If it helps here's a link to pictures of the parts van prior to
pulling the items Allan mentioned. I haven't pulled it from my site
yet (I'm lazy and it certainly doesn't take up garage space). <http://kippert.com/vanagon/parts_vanagon/
 >

Mark K
1986 GL/2WD/4SPD

On Oct 17, 2009, at 3:56 PM, Allan Streib wrote:

>
> The other idea I'm now considering is to resurrect the parts van I
> got.
> It's a rolling chassis, the paint is tired but it looks rust free even
> around the window corners and seams.  It looks like it was
> undercoated;
> mine has not been and while it's largely rust free the parts van is in
> overall better shape.
>
> The prior owner kept the motor, transmission, and a lot of interior
> pieces.  I could swap all that over from my van... the one big
> difference is that mine is a manual and the other van was an
> automatic.
> It's probably a bigger project, but it would be largely just be bolt
> up
> and hook up stuff, no frame straightening, welding, etc.  which I have
> never done to any real degree.
>
> So, I'm leaning towards swapping my motor, transaxle and interior to
> the
> parts van.  Will the manual/automatic issue be any concern, given that
> the original automatic isn't there anyway?  Any other incompatibilites
> between the '87 and the '91 years?
>