$7K is at the higher end of the scale. If you can do some of the work
yourself, you can get it done for around the cost of a good 1.9
rebuild and install. I did mine for <$2000 in parts and $2000 in
engine (2002 2.5L with 11K miles on it). If you find a cheap 2.2, you
could have the engine for $500 or less...I actually am driving a
$500 '93 legacy that was going to be the engine. It the car was so
nice and ran so well that I kept it and found the 2.5L engine.

The thing it does cost is time...figure on at least 100 hours if you
haven't done it before. But, if you have the time and space, it can
be done. If not, search around for someone who does it on the side. I
almost used someone who had done a few of them and charged $1500-2000
depending on what you were doing.

$2000 Mechanic's Labor
$500 Engine
$1800 conversion parts
-------------
$4,300

The power is great. The reliability is even better. Aside from a
connector that I knocked loose, I've had no issues in 5000+ miles and
a year.

> Subject: New engine thoughts
>
> The engine in my 83.5 Westy is getting a little tired. It was
> rebuilt by a
> drunken Hungarian 8 years and 70K miles ago*.  I'm tossing lots of
> ideas
> around. First, to keep this van I also need to fix the rust and get it
> repainted. That's not out of the question. Here are some options:
>
> Rebuilt 1.9 from Boston Bob?
> Rebuilt 2.1 (is that better?)
> Subaru engine?
> Tiico engine?
> 911 Turbo (OK, just dreaming)