IF I recall correctly - statistically ALL  of the VW opposed four cyl
engine failures have a tendency to fail in some relation to the #3
cylinder more than anywhere else in the engine. Yes - it does fail
elsewhere - more often in relation to #3 - swallowed valves, burn
pistons, thrown rod. Not always - but more often than not. The type-2
air-cooled engines were bad enough but the later pancake air-cooled
engines   found in the Vanagons were the worst of that lot.That tendency
was reduced when VW started putting out the Wasserboxer engines - BUT -
it still happens - and my last engine failure - '    OL' RED - my  88 GL
with a 2.1L engine  burned a piston clear through, damaging the head,
the cylinder barrel, the piston and the rod, and putting metal all
through the engine. Fortunately it didn't throw a rod, so the case and
crank was salvageable.

I would obtain a decent engine, run it a while - then sell it off and
get a later Van with the 2.1L WBX engine or a good conversion.

Once you have run water-cooled and have the luxery of plenty of heat or
airconditioning - you won't want anything less.

John

On 9/13/2013 8:57 AM, Mike B wrote:
>    These air-cooled engines in this application are already overstressed
> and run very hot;  look at their well-known history of dropped valves,
> seats and cracked heads.   I wouldn't hesitate to build up a modified
> 2.-whatever Type4 (and have!) for use in a Beetle of Karmann Ghia
> application with upright cooling tins.
>    But having owned, driven, rebuilt and modified several of these
> engines and VW busses of all types from splitties to WBX Vanagon
> Campers,  I can say with extensive experience that it's not good to
> expect more out of a 2-liter aircooled engine in a Vanagon. They are
> under-powered and over-stressed, which is the fact that forced VW into
> adopting the WBX for that application.  I love the power, speed and
> acceleration of my 2.1WBX engine in my '87 Westy GL.  It just eclipses
> my previous busses in every way.....
>
> YMMV,
> Mike B.
>
> On 9/13/2013 9:46 AM, David Bjorkman wrote:
>>  If you are worried about more power, the air cooled 2.0 engine is
>> prime for upgrading for extra power.  One does not have to do major
>> work also (like going to bigger pistons).  A port and polish and some
>> intake/exhaust work will increase power and not cost a lot if doing a
>> rebuild.  Cam and the like can be done also if you like, but does put
>> extra work on the motor.
>> Dave B.
>> On 09/12/13, Dennis Haynes<d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>> The most reasonable approach will most likely be repairing or
>> replacing your
>> engine in like kind. Any step into a water cooled engine will become very
>> expensive fast just due to the labor involved unless you can do it
>> yourself.
>> Not only do you need to install the cooling system you need to
>> consider the
>> heating-defrosting system even though you are in Florida. If you do
>> decide
>> to go the water cooled route the Waterboxers will bolt right in with just
>> some metal trimming and a spacer for the tin at the rear. Replacing the
>> transmission with a waterboxer one and drilling new holes for the rear
>> engine carrier will even take care of the rear spacer thing. You can even
>> use the air cooled engine management and ignition if you choose to.
>>
>> Other options include selling yours as is and using that money plus
>> what you
>> would spend on the repairs to get a later Vanagon. 87 and later for the
>> better AC systems.
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>> Behalf Of
>> Fuhrel, Robert
>> Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2013 2:13 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Subject: request for information, please
>>
>> 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
>