Ok, I am not the best mechanic.  I figured an inline 4 like my 1.8 liter Cabriolet motor would be pretty easy to work on, which was one reason I jumped on this particular van.  So today, having all the parts, I decided to do the headgasket I have been putting off for over 5 k miles.  Also, decided to install a more powerful (say all the inline 4 freaks) camshaft..that cost just $129 and uses standard everything else..

  Even counting time to read and re-read the Bently for that motor, and never having worked on one of these before, I got the head right off and the camshaft out, checked everything for other damage and did it in just 3.5 hours.  Easy, so far, and everything looks good to go back in tomorrow am..  So, the little inline IS easy to work on.  You don't even have to mess with the intake or exhaust..just disconnect the hoses and the header pipe and pull the whole mess right out the engine cover hole from the top..

  I did notice that in order to fit this 4 in, the PO had to enlarge the engine bay a bit into the drivers side rear wheel  hole...Looks like he needed about 1/2" extra for the throttle body.  I guess the 1.8 liter heads are the ones that work best, having the intake on the left, or 'down' side  (in a Vanagon).  I like a 6  hour shade tree mechanic head and cam change time...
  Don Hanson