Finally, the last ten responses explaining the costs/benefits of a store
bought conversion vs. doing it all oneself.  Doing it on your own can be a
very rewarding project if you are doing it for its' own sake.  It can be
also be very frustrating if you are trying to get your ride back on the
road.  The latter usually entails taking many "shortcuts" that will severely
degrade long term reliability and performance.
    Perhaps the greatest benefit of any good conversion for a Vanagon is
that you have removed yourself from the WBXer/Digifant world.  The base
engine for any TIICO/VW I-4/Subaru/Zetec engine is far more common and
readily available for parts and total replacement.  Blow up your WBXer, no
matter who rebuilt it, entails buying another of the same and paying 250
bucks to ship it.  Blow up the base engine for a converted van, and you go
to your local junkyard for much less.  This is where Jim's comment about
long term ownership costs come in.  You can put the worlds ' greatest WBXer
longblock in your van at great cost, and you still have Digifant, 20+ year
old wiring, outdated engine management and unreliable MAF.
     I love Vanagons and have had above average luck with my WBXers.  But
when there are vastly superior, and long-term VASTLY cheaper alternatives, I
chose to upgrade my Vans and now offer to help others do the same.
     Some people love their WBXers.  Good-on-em. Some also like to spot
trains.  Good-on-them also.  Me, I like Vanagons and Westies of all flavors.
If somebody can make a Vanagon better, I am all for it.
     My only dilemma is that I don't understand this:  Why is it that people
on this list who have done a "Turn-key Search Engine Conversion" are so
quick to slam those that offer a "Turn-key Vanagon Engine Conversion"??????

John Reddick
East Coast Vanagon
Vanaru.com