Yes!  With your air-cooled experience fix the engine on the '82 Westy, clean
it up and sell it for $2500-$3000.  Use the profit to buy a rebuilt WBX from
Boston Bob for the '88 and you will have a nice ride and will have money in
the bank.  Offer $350 for the '82 and $850 for the '88 just for the heck of
it and see what happens.  It's pretty hard to sell a non-running vehicle,
'cause you never know what you will find.

PS:  I think the air-cooled Westy is an abomination, severely underpowered
and no heat.  Still, it will have value when fixed.

Have fun!

Stuart MacMillan
'84 Westy w/2.1

tds wrote:

I have desire to buy a vanagon westy project I have 2
in mind.

First
-`88 Westy waser boxer 69,000 on odometer owner is non
mechanic says van does not run and has been parked
several years.  Had heads shaved she says because of
coolant leaks.  Explained a problem with gas in oil
and exhaust shot why it was parked long ago. SO she
has been sitting, engine looks real dirty. SHe says it
need engine work or heck just a new engine so that is
a big ??? Interior is all there albeit a bit dirty and
couple broke pieces.  Body is straight and pretty
clean. Price is $1100

Second
-`82 Westy air cooled motor dropped valve seat or bad
rod as its knocking but runs.  Was abandond on freeway
and tow company has it now and for sale.  The vent
window is broke and as is sliding door window.
Ignition has been destoryed and hot wired (by tow
company to start it)  Large dent on slidder
door...interior clean.  pop top has couple rips and
some mildew.  Tad bit of surface rust in driver rocker
seams.  One hour from home must be towed. $500 but
heard possibly could get it for $350

Anyhow...I have about $3500 to 'invest; into  westy
vanagon...I prefer the nicer `88 but also the air
cooled is a beast I do know much much better working
on many `75-`79 vans.

What do you think I should do?? which is best and
would be safest "money wise" buy.

Maybe I will get lucky and someone out there has a
nice westy in my price range to sell me.

The crapper is I MUST decide by saturday as I told
owners I would decide by then..