They can be more stout than you might think.  =)

Just google "diesel rotary":

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=diesel+rotary

Cheers,
JD

-----Original Message-----
From: "Myers, Thomas A" <Thomas.Myers@USA.XEROX.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 13:10:06 -0500
Subject: Re: Diesel Rotary? [NVC]

> Is it possible to make a diesel rotary? I always thought
> that would be a good combination for power/fuel enonomy.
>
> i figured the required diesel compression ratio might be a show
> stopper on a rotary engine.
>
> Tom
>         ----------
>         From:   Vanagon Mailing List on behalf of P.Dooley
>         Reply To:       P.Dooley
>         Sent:   Thursday, December 4, 2003 12:54 PM
>         To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>         Subject:        Re: Rotary?
>
>         General consensus:
>         They are light and make good power.  Have to be wound up to
> make the
>         power though.
>         Don't make much torque where vanagon people need it, and very
> thirsty.
>
>         -----Original Message-----
>         From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]
> On
> Behalf
>         Of John D. Foster
>         Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 12:46 PM
>         To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>         Subject: Rotary?
>
>         Just curious, but is anyone aware of anybody ever doing a
> rotary
> engine
>         conversion in a Vanagon?  I've see a little bit of info where
> people
>         have
>         put them into the older vans, but not the Vanagon.
>
>         Cheers,
>
>         JD Foster
>         '86 Westy Brunhilda