Hi Bob,

Do a quick search the archives as this question tends to come up every two
months or so...

With that said...it all comes down to budget...what are you willing to
spend?  If you want more  power go with a Subaru, if you want a quick and
simple fix, put in another air-cooled...

I have a Subaru in my 91 and love love love it....

Zetec is an option, too.

Good luck,

Jimmy
Wilmington, NC

On Thu, Sep 12, 2013 at 2:13 PM, Fuhrel, Robert <robert.fuhrel@csn.edu>wrote:

> Greetings, I just got the bad news (maybe good news in the long run) that
> the engine in my air-cooled '83 Westy is old and worn out, one cylinder
> shot, and so on, and the mechanic, new to me, who seems honest and has a
> great reputation in my new town of Lakeland, Florida, recommends getting a
> different engine.  He said I could drive this around town but that it might
> do more damage and would be running on only 75% power.
> I've had the Vanagon for eighteen years, all in Las Vegas, where a superb,
> fast, inexpensive and honest mechanic named Robert Madrid kept it going all
> that time.  It is in overall excellent shape.
> So,  I am asking list members if anyone knows someone in the
> Tampa-Lakeland (Orlando only if necessary, please) area who can put a
> different engine in, and what should I get if I can?  I almost certainly
> can't afford a Porsche engine though I've heard that is possible, but it
> must entail all kinds of other modifications, probably transmission and so
> on. I also know vaguely that Subaru swaps can be done but know nothing
> about which Subaru engines would work. Perhaps another VW engine would be
> fine, but I'd like a little more power than what I've had all these years,
> something that would allow me to go faster than 35mph on hills (though
> Florida has few, from LV to anywhere I went up and down many hills no
> faster than that.)  Any information will be greatly appreciated! Thanks so
> much!
>
> Best,
>
> Bob
>