In a message dated 9/18/2013 10:45:25 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
stuartmacm@gmail.com writes:

Engine  $4000 plus core charge, transmission $2000 plus core charge.
$8,000
minimum, plus all the other stuff a "parts" van would need.   About $5000
minimum in my recent experience.  This is a $1000 van that  will take
$15,000
to get into decent shape unless you have a supply of used  engines and
transmissions.

i used to buy running rusty GL passenger vanagons for $500 bucks.
stripped them down for parts.

if you going to buy new or dealer or specialty shop rebuilt  engines  and
trans, then of course your going to pay a lot of money.

my point was this was a solid complete late model westy that if someone had
 a good used engine and trans laying around they could have themselves a
decent  87 westy

used 2.1L waterboxer - about $500
used manual tranny - about $500
a nice weekend of draivetrain swapping (free if you do it yourself)

you could have yourself a running '87 westy for under $5 grand..   seems
like a deal to me.