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Subject:Re: 73 Camper needs engine?
From:mark drillock
Date:Thu, 1 May 2003 08:40:59 -0700

Is the stock engine and all it's parts still in the engine compartment?
If so, you might get away with spending as little as $500 or as much as
$3000 to get it running properly. Depends on what is wrong with the
engine and who does the fixing. If it can't be test driven you won't
have any way of knowing what else may need fixing, tranny, brakes,
suspension, etc. If the engine is out or partially disassembled then you
are looking at what is known as a "project vehicle". These are great for
people who have a lot of time and ambition along with something else to
actually drive. Don't buy one of these if money and/or time are tight
and married people who wish to stay that way should exercise caution
also.

By the way, when someone says that a vehicle has a "new engine" they
almost always mean something else. Generally this means that the engine
was removed and disassembled to see what was wrong. Then some of the
parts were replaced with new ones and other parts were cleaned or
machined. Sometimes the main parts are exchanged for another one that
has been taken apart and put back together by a shop. It never means
that the WHOLE engine is brand new. Some major parts of the engine may
be new or rebuilt but most of the rest is still used and many parts are
still the old ones. Alternator, starter, distributor, fuel system, all
of these are likely not part of a "new engine".

Mark

Shannon Mitchell wrote:
>
> I am looking at a 73 camper that "only needs an engine" what would an engine for a 73 camper cost?  The Camper is $750......
>
> Thanks in advance
> Shannon
> 91 Vanagon