This thread is very intriguing.
To the unfortunate stranded couple:  You said you were 150 miles from
home?
Where are you staying?  In the van?  Can you stay there while it is
being converted?
Wouldn't it make more sense to plug in another AC motor and keep going
or turn around and go home to sort things out?
Or maybe even tow it home if your are only 150 miles away.

Please forgive me if I am wrong on some of the details and please keep
us informed.  I get the feeling this is gonna be a pretty good story.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Edward Maglott
Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2004 9:23 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: diesel conversion

Yeah, cheapest, easiest, most reliable would be to get a good air cooled
engine in there.  Even a good used one would leave you with a ton of
cash
for later troubles if they come.

I know that you have a comfort level with the current van, and that is
pretty valuable.  I know mine pretty well after owning it a few years.
I
know it's sounds, smells, temperature gauge behavior, etc.  I know what
it
can do, and what it doesn't like to do.  I know what you are saying
about
jumping into a new van with a relatively unknown history.  Keep in mind
that this conversion is going to really change the vehicle, and throw a
lot
of unknowns into the situation.  Lots of new plumbing and wiring, and on
and on....  The more you rush the converter, the more likely things will
not be done right and haunt you later.

If you do go ahead with this maybe you and your partner could pause for
some weeks or months, get jobs and make some money, then restart the
trip
when conversion is done?

David Marshall seems to have considerable experience with the diesels,
the
intercooler issues, etc.  He'll probably chime in at some point.

Edward

At 05:41 PM 8/1/2004, you wrote:
>The cheapest and most expedient path is to replace the bad engine with
a
>rebuilt of the same type. Why do you think otherwise?
>
>You are greatly underestimating the trouble  involved in properly
>converting not just from gasoline to diesel but to watercooled from
>aircooled.