Stan wrote:
>Just out of curiosity; What are you hoping to accomplish with a
>$10,000.00 plus expenditure on a 87 GL that has a retail value when its
>running of about $800 / $2500.00 in Texas?

Why do so many people seem to get so hung up on resale value?

I can't speak for Bruce, but I intend to drive my westy until It's too old
for me to get parts for anymore, or I'm dead, or the gov'ment says I
can't have it anymore, which ever comes first.

Resale value means pretty much nothing to me.
Enjoyment of the vehicle means EVERYTHING.

So someone spends $10K to fix up a vanagon to be a vehicle they
can really enjoy driving...  If you've priced new cars lately (and the
registration and insurance) you know that $10K is a bargain.

And IMHO the first thing a vanagon needs to make it more enjoyable
is a better motor.
I've spent nearly $3K on my engine conversion, and I don't regret a single
penny of it. The increase in driving pleasure is absolutely enormous.
I don't expect to get that money back if I do sell it, but I'll bet I get
way more than $3K of additional enjoyment out of the van because of it.

When you go out to a nice restaurant to eat, do you order food you will
enjoy eating or are you most concerned about the resale value of the turd?

I've ridden in a 911 powered loaf bus, and it was GREAT.
I wish Bruce well on his conversion. And want to see photos...

Steve
EJ22 -> '86 Westy "Escape Pod"