I have done this several times.  The only things you are going to want
to do is use the intake manifold and throttle body from the 2.1l.  On 85
Vanagons this is plug and play.  If you have an 83-84 you may have to
splice in a plug for the throttle position switch but it is very simple.
That is it.  Just swap everything else over from the 1.9l, water pump,
thermostat housing, coolant system, fuel injection, etc.  You will be
elminating the oil cooler but I haven't had any problems crop up after
doing this.  You could add an external sandwich oil to air cooler later
if you feel that you need one.  It is a nice upgrade in power for a
1.9l.  If you have a passenger 85 with no power steering it will feel
like the fastest Vanagon ever!  :-)

Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
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-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Evan Mac Donald
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2005 5:53 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: converting a 2.1 to 1.9

Hello list!

  I am looking for any one who has rebuilt a 2.1 long block, using 1.9
externals - water pump, thermostat housing, etc. The Bentley says the
cases are the same, and the heads are the same also, so with the
"correct for chassis year" accessories bolted on, what other problems
might there be....

                          TIA

Evan Mac Donald

1984 Wolfburg
1985 GL 7 Pass.
1991 Carat Weekender