Lots of Vanagons already end up in junk yards without so much as a dent. The
reason?
It's always the blown engine. Vanagons and Westfalias are useful utilitarian
kind of vehicles and most of owners care very little about it's collector'
value. We need our Vanagons running well right now, when we need it. Converting
to modern, more powerful engines saves them from early retirement and makes
them the vehicles we can live with in our current driving world. While
rebuilding wasserboxer is usualy hit-and-miss proposition the Subaru or in-line
VW engines are proven beyond any doubts and will bring many hours of happy
driving to its owners.
Leon
85 Subwagen Westy

Steve Schwenk wrote:

> If my comments seemed acrimonious, my apologies.  I was
> just thinking about 10-20 years from now after many of
> the vans have changed hands and they are basically
> antiques.  Given a choice, would collectors/enthusiasts
> opt for the stockers or the conversions to restore?
> Those that don't get restored (again) will get probably
> junked after some point...within 30 years, say, given
> that most are well cared for.  That would make them
> 40-50 years old!
>
> And there is no hostility here.  Maybe some nostalgia
> and some hope that not everyone will convert their vans
> and some will see the value in keeping them stock.
> BTW, why is this such a touchy subject???  I guess
> because it costs a lot of time and effort to do a
> conversion.
> Peace!
>
> "Christopher T. Berchin" wrote:
> >
> > Hi everyone.  I've been following the thread about the guy with the Tiico
> > engine troubles, and I was pretty surprised at the animosity towards
> > converted busses here.