Hey Don.

For sure the wisdom of the list is to find a WBX or better yet diesel
van for a conversion. And I totally agree. It's more work what I'm
doing. Even putting in the heater core took a lot of time. (but then I
 did other mods to air box while in there) But for me, this is
worthwhile. Especially since I already did a bunch of work. i.e. I
rebuilt/replaced wiper shafts/linkages, fan, heat box, booster, MC,
pedal cluster, repaired clutch pedal, clutch housing, rear brakes,
shocks etc.

But....

For anyone contemplating doing an engine conversion, I can say from
experience that air cooled is not a great way to start. Unless of
course you've found a cherry rust free for an awesome price. But if
you can find one of those, you can likely spend a bit more and get a
WBX Westy.

The good news is that I know this van quite well. I"ve learned a lot,
and the body should last long enough.

Neil.

On 11/9/07, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote:
> Thanks for the thoughts.
>   I didn't know the castings had changed on those tiny motors around model
> year '99.  Also I didn't consider finding used diesel vanagon parts to be a
> very difficult or expensive proposition, possibly.  To my way of thinking,
> finding a junk-er diesel or most of one and then swapping in the gas motor
> and Digifant II stuff (if your van didn't already come with it) seems pretty
> 'do-able' by even a very 'weak' 'enthusiast'...Not much 're-inventing'
> involved...more of a remove, remember, and replace stuff from one to the
> other.
>     I removed the head and swapped camshafts on my 8valve 1.8 liter in about
> 2.5 hours, with the motor still in the van..so swapping the diesel parts to
> the gas parts can't be huge work...And having hoses fit (sometimes) the same
> air cleaner, no re-engineering of the interior, stuff like that...that seems
> like it might kinda more involved when you go the 15 degree route..
>   Of course, with the Rabbit-style gas motor, you aren't looking at more
> than probably 35 hp increase over the WBX.  But dang!  if you are starting
> with access to a diesel van, you could have a trouble free Vanagon for very
> reasonable money and not as much work as I see Neil contemplating with his
> swap...
>
>   Don Hanson
>

--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
"Jaco"  (Bustorius)

http://web.mac.com/tubaneil