~14 hours in my shop.
I have done quite a few conversions myself and have parted more vans than I can keep track of.
I have the luxury of multiple bays with hoists and a rolling table that has a hydraulic lift as well.
In the past we have done major work on heavy equipment, so a Vanagon engine and trans is a joke for the tools we have.

Thanks for all the help.
Looks like its a go for after the Holidays.

df

----- Original Message ----
From: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Sunday, December 9, 2007 4:20:00 PM
Subject: Re: 2.1wbx + auto trans into 85 GL

Well, I'd suggest not having any illusions that's just 6 hours work -
 lol !

Always  them out as a unit if you can, THAT is quicker than pulling
 one,
then the other, considerably so. But once out, I separate them so
 they're
easier to move around and store.
But go for it. I do engine conversions all the time.
And really, between the engine and the fuel system, there are about 10
signals or wires  from the vanagon body to the engine systems - gauge
things, power supply to the ecu, etc.
You need to know what you're doing, and read the wiring diagrams. But
 the
actual electrical interface is not that much. I'm always going for
 getting
it running first, and do embellishments later, so in the beginning I
 might
just keep the 1.9 instrument cluster in at first.
If you do go to put a 90 instrument cluster into an early body, the
 wires
change some at T14, that plug on the bottom of the instrument cluster.
  That
connect 'opens up' so you can move the wires in it from one position to
another, so if say tach signal was on pin 6 in an 85, but pin 9 in a 90
......................you can move them over. You figure this out from
Bentley of course.

It helps to always say what your real project and goal is, rather than
 ask
some question first, and THEN inform other members what you are really
trying to do. Just don't think it's a 6 hour job, but it is perfectly
doable.
The cooling system might be the most work - deciding to adapt the
 engine to
1.9 cooling system, or the van to 2.1 cooling system.  Either way is a
 lot
of work, but I'd 'do it right' , since you have a whole 90 body to get
 stuff
from.

Have fun !
Scott
www.turbovans.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
 Of
dylan friedman
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 9:47 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 2.1wbx + auto trans into 85 GL

As always I should have explained more......................

What I am looking to do is swap the entire driveline from a 91 Carat
 into an
85 Westy. The Carat had 60k miles when totaled, front impact and the
 Westy
needs both engine and trans. I have all the wiring from the Carat
 intact so
I would rather upgrade the Westy with all the Carat stuff in the engine
 bay.

I am trying to keep the labor and time way down on this project and not
disassemble either engine. So I don't even plan on separating the
 engine
from the trans. Out of one and into the other.

Thanks to all who fired off quick replies and step by step for the
 engine.

df

----- Original Message ----
From: Evan Mac Donald <macdonald1987@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Sunday, December 9, 2007 12:28:47 PM
Subject: Re: 2.1wbx into 85 GL

There is a great write-up of how-to-do for just this project already
 available:

  http://www.oldvolkshome.com/19to21.htm

  This is the guide I am using right now, to get things set up for my
engine swap in the spring.

dylan friedman <insyncro@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
  I am contemplating swapping in a fresh 2.1 wbx in place of a failed
  1.9
in a 85 GL. I have numerous late model 2.1 engine bay harnesses and
 ecus. Is
this a plug and play type swap or is the older wiring from the
  ignition and
front of van not capable of the swap?

TIA,

dylan

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
 Of
Evan Mac Donald
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 9:56 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 2.1wbx + auto trans into 85 GL

There is no difference in the installation of an auto trans from a '91
 to an
auto trans from an '85. My daily driver '85 is right now running the
complete trans from my '91 parts van. The mounts, linkage, everyting is
 all
the same. The internals between transmissions differ, but we ain't
 goin'
there! The biggest problem will be swapping the coolant items specific
 to a
1.9 over, onto your 2.1. The waterpump, thermostat housing, croos-over
 tube,
etc., etc., will all bolt up, but will need to be swapped. The
 distibutor is
another notable "keeper". You do not need or really want to change over
 the
ECU and harness. Lots more trouble than the benefits to be gained.

  Just remember to write down somewhere that the engine is not
 stock....!

dylan friedman <insyncro@yahoo.com> wrote:
          As always I should have explained more......................

What I am looking to do is swap the entire driveline from a 91 Carat
 into an
85 Westy.
The Carat had 60k miles when totaled, front impact and the Westy needs
 both
engine and trans.
I have all the wiring from the Carat intact so I would rather upgrade
 the
Westy with all the Carat stuff in the engine bay.

I am trying to keep the labor and time way down on this project and not
disassemble either engine.
So I don't even plan on separating the engine from the trans.
Out of one and into the other.

Thanks to all who fired off quick replies and step by step for the
 engine.

df

  ----- Original Message ----
From: Evan Mac Donald <macdonald1987@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Sunday, December 9, 2007 12:28:47 PM
Subject: Re: 2.1wbx into 85 GL

There is a great write-up of how-to-do for just this project already
available:

  http://www.oldvolkshome.com/19to21.htm

  This is the guide I am using right now, to get things set up for my
 engine
swap in the spring.

dylan friedman <insyncro@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
  I am contemplating swapping in a fresh 2.1 wbx in place of a failed
 1.9 in
a 85 GL.
I have numerous late model 2.1 engine bay harnesses and ecus.
Is this a plug and play type swap or is the older wiring from the
 ignition
and front of van not capable of the swap?

TIA,

dylan