You will need to check and if needed adjust the crankshaft end play. There is an "o-ring" inside the cavity to seal the crank to the flex plate/flywheel. Many have re-used the crankshaft bolts. The risk is that if they loosen you can destroy the crank. They are cheap enough. Use a torque wrench. As others noted you will need to swap out the bottom studs. Also with the converter out inspect-replace that center bushing.  If the van had sluggish acceleration maybe the converter should be rebuilt or replaced. Yes they can go bad! I also like to replace the flex plate to converter bolts. 

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Bob Anderson
Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2013 5:58 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: '86 Vanagon removing/installing flex plate & torque converter

Hello All,
I am about to remove the flex plate from my 1986 original 2.1 engine and install this flex plate, along with the torque converter onto a 1987 2.1 engine that I am about to install in my vanagon. My vanagon has an automatic transmission and this newer engine came from a standard transmission vanagon.
 I'm wondering if this is pretty straight forward or are there particular concerns that I should be aware of? I did read something about the need for using new bolts and not re-using the old one?
Thanks,
Bob A