New engine question

[Jem]

Hi, I am currently researching becoming a T2 owner, but I have a million questions and don't actually know anyone who has one so please help!

I'm a single mum with two kids and am mainly panicked about the thought of breaking down etc and owning something which will always break down (I have done some research and I have a panicked mother who thinks I need some ability to do mechanics!) so I would like to understand the practicalities and costs if possible of putting a "new" engine into an old vehicle.

I so far think that it has to be a Subaru engine, although I have no idea why!

I really do appreciate any help at all.

Thank you.

 

[uber cool]

Welcome to the forum. Suppose it depends on your budget. You could go the the newer imported camper with water cooled engine. A Subaru conversion won't be cheap and can have problems depending on quality of the conversion. Likewise a well tuned and properly maintained air cooled engine will give many miles of fault free running. Just keep asking questions and don't buy the first you see

 

[simo]

Hi and welcome to the fold 8)
The air cooled engine can be very reliable as Über says and go on forever with a little basic maintainance and knowledge.
Just keep doing the research and go for the best van you can, and try to get it from someone with a good reputation - there's plenty of them on here who source good buses and import them

Simo

 

[scott wilson]

we are in the process of installing a brand new aircooled engine from mexico for a customer.From experience these are super duper very good engines and provide 50-60 thousand faultless miles when properly maintained.They cost £1500+ vat so £1800 and about two days worth of labour so another 400.If you use new ancillaries too then the engine side of things is pretty much covered.A good relationship with a specialist aircooled workshop to service and repair when necessary and your mum will be very quiet.
Good luck on your quest

 

[dave]

Theres no reason why an Air cooled motor should be less reliable then any other.
If you need help may be post the rough area you in, may be someone local to you can help when viewing a bus or there may be some one who will be willing to teach you what to look for and servicing tips!!
Oh and Welcome to Early Bay, hope you enjoy it

Dave

 

[creationblue]

Welcome along, this forum is a great place to search for info and has a wealth of knowledge from its friendly members, so feel free to ask away......

As for the engine keep it air cooled and keep oil in it. Then make sure the carb & distributor are in good nick then away you go. Simple 8)

Just

 

[doz]

Hi and welcome. I'd stick with the air cooled lump. Get it sorted by a repitable specialist and it won't give you any more trouble than any other engine. If you look around all the web sites all you read is people who have trouble. That's what there for but what you don't hear is how people have covered thousands of fault free miles. Something to bear in mind if you need to replace a air cooled motor you can do it relatively cheaply. If the subaru engine goes pop the price will go mad very quickly. Also don't be worried about looking after it yourself. There be plenty of willing people who will show you the basics.

 

[nedfaux]

If its a conversion your thinking off give these guys a ring Craig on 07956 780054 http://www.ccr-vw.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Subrau what they conversions is what they do day in day out.

They are very friendly and sure they can give some sound advice.

O and say Ned from Hayburner magazine recommend them it might jog his memory to send his art work in :lol:

 

[Jem]

Thank you everyone for your advice. the only person I have spoken to about this is a neighbour of my friend (I don't know them but decided to be brave and knock on the door!) anyway, his comment was that if I wanted to take the kids to Cornwall etc then the chances were that if we got stuck in traffic, the engine would overheat and we would have to get used to being stuck by the side of the road. Obviously this is what I would not be looking for with two kids in tow, his suggestion was to get a modern van, but that kind of defeated the object!

We live in Widnes (Cheshire) and I am hoping to have the funds to go looking in a few weeks, hence the research now.

Is over heating a common problem in traffic jams etc?

Is basic car maintenance something that I will need to think about?
P.S. I am a member of the RAC!!

Again, thanks for all the advice

 

[r73]

I wouldn't pay much attention to what your neighbour says :msn4:
My experience with Aircooled lumps is that they tend to run relativley cool in traffic. They get hot if you cane em. But then I can't you imagine you'll be doing that with kids on board

Def stick to air cooled. I'd say as standard as possible that way if you do have a problem it's easily and economically fixed.
Most probs come about from people tinkering. The original design has proven itself for decades. It's just quite slow :lol:
Personally I would go for a dry climate import as theyre generally a lot more solid. As mentioned putting a brand new std engine in is not that dear. Welding fabricating and painting is!
If you stick to the advice on here you won't go far wrong
The kids will love it-mine do arty0006:

 

[lobie]

hi i bought my first t2 camper in sept due to the fact the fuel lines had not been replaced the engine caught fire , don't be alarmed this only ever happens if you run you bus with out proper checks , anyway i had my engine completly rebuilt it now runs like a dream if you get one get some who knows there way around and engine to look at it for you once you do have one first thing id do is a full service new oil plugs points etc and new fuel line and filter , get it serviced every 3000 miles or every year which ever is first.

as for over heating this should not be a problem as the rear air intakes cool the engine if you do find your self stuckin traffic and its not moving turn the engine off , get insurance through a classic insurance company i use heritage insurance i get fully comp and uk and europian breakdown cover for £248 a year

if you look after you bus it will look after you , neglected engines are what cause most problem, on the whole a well cared for bus is so much fun i would never by a modern camper

 

[Tofufi]

if we got stuck in traffic, the engine would overheat and we would have to get used to being stuck by the side of the road.

They tend to run cool in traffic, and hotter at high speed/high loads.

That said, I'd certainly advise getting to know/understand the mechanicals to some degree. Routine maintenance and knowing what is and isn't right really is quite useful, as paying someone to do *all* the maintenance etc can be costly.

If you do all that, there's no reason they can't be used frequently, even daily. They were modern family transport at one point

 

[the_troupster]

I'd recomend a day out with the kids in a few weekends time...

http://www.dubfreeze.co.uk/

Cant beat the sights, smells and sounds of an aircooled...

Jim

 

[doz]

I'm still fairly new to air cooled motors to. I've spent years of my life building engines but I'll be doing my first air cooled motor in the next couple of weeks. When we first got our bus we got stuck in traffic for about 45 minutes. We were crawling every so often so I didn't bother switching it off. It never got hot but then the cooling tin ware on my bus is in good shape. This is where it pays to get a a clued up person to have a look. As long as you maintain right your be fine. Oh and break down cover is a good idea but honestly if it's up together and looked after they run really well.

 

[Jem]

Thanks for all the good advice. I feel a bit more confident that they might be slightly more reliable than I was first lead to believe.

Once purchased I will definitely take it in to be serviced as recommended, will any garage be able to do this or does it need to be specialist garage?

Also, is there anything I need to be looking out for in the body work? I don't want to be ending up with something that needs major work doing to it??

Thanks again.

 

[r73]

There is quite a lot to look for. I would either buy one off one of the reputable dealers / importers on here. Or if you find one you like put a link up and some the experts on here will check it out I'm sure.

 

[Jem]

thank you, how do I find the dealers or importers?

 

[doz]

There's a few on here who can probably help you. Where about's are you? There maybe a couple of members local to you who could help or maybe a local club.

 

[lobie]

thank you, how do I find the dealers or importers?

http://www.midlandearlybay.com/Home.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

try this fella for advice , he's also on here as Graham L

 

[scott wilson]

happy to advise on bus selection or even import one for you.Feel free to contact on [email protected] if i can`t help i`ll point you to someone who can