I'd say similar about mine, nothing to brag about, but minor things are
more to my liking than say a stock motor might be.

   Mine is almost like George's..2.0l ('93).ABA with a 1.8liter head and
digifant, set in the van like the diesels were, but I have normal VW engine
mounts and I also have the diesel tranny and bellhousing.   I've also done
a custom exhaust system using information gleaned from some of the inline
Tuners who've hotrodded the inlines.   I also put in a mild performance
camshaft, so I probably have maybe 20hp more, and the 5 speed tranny
gearing lets me keep in the sweet spot pretty easily.   I also like the
very low 1st gear for rough terrain and low traction situations.

   I kept my steel wheels too.   Best gas mileage I've seen is
~26....normally I see between 20 and 23...
   Parts are cheap and available and seldom needed for this
configuration...Haven't done much to this motor since I swapped in the 2.0
liter block about 50k miles ago now.   I have no vibration...dunno where
that comes from, though the inline is not as 'sedate' sounding as the WBX,
I guess..

   When I was considering a Vanagon I never heard anyone brag about an
inline powered one.   Never heard much at all about them, other than how
people didn't like the Tiico ones.   Everyone I talked to about them just
drives em, doesn't much discuss them....except me, I kinda rap about mine a
lot online, I guess.

   Don Hanson

On Sun, Jan 20, 2013 at 9:34 AM, george jannini <georgejoann@gmail.com>wrote:

> >> let's hear about your jetta conversion.. <<
>
>   There is not much, really, to brag about, just minor things.  Like I
> don't worry about  cylinder heads exploding, or doing frequent water pump
> changes miles from home (twice!) or NLA boxer bits.  The engine can pull a
> hill at 5,000 rpm if it has to, and driven conservatively, one should
> expect to get 20 mpg overall.  My best mileage figger was 24 something on
> rural 2 lane at 55 mph.
>
>   The engine is a nearly stock ABA 2 liter block and 1.8 liter head, with
> Digifant brain.  Advertised numbers are 115 hp @ 5400 rpm and 122 lb/ft
> maximum torque @ 3200 rpm.  The peak figures aren't all that different than
> for a 2.1 liter boxer - 90hp and 117lb/ft tops    Gearing is stock, tires
> slightly oversize 195/14, plain ol' steel wheels.
>
>      Engine mounting angle is stock VW and it's "floating" on Mercedes 190
> motor mounts, an extra expense which didn't really change vibration much,
> if I remember correctly.  He'll buzz and thrash pretty good pulling high
> RPMs, (a fair amount of intake noise also) but from idle to way past 4,000
> rpm, noise and vibration aren't a bother, although after 12 years I can
> still recall WBX smoooth.
>
> Geo/ATL
>