When I bought the Vanaru - it had already had a Subaru EJ22E engine conversion kit installed in it. This was done by a Aircraft Mechanic and a Fire Captain - so the work was quite good. They had snipped all the lines for the A/C.

$10,000.00

It also had 2 volumes of repair receipts,

Specifications:

Recent Replacements:

Bilstein Shocks

Clutch Slave Cylinder

Rebuilt Transmission

Van Cafe: http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/smartlist_341/rims_and_wheels.html

Tires:

Without any modifications

Here is a good article:

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=135&Cookie=froogle-CPmUlvPksLYCFeF7Qgod2XQAew&details=Ordern&typ=R-230428&ranzahl=4&nichtweiter=1&pk_campaign=froogle

Here is the Defender

Michelin Defender 215/65R15 96T BSW

http://www.vanagon.com/info/tires/index.htm

yet another thread

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=203519

Are you considering upgrading the wheels on your VW Vanagon? There are a number of good reasons to upgrade your Vanagon wheels, and the primary ones are safety and better handling. But don’t just go with any larger wheels, make sure to get the right ones.

The 14” wheels that come standard on a VW Vanagon are literally just too small to do the job. You may already know that it’s impossible to find tires that fit the standard Vanagon wheels and meet the safety requirements for the weight of the vehicle. Weighing in at over 4,000 pounds, no tires that fit the original 14” wheels are load-rated for the weight of the van. Of course, many people–yourself included perhaps–use 14” tires and get by for many years without accidents related to the weight of the van.

These people, however, are the ones who have to hold the steering wheel very tight (while praying to their angels) on a freeway to counteract the wobbling effect of a passing truck or strong cross wind. You see, the original VW Vanagon wheels are 14” x 5.5”. This means the diameter of the wheel is 14” and the width (or “depth”) of the wheel as measured from the outside of the car toward the center, is 5.5”. When you upgrade your Vanagon’s wheels, you’ll be looking at wheels ranging from 7” to 7.5” in width.

So with the originals, you’ll get blown all over the road, but the bigger wheels are wider, so there is more tire in contact with the ground at any time. As a result, the van will handle much more smoothly, you’ll have increased stability, and, you won’t feel every single bump in the pavement anymore either.

So if you’re convinced that you want more stability, a smoother ride, and a higher safety standard, the next question is what kind of wheels to get for your VW Vanagon.

When you upgrade your Vanagon’s wheels, you’ll have to decide what size wheels you want to upgrade to. If your Vanagon is a Syncro, you’ll probably want to consider 16” wheels, however for all other Vanagon wheels, 15” wheels are preferred. (Any larger and there just isn’t enough room around the wheel well to have everything running correctly.)

Because the upgraded Vanagon wheels are wider, many wheel upgrades require the use of a spacer in order to make sure the tires don’t sit too close together. Spacers are also used when the bolt pattern of a wheel doesn’t match the original bolt pattern on the car.

The bolt pattern describes the diameter of the imaginary circle between the centers of the lugs on the wheel. The Vanagon bolt pattern is 5 x 112. The first number in a bolt pattern, in this case, “5” refers to the number of bolt holes on the vehicle. The other number, “112” refers to the diameter of the imaginary circle created by the 5 bolt holes, which measures how far apart they are. On Vanagon wheels, this is measured in millimeters, so 112 mm is 11.2 cm or just under 4.5” inches. If your new Vanagon wheels don’t have the same 5 x 112 bolt pattern, then a spacer may be used to “convert” the wheels.

There are two main drawbacks to using spacers, one more mechanical, one more cosmetic. Spacers can put an extra load on the wheel bearings, and they can also make the tires stick out beyond the fenders.

Vanagon wheels are generally made of either steel or aluminum alloy. Steel wheels are heavier, cheaper to make, and although they are durable, they’re ugly. That’s why steel wheels almost always are covered by hub caps. The alloy wheels are stronger, lighter, and because of their aesthetic appeal, do not require hub caps.

When you choose your Vanagon wheels, it’s worth it to go for the alloys. And since different wheels have different designs so you’ll want to pick one that highlights the unique style of your VW Vanagon.

So when you’re considering the different types of Vanagon wheels, look for 15” Alloy wheels that have a 5 x 112 bolt pattern and don’t require spacers.

Hopefully this article has helped you gain a better understanding of why you might consider upgrading your Vanagon wheels and what to look for when you do.

