hey congrats on your almost acquired 83 5 speed diesel vanagon.
If it's a turbo 1.6 block with piston oil squirters.........
running a turbo block naturally aspirated.............makes one pretty long
lasting 1.6 diesel.

I can't think of  a way to tell from outside the block if it's really a
turbo block..........
unless it's by engine code.
Both versions say '1.6D' on the side under the manifolds.

veggie system shouldn't be a problem if you do it right, and don't have
unreasonable expectations about it.
congrats again.

if anyone else wants a chance to get a kinda rare Sunroof 83 5  speed diesel
vanagon ...........
with decent body and no rust .........I have one I'll be selling.
located in Southern Oregon...........has 1.6 right now that's a little
tired.  And I have a 1.9 I'll be going through for it.
Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Evan Martin" <7martinn@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 4:58 PM
Subject: vanagon, 83 watercooled diesel

> Well, what do you you know.
>
> After somthing like 6 years on the list, looks like there's an actual
> Vanagon in my future. I joined the list when I was working at a
> independent
> VW shop and often got to take a shop van home at night but never got
> around
> to buying one. Mostly I've stuck with the list to gleen camper van
> technology for my (much bigger) cube van project.
>
> Paperwork's not done yet but a friend has agreed to sell me his '83 (?) 5
> speed.  Body's in better than average shape, maybe even pretty good. Some
> recent engine work (head gasket, I think.
>
> Mechanic who did the headgasket said that the motor is out of a TD and
> could
> be safely turbocharged.
> I'll definitly be doing my homework before I try anything like that but
> it's
> a possibility.
>
> Veggie oil might also be a possibility; everybody like to talk about it
> but
> usually turns out to be a little more complicated than they'd like.
> Being up here in Minnesota makes any kind of WVO instalation pretty
> demanding for even three season use.