I really feel that the Subaru (sp?) conversion is for those of us in the
Vanagon world who actually are more sado-machistic (sp?) than normal.  I mean
all of us own at least one Vanagon which shows that we enjoy pain or perhaps
just the occasional adventure.  However the folks with the Subie motors take
the cake as far as I am concerned.

1. You have this crazy complicated wiring harness which is like 12 feet long
that you have to unravel first.  Many of the weak never make it through this
initial rite of passage.  You see their shattered dreams in a FS post to the
list or on ebay.

2. After you get past this first hurdle, you still have a used engine.
Unless you actually drove the Subie, who knows what abuses it has already
endured.  At least you knew the problems that your waterboxer had.  Now you
have someone elses problems.

3. Many of the folks that I have talked to who have done this conversion do
not describe their ownership of a Subie powered Vanagon as "carefree", or
"low maintenance".  Two folks I have spoken with had their great, reliable
Subie-boxer lock up on them due to lack of oil.  Several others have
described exhaust crack chasing, and the idea that your conversion is never
really done, you are always tweaking something or redesigning something.

4. In spite of all of this none of the people who I have talked to, who have
done this conversion were really unhappy with it.  (Which just goes to show
how warped we all really are:-).

So if you enjoy tinkering, or adventures and want more power, then go for it.
 But the  reliability is really just an illusion.  Just my opinion.  Feel
free to comment.

Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
http://www.vanagain.com
Phone: (856)-327-4936
Fax: (856)-327-2242