Engine looking like new!!

Today, I wrapped up my efforts to clean the engine.  Overall, I've spent about 15 hours just dismantling and de-greasing the engine and this was a clean engine to begin with.  Anyway, tools I used were: citrus de-greaser in a water gun, spray bottle, foaming engine cleaner spray can, rags, tooth brushes, brass wire brush, and get this.. a set of chopsticks (advice from Paul).

Before

After

Other angles....

Ready for the Subaru/Vanagon FlyWheel!

Rough Day on the Subaru Engine Front...

Today was a tough one.  On Wednesday, the engine tipped over while I was cleaning it and today, after getting it up onto a proper engine stand, I found the power steering pump pulley was warped and the timing cover is cracked.  I'm hoping I can use some kind of epoxy or resin to patch it all up, but it will have to bond to this plastic and handle the heat of a motor pushing a fat old Vanagon around the mountains.

Crack goes horizontally across most of the cover

Crushed side and lost connector here.

The power steering pump on my engine is fine, but the pulley is hosed.  The problem with that is the pulleys suck to replace.  So, you are better off just getting a whole new pump.  Looks like this mistake is gonna cost me at least $70 (used P/S pump and epoxy/resin product) and unknown $$ of dollars and time to replace it that I hadn't figured on spending for this conversion.

UPDATE (January 20th, 2014):
Using epoxy worked fantastic.  I cleaned it off first, took off the gasket around it, then spread the epoxy throughout.  It is hard as a rock now and solid.  I even found the broken piece, so the whole timing belt cover is now in tact and functional.

Labeling the Subaru Wire Harness

Baxter stopped into the kitchen as I was deciphering and then labeling the critical wires in this rat's nest!  He called upon his demon powers to provide the much needed help labeling everything.  The two beers on the counter were just the start of the night!  :)

Labeling the Subaru Harness

Pulled Subaru Engine

Boulder Hybrids Garage

This week I worked with Paul Guzyk of Boulder Hybrids to pull the engine from my 2001 Subaru.  Along with the engine, we also got the wiring harness pulled and ready to send to Rocky Mountain Westy for the modifications to make it fit my van.

Then, I pulled the cruise control parts in hopes of using them to add cruise control to my van, which does not have cruise at all yet.

For more details on my cruise control effort, click here:
Subaru-Vanagon Cruise Control

Subaru Wire Harness pre-modification

Subaru engine successfully pulled!

Sold the '83 Westy!

This year I sold the my old 1983 Westfalia to a great new owner! He's a climbing guide and looks to keep-on-keep'n on with the Westfalia way of life - camping, guiding, camping, and more guiding...


 

Readying the Camper for Sale...

Spent a ton of time tonight getting my '83 all ready for sale.  The interior was in good shape, but I wanted it to be in great shape for the next owner!  I steam cleaned carpets and seats, replaced the sink drain hose with a GoWesty hose, but most importantly, I scraped all that shitty vinyl off and re-painted the interior panels with high quality Behr paint that matched the OEM vinyl color.  How did I match the OEM vinyl color?  Easy!  Home Depot can take a digital scan of any color swatch you give them and turn that into a matching paint.  So cooooool!

Camper equipment is stellar.

I took a few shots of the inside... carpet, seats, beds, canvas are all looking sweeeeet!  I think the new owner will like this one.

Full Camper is clean, operational, and ready to camp in.

No nasty black mold on this topper or canvas!

Upgraded Captain's chairs and an almost perfect dash and carpet floor in an '83?  Wow!

New California born and raised Westy!

I recently purchased a new '86 Westfalia Weekender.  I'm selling my full Camper soon.  I bought a Weekender instead because as a tall person, the kitchen cabinets in the full Camper actually prevented me from moving my seat back all as far as I needed for a comfortable drive. I also never used the Camper's sink, fridge, water tank, etc. so "why have it"? I asked myself! I bought the new van over Craigslist from Burbank, CA.  I looked specifically for a Cali van because I wanted a clean, rust-free ride for the base of my Subaru engine conversion.  More on that to come later! :)

How did I pull off buying a van in another state?  A lot of luck, a $500 deposit via a bank transfer, 2 one-way tickets, and a great road-tripping buddy to help drive it home (e.g., my girlfriend, Tania, came along).  The thought of a sweet road-trip back to Denver though Las Vegas, NV and Maple Canyon, UT for some sick climbing made buying a Cali van that much easier for sure!