Yet another from gowesty

Tire Recommendations for Vanagon

GoWesty currently offers two different model tires for the Vanagon application:

1) Michelin Defender (supercedes the HydroEdge)

2) BFG All Terrain KO

The Michelin Defender is the manufacturer's premiere "all season" tire, designed to handle dry, wet, wintry conditions (even light snow). It features a technologically-advanced traction system to evacuate water and enhance resistance to hydroplaning. The tread wear rating is amazing (820!) and the driveability is simply off the charts. This is the most "street" tire we offer, but it still handles surprisingly well off-road. We carry both the 215/65-15 and the 215/60-16 for the Vanagon.

The other tire we offer is the BFG A/T KO, available in either 215/70-16 or 225/70-16, depending on gearing and engine size. The BFG is the most aggressive tire we offer, and probably the best all-around on/off-road tire available today. It is a bit noisy on pavement, however (that's the trade-off for supreme off-road ability).

On a scale from -10 to +10, here is how we would rate these tires for on-road handling, fuel economy, tire life, and lack of noise:

215/60-16 Defender: 10

215/65-15 Defender: 9.5

215/70-16 BFG: 8.5

225/70-16 BFG: 8.5

185/80-14 ANY: -20

On a scale from -10 to +10, for pure OFF-ROAD traction and performance, we would put them like this:

225/70-16 BFG: 10

215/70-16 BFG: 9.5

215/65-15 Defender: 6

215/60-16 Defender: 5

185/80-14 ANY: -20

So, with regard to on-road handling, the disparity between the tires is not as great as the disparity when it comes to off-road traction and performance. The main draw back with the BFG is road noise and fuel economy; they tend to be noisy—especially under 50MPH—and are not as fuel efficient as the smoother tread tires.

The Defender will outlast either the BFG by around 2:1. The Defender is the most smooth, and most fuel efficient.

Hopefully, this analysis helps when choosing a tire.

Back to Library

Pennies On The Mile: Michelin Defender Tires Aim to Save Fuel, Last 90,000 Miles

The Rims: Probably Van Cafe http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_1552_341/european-look_alloy_16_x_7.5.html

GoWesty Opinion:

16" Alloy Wheel & Tire Package w/ Goodyear TripleTred [2WD & 4WD]

(GVW-WP22-GY)

Includes 4 alloy wheels, Goodyear Assurance TripleTred 215/60-16 tires, mounted and balanced, center caps and hardware. Ready to bolt on and drive.

Works with vehicle years: 1971 - 1991

Our Price: $1,249.95

The folks at Michelin recently paid our offices a visit to give us a technical rundown of its latest tire, the Michelin Defender. Though the full impact of the engineering wizardry that went into Michelin’s new standard touring all-season may be lost on most consumers, a few things caught our attention.

Michelin’s data showed that car owners were keeping their cars longer, meaning vehicles on the road are racking up more miles and conceivably going through more tires than before. To appeal to this increasingly common customer, Michelin launched its Defender line of standard tires earlier this year, which lasts longer and nets better fuel economy compared to the tires it replaces. The Defender has a 90,000-mile/6-year treadlife warranty, and replaces the previous Harmony and HydroEdge series. Michelin says the tire’s silica-based compound offers good all-season grip and stopping performance, while also providing low rolling resistance for higher efficiency and longer service. Though the compound itself was fascinating, the Defender’s innovative tread design is what sets it apart from its predecessors.

One thing Michelin had to explain to us was the advantages and disadvantages of sipes, the grooves cut into a tire’s compound that make up its tread pattern. A sipe creates an edge that can bite into a surface, providing better grip especially in snow or dirt. Sipes are also good at removing water from the contact patch, and help prevent hydroplaning. But cut too many sipes into a tire, and the tread begins to lose rigidity. Michelin attempts to address this problem with its Intellisipe Technology, which strengthens the tread by molding the sipes in a way that interlocks the tread blocks. By doing so, Michelin can cut many more sipes into a tire without sacrificing rigidity. This feature by itself isn’t new, but Michelin combined it with its Variable Thickness Sipes (VTS) technology, to further stiffen the Defender’s tread.

With the addition of VTS, a series of lateral ridges that vary in thickness get molded into the inside walls of the sipes. Michelin showed us an illustration of a cross-section of one of the Defender’s many sipes—blown up by what must be hundreds of times actual size. Seeing this made clearer how the two technologies increase rigidity, and also made us wonder how this thing is molded. Even if that process wasn’t a closely guarded secret, we’d probably struggle to wrap our minds around its complexity. With its stiffer tread, the Defender has the same rigidity with less mass, always a plus when it comes to cars.

