In a message dated 4/7/2004 9:50:39 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
dhigginbotham@HAZENANDSAWYER.COM writes:
<< Color me seriously ignorant as I came up in the "there is no replacement
for displacement" years. How does one gain an advantage by replacing my
1.9L or 2.0L with a 1.8L?

David,

Eric said he had TWO 1.8's. So 1.8 plus 1.8 is 3.6. That's a whopping
displacement increase.

All kidding aside, the advantage is in reliability. IMHO the WBX engines are
better suited to Vanagon duty because of their torque curve as compared to an
inline-4 VW. Grunt is downunder in the lower RPM's where you need it. But the
inline-4 VW engines do not have the same reliability issues that WBX engines
have with regard to headgaskets and such. There is the added benefit that many
of these slightly smaller displacement engines produce more power than your
1.9 WBX simply by virtue of improved efficiency. What was it that the little guy
said? "Honey it's not the size that matters but how you use it." I-4's also
have a higher redline so you can get better top end. The little guy can keep
reving while you 1.9 peters out at about 4200 rpm. (puns intended)

BenT