I learn something new about VW vans every week, it seems.  I had no idea a
Vanagon "Truck" was such a collector vehicle.  I have just recently got the
run down on Syncro Doka 16s.

  I understand that the 2.0 liter inline four VW ABA engine will take an
8-valve head and give ~ 150hp .  Supposedly has good torque and under the
piston oil squirters for even better durability than the Bomb-Proof 1.8liter
ones.  With the 1.8liter head bolted onto the 2 liter bottom you can still
just stick one in a Vanagon same as a diesel and not compromise the
passenger area or the ground clearance..

  If and when my little motor ever does wear out I am going that
route...Heck, can't go wrong for $300 bucks, +/- and a few hours work to
swap on the head.

  I think a Valiant motor would be cool...Slant six.  Good for a million
miles...well, maybe only 10, 000, 000 miles..Ten hundred thousand?
  Happy friday
  Don Hanson

On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 1:31 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

> Any Sngle Cab/ double cab Vanagon truck has the potential to be worth big
> bucks.
>
> sure, it'll need a much better engine ...but that's no big deal. ALL
> vanagons need a better engine almost.
>
> you know....if you saw a nice Single Cab pick-up on thesamba ...
> and it was really decent, no rust, perfect paint and body .....fully sorted
> out and roadworthy in every way ..
> like just 'nothing to apolgize for' .
> like near showroom condition ...
> $ 20K wouldn't be horribly out of line.
> So at 4K or so .....as long as it's not badly rusted or crashed ....that's
> a fair deal.
>
> one way or aother is is registerable.  Might depend on what state or
> various hoops to jump through, but if someone wants to badly enough, they
> can get it titled and registered.
>
> re
>
> And a normal diesel engine in a Vanagon
>
>> truck?  Wouldn't that be a really dangerous vehicle on public roads'
>>
>
> where have you been Don ?
> stock 48 hp 1.6 NA diesel vanagons are a hazzard outside of town bascially,
> in our driving envirnoment.
> Although many people get by ......and vanagon gods bless 'em and protect
> them until they get some more power and better gearing.
>
> That's 'how they are.'
> and it's a darn good thing VW made all these fun vehicles for us to play
> with.
> Why heck...
> if they lasted like volvo's ( old ones ) or Fords, or even Chryslers with
> slant sixes, we wouldn't all be playing together like this. If they 'just
> worked' for decades, we wouldn't all know each other helping each other out
> with our fun vans.
>
> and VW engines .....face it .....some of them are good for maybe 7 years in
> a vanagon before needing real engine work.
> I could even move toward doing mainly inline 4 gasoline ones ...
> though I think the 100 hp RV code 8 valve 1.8 is still marginal for power
> in a vanagon ...
> but darn durable.  Super durable.  I wish all VW engines were  basicly that
> reliable and durable, and cost-effective to get, to install, and own and
> operate. I would expect basically zero problems with that engine.  Wish it
> had a bit more beans though.
>  and one of these days I'll get my 16 valve 1.8 running..
> and in 93 there is a 2.0 liter version of that engine.  Gonna convert one
> from CIS-E fuel injection to Digifant too I hope.
>
> Has anyone ever heard of a Euerovan 2.5 inline five engine in a vanagon ? I
> know there are Audi inline 5's done ......don't know how related that is to
> a 93 EV 2.5 inline 5 though.  Might be a bit long lenth-wise .....but those
> are durable engines I beleive.
>
> One thing I really like in an engine is sheer durability , like no matter
> what ....it keeps running, and never blows up. Like you almost 'can't' burn
> a valve, blow a headgasket, or throw a rod,  ( or wear out a turbo ) .  The
> search for 'the perfect' vanagon engine continues ..
> and sorry, I don't think TDI is it.   LOL.   :-)
>    'Sorry' I'm just in  a good/happy mood today -partially due to
> Hawaiin/Aloha/hula energy  ...which I posted about on the end of a 'noisy
> fuel pump' thread email.
>
> hey..it's friday !
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Hanson" <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, April 09, 2010 10:37 AM
>
> Subject: Re: cheap diesel singlecab on samba..in calif
>
>
>    Is that really a good deal?  Not being sarcastic..I honestly don't know
>> the worth of Vanagon trucks...But $4k with a lot of 'issues' right up
>> front...Sounds kinda silly to me...And a normal diesel engine in a Vanagon
>> truck?  Wouldn't that be a really dangerous vehicle on public roads, being
>> so slow...especially with any load?...
>>  From my reading and from almost buying a Canadian Syncro, it can be very
>> tedious and expensive to get a vehicle cleared into the US, let alone
>> Kalifornia..
>>  Don Hanson
>>
>> On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 9:41 AM, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>  On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 8:10 AM, <jordanvw@aol.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> > this sounds like a sweet deal..   evidentially the owner didnt try too
>>> hard
>>> > to get it registered..   its over 25 years old so registration is a >
>>> piece
>>> of
>>> > cake.
>>> > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=949546
>>> >
>>>
>>> Hey, that's right in Mark's backyard (no room in the front yard) so are
>>> you
>>> going to jump on this one Mark?
>>>
>>>
>