of the threads in the head remaining in tact were slim and that once debris goes in the manifold it's game over. Also the mounting block is cracked, the choke is constantly on and now the Carb has jammed causing the engine to rev like my foot is past the floor of the cab.

My van is a super solid '86 panel needing minor tweaks elsewhere, a visit from the lowering fairy and a lick from a roller.

Everyones advice has been great as I'm like a bunny in headlights right now!

What does the jury say? Rebuild or recon?

I'm sorry but the threads in the head intact is rubbish.. if the studs come out and even if the thread is fubared, then it can be helicoiled or timeserted.. wrong exhaust?? in what way? there are early and late.. both fit and work.. niether have parts that interchange so it doesnt matter..
Debris in the manifold??? well I am sorry!!!!! I have removed some pretty horridly rusty systems off wbx and never had "debris in the manifold meaning its game over"
Carb problems... rebiuld kit and replace anything else that fubared, choke is easy to fix.. free it off and make sure its set and working correctly...
mounting block.. on what?? exhaust? carb?

Sure they know what they are looking at??? Post some pics of offending items so we can see how bad things are..

As for engine.. if its original and never been apart.. put it in to elite in exchange for one... forget trying to do anything with it... it will cost more and be a load of hassle... if a late then depends on how much hassle you want.. Elite are cheap...

[HarryMann]

Jack's are known for being very very thorough, as well as somewhat on the pessimistic side... they obviously sie their prices when recommending whether something is 'economically repairable' - or not.

The rust in the manifold thing... Mmmm. Sounds a bit of a theoretical or even knee jerk conclusion.

[chuckle-bus-tom]

Jack's are known for being very very thorough, as well as somewhat on the pessimistic side... they obviously sie their prices when recommending whether something is 'economically repairable' - or not.

I came away £180 out of pocket for no work being done with the general feeling they turn their nose up at anything made after 1978, let alone watercooled.

[HarryMann]

I came away £180 out of pocket for no work being done with the general feeling they turn their nose up at anything made after 1978, let alone watercooled.

They'll do it but the language is £££. Have built good waterboxers I'm told. Like a lot of garages today, space is a problem; ramp space a premium and oldies can sit there a long time.

A one-man garage over the road from me does classic cars (as well as anything modern too). Had an E-Type Jaguar in sometime in December, supposedly reconned throughout. Rear-end and drive-line had been bodged in several places, so axle and diff out, complete rebuild, was still over his pit in early Feb. - waiting for the parts (and he knows where to get almost anything, but has to be 100% right)... owner then sold it immediately on getting it back 'on mechanics advice': Not genuine and original enough, despite all the work! Knows his classic Jags alright and reckons not that many really good ones about

Moral... old cars take up ramp or pit space, which is hard to charge for realistically