Yesterday was the day. I have made the decision to go with the Subaru's Legacy 2.2 Liter Engine, in my beloved Syncro Westy. Seth down at H&R on Haley, now Mastercraft Motors, will be doing the work. Seth has been working on both my vans for years, is the best, most honest mechanic I have ever known, and the preeminent Subaru Conversion Specialist in the country... Sunday afternoon, the alternator went down. No biggie, unless your engine is on the way out, and you are thinking, conversion! I called too see how much for alternator and, Seth made me an offer on Subie, I couldn't refuse. I feel a little torn by parting with the old German Wasser Boxer engine, in favor of the more polished construction of the Japanese 2.2 Liter Boxer, by Subaru. My WBX has lasted a remarkable 180,000+ miles, and was not really done yet. Most recently it was the alternator. It seemed set to go another 10,000 or more but was showing signs. More leaks, Loss of Power, Loudy, loudy, Louder!!! So before I threw more money to the beast and it's impending doom, something jogged free in my head, and I had a sudden peace come over me, and knew this was the time...
180,000 is quite a long run for the 2.1 WBX. My former Westy was out at 132,000, Which seems quite a popular number. Jenny's, a 1985 with the 1.9 WBX was out at 162,000. So anyway I was quite proud of the my WBX. (Hey this one didn't even have Vanagon Syndrome) Well.. it just made it's final trip/ adventure up to Grass Valley, down an extremely hot Highway 49 through Gold Country, out to Yosemite before heading over Tioga Pass. The highest route over the sierra's before ending in Mammoth. It got us where we needed to go. Ah yes.. Quite slowly some times, in second gear to be sure. See Kalie’s Sweet Sixteen Blog for more on that trip. This really wasn't an easy decision to make because... I really like VW's!
There are lots of options out there for the under powered 6000 lb beast. VW's Syncro Transporter with Westfalia full Camper Conversion. Here' would be a good time to mention. This is not just a camper. It's my daily driver. Despite living only 2 miles from Rincon, it seems I drive a million miles a year. Kids in Oxnard, Jenny in SB, a few trips a years, and I easily do 20,000 miles a year... Well, there a lot of choices, to be sure, on the conversions. But, really there were only three I was thinking about.
2. The Subaru 2.2 Legacy
3. Another 2.1 WBX
Well... the TDI is my dream engine. It's German and stays in the VW family. I like the higher miles per gallon, better torque, the possibility of running veggie oil. I don't know much else because I have never really seen one. Or heard it run... Louder.. Loudy… Loudy? Well anyway,it's expensive, realitivly speaking, and the cleanest work on those seems to be coming from David Marshall's Fast Forward Shop, out of Vancouver BC, I think. I am not sure I could even have made it that far. Ok I don't have that kind of money anyway... Not to mention possible the Smog Hassle with CARB. (California Air Regulatory Board or something like that) I have heard everything from, You can't put a diesel in a gas power vehicle in California at all. Period. To.. lot's of hassle and paperwork. Yet... I have also heard it's as simple has filling out a "change of motive" form at the DMV stating this vehicle now runs on diesel.
As far as getting a new WBX. I was pretty certain this was the way to go for me. I am not too worried about speed. The WBX does fine on flat roads and downhill. Mine actually used to pull the San Marcos Pass at 50 mph, which is not bad. It pulled grapevine about the same. Anything steeper though and you were shifting between 2nd and 3rd way more than necessary.. It even seemed fine off-road with the low granny gear I thought hey, not to shabby! Possibly a new WBX by Go Westy, in Los Osos, who seem to be making some great engines, from the original WBX but… The best of those, are also pricey and worse, require premium gasoline, Ouch. Oh come on the Wbx... it is really slow, and I could use a little extra power off-road for sure...
Ok... Why the Subie. Well... Like I said, Seth, has been my mechanic since I had the 2wd Westy, and started dreaming of owning a Syncro. He always had a few in the shop, and I was awestruck by how such an ingenious vehicle could ever me made. Four wheel drive, Air lock Differential, These things can do some fairly serious wheeling, in you don't tip them over. .. When you get there. Pop the top, crack open, an ice cold beer out of the frig, hahe, and whip up some dinner. Take a nap, go to sleep, whatever. You can't beat them, they are the best vehicle ever made, and I am never selling mine. They turn on the dime, are fun to drive, carry just about anything you would ever want, and you can whip up some tea, at a moments notice. Not to mention. It is a great daily driver, and far cooler the those freakin, mini vans. Hehahe.. But, why the Subie… I will let Seth explain
Click on it, to check out Seth's Shop!
There are about eight million more viewpoints, counterpoints, and pointless ramble out there... Get on the Yahoo Syncro list, and you will see what in mean, it is definitely ,a very sensitive issue. And I don't think there is a definitive answer really. But, hey Seth is my mechanic... He has people coming in from all over the country to get the Subie Conversion. Man, I am right down the road. Subie! That is my final answer. Take this thing to Mastercraft Motors on Haley…
On a side note… It’s not by coincidence, I just put some very expensive Vintage Skateboards up on eBay. With some more to follow… Maybe some Snow Stuff too.
