Thanks to everyone who has replied to my previous messages... now I
have a NOTHER new one.

The fine red 91 GL I just put on the road gets 15.5 mpg on the
highway - and that was at 65-70 mph in central Illinois where there
are no hills, not on I-55 anyway. This is the worst gas mileage I've
had since I sold my 69 Chevy Malibu in 1981.

It (the vanagon) has a new airfilter and belts, and the electrics
checked out OK per my trusty neighborhood shop. It does have a
horrible generic muffler which I could replace to improve back
pressure, and I could replace the oxy sensor too.  But before I get
into fixing this... it has 155K on it, the body is still
exceptionally nice, maybe this is the time to go with an engine
conversion. (I already know I have to replace the trans so there's a
case for doing it all at the same time).

Of the possible engine conversions out there, which -in the opinion
of list members - is the most reliable and economical for the buck?

Needless to say in Illinois I am not likely to find anyone who has
ever handled these conversions before.

Steve, Chicago, VW van owner since 1981.