I have an '81 Westy that I got used for under $1000 a few years ago.  It ran, but the engine
was not in great shape.  I put in an AVP rebuild and some other parts like injectors, did it
myself for under $2000, and the van has run fine since.  Three weeks after it was done we went
to Key West and back, a 5000 mile trip.

Don't believe everything the wasser-leaker crowd says about the air cooled vans.  Many of them
have never owned or worked on one.  The water cooled engine isn't a completely different
animal.  It is basically an air cooled engine retrofitted with the water jacket for cooling.
As you have heard here, it is subject to leaking problems, and the far distant front radiator
causes it's own problems.

My stock '81 air cooled Westy (auto trans) cruises just fine at 70 to 75 on the freeway, has
sufficient acceleration, and is very nice inside.  It didn't cost me much, and even the heater
works well.  You may want a newer van, but don't give up on an earlier one just because it is
aircooled.

Bill in the Southwest

>I've been keeping my eyes out for late model Westies, but this evening i
>saw a 1981 Westy for sale.  Haven't talked yet with the owners.  Sign on
>van said engine needs work.  (I saw oil on pavement below engine.) Asking
>$900 obo.  Cosmetically, things look very nice, engine, and maybe tranny
>need work which at this point I'm unable to say specifics.  Question is,
>is it worth it to take on a project on an 81 air cooled?  Do the air
>cooled vanagons have their own special merits, or not?  If I could buy it
>for 700-800, and drop a couple thousand into a new or rebuilt engine,
>would I have a reliable, healthy running Westy?  I know nothing about
>these air cooled models, but if the van weighs 5000 lbs. as do the later
>models, isn't it strange that an air cooled engine could push that
>around?