Hi all! Just looking at a bus on the net and the owner says its got a vege engine fitted 10000 miles ago. I was just wondering if anybody has any experience with these engines and if they are overhauled properly? Its a 1977 2.0 westy.
If say if its done 10k it's more important how its been treated since, oil changes, regular maintenance, whether its been driven sympathetically , it was obviously put back together properly in the first place or it wouldn't have made it this far!
My Vege never made it past 5000 before a valve spring snapped which was rather annoying but as Flakey has said if its been looked after and done 10K then the re-assembly etc must have been okay.
Thanks guys! suppose you are right,i can send the link from ebay,maybe you know or have seen the bus?
^this. My Vege lasted 1000miles before seizing solid. The replacement has an interesting interpretation of "oil pressure"... But, if it's lasted, it'll likely last. Vege were very good in their day, it seems, but don't seem to be interested any more.
My mate had a 2l one. It had to be completely dismantled to fit an o-ring properly. But you'll only hear the bad, they made a lot of engines over the years.
Got one in mine mate ,previous owner had it fitted many miles before I purchased bus from her, cannot grumble re its service/longevity, but as others have posted ,each one depends on so many variables.
We've a customer with one in. Strong little 1600 it is. When I say strong I mean "how the hell did it make it 60 miles to us with 10psi in #1 and 2 when the head came loose?? She didn't have a clue it had and nor did anyone else. Sounded like a flappy fan belt. Previous to us it had to have the tappets reset twice. There was something about it I wasn't so sure. That said its been pretty good apart from the above. Took them to Cornwall and back without a problem this year. A first in their book. The engine itself has never failed. It's been other bits that have.
My camper has a vege engine. The pervious owner had it fitted in 2001. It's done 27000miles. I've done 25000 of those. Never let me down. Regular servicing is the key. Think they used to have a good reputation.
Mine has a vege too (2l) which has done 20000 miles now (ish) runs sweet but needs a leak checking out - probably a seal that has perished through lack of use of the bus by previous owner - maybe.
I wouldn't be put off by the engine personally. Do the usual checks and evidence of servicing through the 10000miles. Should last a lifetime! ....... Probably!
I always though vege machined everything to its maximum limit on every engine , great until it wants a rebuild ...
Probably find the engines are ok ....its just the parts and the actual mechanic who puts em in is to blame.....some of the vw engine parts really are rough sumtimes and so are some of the various so called vw outfits that open n close with a name change .....u want a good solid vw engine=diy or find a honest hardworking good mechanic ....coz engines are mainly the same when u get em of these companies.....with exceptions of mr petite and the likes.....i heard vintagespeed do a lovely engine ...made with love ...
