And you can add a turbo too!  The folks at FAS have an elegant 2.0 package,
but it's way too expensive for me.   Where is the documentation, parts, etc.
for a junkyard DIY ABA engine conversion?  I don't want to fabricate
everything myself and figure out the wiring, plumbing, mounts, exhaust, etc.

And, I really don't want to mess with any more VW engines since my
experience has not been good, and that includes the Eurovan version of the
VR-6. I followed the complaints years ago with the Tiico conversion that was
supposed to be the Vanagon's salvation and that probably did it for me. Even
the 2.0 turbo in my son's 2009 Passat carboned up so bad it required an
$1800 cleaning even with premium grade top tier gas.  He probably doesn't
drive it hard enough though, but I'm not impressed.

Time for a whole new can o' worms for this old dog!

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Arnott [mailto:jrasite@eoni.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2013 3:08 PM
To: Stuart MacMillan; Alistair Bell
Cc: Vanagon List
Subject: Re: [VANAGON] coolant overflow fears and thoughts

On May 9, 2013, at 9:31 PM, Stuart MacMillan wrote:

> Jeeze, I don't have a TIG welder!   You need to embrace your fear of
> the
> unknown and go for the Subaru 2.5 in your Syncro.  At least it looks
> like a WBX, sort of, and won't vibrate as much as an in-line 4.

You boys need to come to eastern Oregon and drive an ABA conversion.
Vibration? Set a glass of water on the table in the back with the engine
running? No ripples. A Tiico it ain't. Who knows, maybe I'll drive it to the
wet side just to share.

My new ABA conversion make me smile whenever I drive it. (1,000 miles in the
past week.  Makes me smile.)

> <snip>
>
> Alistair wrote:
>
> "Funny thing is, as good as the subie 2.5 is in a van (and I have
> driven one), I'm not very excited about doing it. I don't know why,
> but I lean more towards a 2.0 aba type inline 4 ."

Good choice. As GM used to advertise: "Keep your GM car all GM." Keep your
Volkswagen all Volkswagen.

Jim