All of this unseen tech helps the Defender exceed the performance of its predecessors, Michelin says. The tire maker claims the Defender can outlast its direct competitor Continental Pro Contact Eco Plus by up to 21,000 miles, while also being able to outbrake the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring by up to 31 feet in the wet. Michelin also claims the Defender can save up to $250 in fuel over the life of the tires, based on a 90,000-mile test against competitor Yokohama Avid TRZ.

16" Alloy Wheel & Tire Package [2WD & 4WD]

(GVW-WP22)

Includes 4 alloy wheels, Michelin Defender 215/60-16 tires, mounted and balanced, center caps and hardware. Ready to bolt on and drive.

Sorry, we're temporarily sold out.

Works with vehicle years: 1971 - 1991

Our Price: $1,249.95

16" Wheel & Tire Package - 8 Hole Alloy [Vanagon]

(GVW-WP22-BFG-215)

Is your van looking to toughen up its image? (Please see fitment notes!)

Works with vehicle years: 1980 - 1991

Our Price: $1,449.95

16x7.5" Alloy Wheel Set (4 Wheels) [Bus/Vanagon]

(GVW-8527)

Includes 4 wheels, center caps and hardware. For 2WD drive. DOES NOT INCLUDE TIRES.

Works with vehicle years: 1974 - 1991

Our Price: $549.95

15x7" Alloy Wheel Set (4 Wheels) [Bus/Vanagon]

(GVW-8525)

Includes 4 wheels, center caps and hardware. DOES NOT INCLUDE TIRES.

Works with vehicle years: 1971 - 1991

Our Price: $499.95

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• • Defender^®

    • Passenger Car/Minivan

• • • • Michelin Performance Rating :

        • WEAR LIFE

        • FUEL EFFICIENCY

        • HANDLING

        • BRAKING

        • COMFORT

• • • ALL SEASON TIRE

    • Michelin's best standard passenger car/minivan tire ever offering 90,000 miles4of confident driving through exceptional safety, longevity and a quiet, comfortable ride so that you can protect those you care about most.

    • Benefits of Michelin

• • • Read more information

    • Find Out If This Tire Fits My Vehicle

• • • • • • • "When I replace tires Michelin is the one for me. I have never had a problem with your tires. "

            • — Sam C.

• • Find a dealer that carries this tire line:

• • • ires codes

Initially:

1) I was able to get a Remanufactured Subaru EJ22E Engine sold by Amazon, work done by Proformance Powertrain with a 3 year warranty for $3600 including tax and shipping. It did not include the valve covers and the oil pan.

2) At Tom Auto in Daly City they charged me 1300 in labor to replace the previous Subaru Engine. The shop in Berkeley charges 12,000 for the complete conversion, so so far we are doing allright.

3) Repaint - Maaco Fremont (check yelp) $2200 for body work (i had 2 accidents in it during a difficult time in my life). $1599 for their top paint job.

4) Replace Bumper - looking for a rear bumper desperately now. May be stuck with the $499 Westy Super Bumper -

5) Tires are standard width - will need to replace with wider tires as it is jacked up using Bilsteins.

6) Need to replace A/C - these EJ22E's have 2 A/C Compressor's the Zexel and the Calsonic. It appears mine works with the Zexel

A/C Problem

http://www.subarupartsdepot.com/oem-subaru-parts.html

AC Compressor

Discharge Hose

Suction Hose

Idler Pulley

HVAC / AIR CONDITIONER / AIR CONDITIONER / DISCHARGE HOSE

Part Discontinued

HVAC / AIR CONDITIONER / AIR CONDITIONER / DISCHARGE HOSE

HVAC / AIR CONDITIONER / AIR CONDITIONER / SUCTION HOSE SUCTION HOSE Legacy; DKKC Type

MSRPCore ?SaveOnline Price$129.95$0.00$36.39$93.56

Part Discontinued

HVAC / AIR CONDITIONER / AIR CONDITIONER / SUCTION HOSE SUCTION HOSE Legacy; Calsonic Type

MSRPCore ?SaveOnline Price$220.63$0.00$61.77$158.86

From http://www.weidefamily.net/vanagon/HTML/06a/01/slideshow.html

• • • Tire Diameters

a

http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/smartlist_341/rims_and_wheels.html

7) Gauge:

8) High Performance ECU Chip