The Volvo B-230 is exactly what you say, and it can easily
last 400,000 miles or more with routine maintainance.  I
believe the other options mentioned in this thread cannot
make that claim.  I would be very interested in more
information about this conversion, I can see a intercooled
B-230FT with 180 hp moving a Vanagon up hill very nicely.

Tom
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Brodbeck" <gull@GULL.US>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2004 6:50 AM
Subject: Re: State of the Art in Engine Swaps is....?

> On Tue, 6 Apr 2004, Joe Federici wrote:
>
> > As you can see it depends on who you ask as to what the
best
> > conversion is.
>
> Heck, I saw an adapter plate once to put a Volvo engine in
a Vanagon.
> I've never seen pictures of one actually installed,
though.  I don't think
> I'd recommend it.  While the Volvo B230 is extremely
durable, and its
> torque curve feels pretty similar to a VW boxer engine,
it's one of the
> most thrashy, coarse, and unrefined engines I've ever
seen.  And at 114
> horsepower it's not exactly a fire breather. ;)
>
>
> David Brodbeck, N8SRE
> '82 Volkswagen Diesel Westfalia
> '86 Volvo 240DL wagon