<div style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 16px"><DIV>&nbsp;If you are worried about more power, the air cooled 2.0 engine is prime for upgrading for extra power.&nbsp; One does not have to do major work also (like going to bigger pistons).&nbsp; A port and polish and some intake/exhaust work will increase power and not cost a lot if doing a rebuild.&nbsp; Cam and the like can be done also if you like, but does put extra work on the motor.</DIV><DIV>&nbsp;</DIV><DIV>Dave B.</DIV><DIV>&nbsp;</DIV><DIV style="BORDER-TOP: #bcbcbc 1px solid; MARGIN: 5px 0px"></DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; FONT-FAMILY: arial; COLOR: #000000">On 09/12/13, <SPAN>Dennis Haynes&lt;d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM&gt;</SPAN> wrote:</SPAN><DIV>&nbsp;</DIV><DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; FONT-FAMILY: arial; COLOR: #000000">The most reasonable approach will most likely be repairing or replacing your<BR>engine in like kind. Any step into a water cooled engine will become very<BR>expensive fast just due to the labor involved unless you can do it yourself.<BR>Not only do you need to install the cooling system you need to consider the<BR>heating-defrosting system even though you are in Florida. If you do decide<BR>to go the water cooled route the Waterboxers will bolt right in with just<BR>some metal trimming and a spacer for the tin at the rear. Replacing the<BR>transmission with a waterboxer one and drilling new holes for the rear<BR>engine carrier will even take care of the rear spacer thing. You can even<BR>use the air cooled engine management and ignition if you choose to.<BR><BR>Other options include selling yours as is and using that money plus what you<BR>would spend on the repairs to get a later Vanagon. 87 and later for the<BR>better AC systems.<BR><BR>Dennis<BR><BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: Vanagon Mailing List [<A class=parsedLink href="mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com" target=_blank>mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com</A>] On Behalf Of<BR>Fuhrel, Robert<BR>Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2013 2:13 PM<BR>To: <A class=parsedEmail href="mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM" target=_blank>vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM</A><BR>Subject: request for information, please<BR><BR>Greetings, I just got the bad news (maybe good news in the long run) that<BR>the engine in my air-cooled '83 Westy is old and worn out, one cylinder<BR>shot, and so on, and the mechanic, new to me, who seems honest and has a<BR>great reputation in my new town of Lakeland, Florida, recommends getting a<BR>different engine. He said I could drive this around town but that it might<BR>do more damage and would be running on only 75% power.<BR>I've had the Vanagon for eighteen years, all in Las Vegas, where a superb,<BR>fast, inexpensive and honest mechanic named Robert Madrid kept it going all<BR>that time. It is in overall excellent shape.<BR>So, I am asking list members if anyone knows someone in the Tampa-Lakeland<BR>(Orlando only if necessary, please) area who can put a different engine in,<BR>and what should I get if I can? I almost certainly can't afford a Porsche<BR>engine though I've heard that is possible, but it must entail all kinds of<BR>other modifications, probably transmission and so on. I also know vaguely<BR>that Subaru swaps can be done but know nothing about which Subaru engines<BR>would work. Perhaps another VW engine would be fine, but I'd like a little<BR>more power than what I've had all these years, something that would allow me<BR>to go faster than 35mph on hills (though Florida has few, from LV to<BR>anywhere I went up and down many hills no faster than that.) Any<BR>information will be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!<BR><BR>Best,<BR><BR>Bob<BR></DIV></div>