DESPERATE NEWBIE REQUIES ADVICE / NEW ENGINE

[dominicgg]

Hi all,

I am after some help and any advice would be really gatefully received.

Bought a van (1983 Autohomes petrol 1.9 DG) which was checked over by a local garage prior to purchasing. I have nad nothing but problems with it and only done 40 miles in two months (see other threads).

I am now in a position where both the local garage and Doug on here have confirmed the head gasket has gone, and I need some advice.

I already maxxed out financially on buying the bus, so this has turned out to be a real nightmare, but I guess I now have to go down the recon engine route. Problem is that the bus is in Hamspire and I know may people recommend Elite but I believe they are in Essex.

Does anyone know of any reputable companies closer to me, and any way the bus can be trailered to Elite?

Or does anyone recommend any other companies?

Then there is the choice of engine (which to go for?) and where to source? Or would it be better (and not sure Elite do this) to get my engine reconditioned (did have a nice full VW service history and so may be better to go that route).

Pleae help - this has been a disaster.


Thanks.
Dom

[Hacksawbob]

if you have the skills or a local garage the engine could be removed and couriered or driven yourself if you have working wheels, you dont necessarily have to send the whole van. Might save some money.

[dominicgg]

Hi,

Agreed but had nothing but grief so far and the local garage I used who said the coolant light and temp gauge issues were only battery terminal being loose I would not trust - at least if the van is supplied and fitted by the same place, then if I have any probs noone can shift the blame

[dominicgg]

Just a thought - as I know some of the history of the engine I currently have, and it has a good history, would it be worth asking a local company to recondition it?

If so, can anyone recommend someone in the Portsmouth area, and any idea on price?

[dominicgg]

Anyone?!?

[telsony]

when i needed new engine asked elite what they done to reconditioned engine told what needs doing ...?? so got one from remtec

[kit]

Can you not just get the head gasket done?

[dugwiththevwbug]

got to feel sorry for dominic and alex there great peeps and there bus is really nice they bought it after an ok from a garage.
After hearing their plight and strange goings on at the garage i tried to get to the bottom of the problem.

after tracing back the cooling issues of overheating and water levels bumping up and down.
We found the header tank was in need of replacement, the air bleed was not working and someone had been there before us having changed the crimped clips to jubilee cips also the temperature sensor on the rad was corroded and one of the electrical spades was broken off.
once these were corrected we bled the system and it acted at first as if there was an airlock. The engine has good power and does not hesitate or run rough. after a small run the system pressurises and air locks the temp holds at 3/4. There is however a small amount of steam emitting from the exhaust once the system pressurises so in light of the pressure/airlocking we ran it no further in fear of taking the engine beyond repair.

I would hazzard a guess that the engine has been run for a while with overheating issues and has in the past towed and has a caravan tow setup allthough only having covered 83k miles. The engine is a 1.9 60hp dg with early coolant system
I think it either has a small headgasket ring failure (not water jacket gasket)or a cracked head as the steam emitted is very slight.

The million dollar question is what do you do? strip the engine with an old exhaust and that has been having the coolant dilluted leading may be to a snapped head stud with labour costs and parts heading towards half the cost of a new lump. + possible costs with coolant parts needing to be swapped over to suit the newer style recons. or go the whole hog and replace with a re-con 'ouch'
Dom may find more problems once stripped as who knows how hot and for how long the engines been overheating.

So if anyone has a good early short lump with low miles and fair price give dom a shout and we may be able to help him get his bus back on the go

[dominicgg]

Thanks very much Doug.

Anyone have any advice?

Cheers.

Dom

[dj biz r]

you may find once stripped down it,s nothing much ie top/bottom rubber seal @ piston.alot of it will be down to luck undoing things without breakages. but i reakon you need to investigate to find out im no mechanic but i went along simular route with mine i got a recon but safe to say im confident about taking it apart recon failed first time out water jacket went then bottom seal,wich was actualy snapped stud,all good now though .soak every nut / bolt a few times in advance you might find it not to bad.but you wont know without a good look ,great learning experiance,check classifieds for replacement engine keep options open best of luck.

[dominicgg]

Thanks for all the advice. Decided to go for a replacement Vege engine

[mikey9]

Good luck Dom,
We went down a similar route over 18 months ago. Much angst at the time - propbably dropped £2k in total for Exhaust, Garage fitting, Replacement engine, Clutch, Thermostat housing, ancillaries etc.

Now I can't feel the pain inthe wallet, the kids and wife are VERY happy that we didn't back down when faced with the probs - the van goes, stops - lets us sleep in it, have holidays, weekends away.

The cost feels better over time with the more you enjoy it.