>there have been a bunch of people on this list practically *giving* aircooled vanagon westys away with no takers
I hear you, as I try to sell my 81 Vanagon Westy - and it is hard.   I think the people crying about the price of Westies, should get an air cooled, get it up to snuff and then do an engine conversion down the road if they wnat more power.  
You can start here - 81 Westy for sale - rebuilt engine, all top components, sunbrella 3-window canvas, fue lines done, stainless tell clamps, vent lines done, correct tires, all wihtin 5-7K miles, some rust from the water filler, dents, motor mounts, brakes lines, brakes, etc, etc, but mechanically good. over 3K into it, NOT including price of van
Anyone with $2k - come and get it! 
John