Posted: 29 May 2008, 01:52
I run my Caravelle on LPG 90% of the time.. Thanks for the advice about running in a replacement motor. Where in West London could I find a good replacement engine, supply & fit? Thanks
Go east young man or maiden. From all accounts Elite of Basildon, Essex are favourable. Great service and very cheap I'm told. However, as some of our more learned contributors have recounted on many occasions, how Elite manage to rebuild an engine for less than £700 is food for thought. Yet they get a big vote every time. Be prepared to pay for scheduled servicing with Elite for warranty purposes.
Late last year, I decided to go for a VEGE recon with Autocentre Engineering Services Ltd in Deptford, se London. Partly because I visited them earlier, was shown around their small factory (most impressive and they specialise in VW rebuild's), met all the happy team and the boss man Adrian filled me with confidence. They had five buses at their depot waiting new recons. And almost importantly, they are only ten miles away from my home and two stops on the train from work. Plus, due to the amount of miles I cover per annum, including using my VW for every day business (then.. not now. Got a proper job now) too, total reliability was another important requirement.
It cost me twice as much as Elite. And okay, yes I did have a problem with the new engine. Exasperated by a time constraint to it get sorted before we headed to Spain. But Adrian and his happy team got us on the road in time without any additional expense. And they did a few other things too. All gratis! Also helped out over the phone when the auto choke played foul before getting on the ferry to Santander.
We've now covered 7k since fitment and 3k after warranty work. And I can say with total confidence the engine pulls like a train. Gives good MPG (24mpg), uses minimal water or oil and is a joy to drive.
For example. We covered 2k in ten days through Spain & France. Just a coffee cup of oil and about half pint of coolant. Then, this past bank holiday weekend, to Plymfest (600 miles return journey) with a full trailer, two push bikes, two stinking, oversized teenage boys, two adults and two dogs. Cruised at 60 mph with ease and sailed up many a steep Devon tor
. Passed loads of bays and splitties that were struggling to keep 40mph on some of the climbs too......smirk smirk 
. No oil or coolant loss worth mentioning and never missed a beat. Now the starter motor is playing up.
So many thanks to all who pushed started our bus at the festival. Whoever you use make sure the warranty is acceptable to both parties. As mentioned before, apart from the recon block and heads, new plugs, oil and filters, all the other bits could be as old as your bus. Make sure they tune the carb to your new engine. Leads, dizzy, cap, coil etc are in excellent order to get the best from your new (and costly) investment too.
And finally something else to consider. If you are replacing an old & worn but still useable engine, consider when to change over! If you only use your bus for summer camping and festivals, then there's no point whatsoever getting a replacement as winter beckons. Only to find for half of your precious 12 month/12k warranty yer pride and joy is stuck under covers waiting for warmer times. 12 months goes in a tad.
Tax and death are the only guarantees you can rely on in this world, that is without needing to read the small print I mean!
