There is going to come a time when the crank cases, bearings or other
Waser Boxer parts are either too expensive or in very limited supply. The
Waser Boxer guys will most likely go to some kind of conversion.
Although the number if living 2000cc Vanagon and Busses is somewhat less
than the current numbers of Waser Boxers, the Air Cooled don't seem to
throw rods or have the crankcase replacement quite as often as the WBs.
As the latest generation of Volkswagen passenger cars age and get
clobbered on our roadways the VR6 and even the newer 8 cylinders engines
are going to be a reasonable investment for conversions.
I'd suspect that accessory type engine covers will be readily available
to accommodate these swaps.
The presence of Tiico and other conversions on the Vanagon list is like
reading the news because its all news to me on any conversion.
I admit I'd like to get out there on the road and run with the big dogs
buy I'd never consider a conversion for my 83 Westy. It just works like a
team right now.
Frank posted a list of possibilities on engine conversions recently and
if I had a dying Waser Boxer I'd be gathering parts in the anticipation
of a conversion.

Stan Wilder
83 Air Cooled Westfalia

On Fri, 7 Jun 2002 10:27:51 -0400 "Royston, Jerry" <gmr@OBPA.USDA.GOV>
writes:
> I concur with Stan.  The engine, while important, is only one
> component of
> the Vanagon/Westy machine.  If you have a separate Tiico list, does
> that
> mean you will only talk about the engine?  Everything else would be
> of
> interest to the larger list.  So I vote to keep the group together.
> I don't
> mind reading about these conversions and actually find the Tiico
> stuff
> interesting to read sometimes since we're always thinking about ways
> to
> improve our vans.
>
> Gerry Royston
> '87 Westy
>