Larry, I just did this to an 1980 air cooled ASI camper. it's not too
hard to get the functional parts done.
I managed in 5 weeks (already had all the parts accumulated) of nights
and little wkends, I still managed to see family and friends and attend
wkend car shows (retained a active car life)
but anyways, if you want pre_smog then your going to have to go older
then 76, and i[ve seen clever peoples bay watercooling ideas, best so
far is a rad in the rear decklid that hinged, or a round expanded spare
tire look alike that housed a rad out front.  the good news is in a bay
you can go with a KEP 15' adapter and don't need the costly and rarer
Vanagon Diesel parts.  I'd say to go the extra and find a TD from a
Jetta or Quantum, possibly an Audi TD (some mid 80's 4K)

as for the front in dash heat, that depends on where you live, and what
your comforts are. so far in the mid 40's my back seat heater(from
conversion van) has been MORE then enough.
if your serious on this and want more info, Ill follow up with you after
the wkend.

Dan Stevens
1980 ASI TD
From:    Larry Edson <sonofed@KARMANNGHIA.ORG>
Subject:

Last night I was complaining to a friend about the new California smog
law
when I had an idea about maybe putting a diesel Vanagon engine into one
of
my pre smog VWs. But not knowing anything about them I don't know if it
would even be possible. Are the diesel engines from the early '80s based
on a Type 4 gas engine? Are there other things besides the fuel
injection
that would need to be retrofitted into another car to make this work?

Larry
sonofed@karmannghia.org
www.ghiatwins.homestead.com