Back in the '70's I was proud owner of a Powder Blue Jag XKE convertible
with bumps on the hood - meaning the V-12 engine with the four Stromberg
carburetors. The bumps made room for the strombergs to fit.  That thing
  was so sweet to drive. Dunno how the engine was built - massive block
or iron or aluminum - but it ran well. But I was told early on that for
collectors value to keep it strictly stock. Sadly, I had to sell it
during the peak of the Carter/Reagan Recession. My next vehicle purchase
was a '68 Loaf - and that began a whole 'nother journey!

John

On 1/12/2014 5:48 PM, Jim Felder wrote:
> My wife had an XJ6 with a jag engine, it would have been better off with a
> V8 for sure. But the XJ6 is NEVER going to be a collector car. They simply
> won't last long enough in any respect. They do not share the heritage with
> the breed that Vanagons share with the iconic bus.
>
> Vanagons are already moving inexorably into the collector direction. Right
> now, they are in transition and are still more valuable for their utility
> than anything else (but there are exceptions to this), so a conversion with
> more power and reliability might fetch more than a stock vanagon TODAY. But
> where they are headed is this: a kid born today is going to want the
> vanagon as much as a loaf in 35 or 40 years (assuming fossil fuel vehicles
> are allowed on the road, but I can guarantee that somewhere in the world,
> that won't be a problem in 2045), and no splitties will be available. While
> they will probably never be in the price range with splitties, which will
> be over $200,000 by then for a really nice example, the price might be
> $70,000 or so, which might be $10,000 more than a typical new car costs by
> then. Just eyeballing the trajectories of these things.
>
> Anything not original, as with all collectors, will make the car worth
> less. It doesn't matter if you are collecting sewing machines, art deco
> furniture, crosscut saw sharpeners, hatpins or tractors. Originality will
> provide the most value in the end. Flamers, I did not say for now. But in
> the future, no conversion will be worth as much as a stocker.
>
> History is 100% against ye who believe otherwise.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 12, 2014 at 1:42 PM, SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) <
> scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>
>> it's not fridae so let's stop here.
>> briefly  though ..the Jag XJ 6 engine is a huge lump of iron that dates
>> from 1947 I think. Fantastic when it came out .
>> and used until the early 90's even I think....by then it was desperately
>> outmoded.   And the chevy engine weighs less, has more power and if far
>> less finnacy   ( sp ? spell checker can't figure it out either )
>> ..especially over the carbed jag engine that soldiered on until 1986 in
>> the JX6.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 1/12/2014 6:20 AM, Todd Last wrote:
>>
>>> Yes, but note the resale value for a Jag with a chevy engine.
>>> The whole reason for having a Jag or a Mercedes is the engine.
>>> Removing that, kills the resale value.
>>>
>>> Todd
>>>
>>> On 12/25/2013 11:52 AM, Scott Daniel wrote:
>>>
>>>> for example the popular Chevy V-8 in the Jaguar XJ6
>>>> Possibly hundreds of those have been done.  Possibly more than that
>>>> even.
>>>> Very likely there are kits for that conversion.
>>>>
>>>> I've seen a Mercedes sedan ..the popular 300D body style from about
>>>> 1984, with a  ..
>>>> A carbureted Chev V-8 and chevy auto trans dropped into.  They guy
>>>> nagged me to buy it even  ..for $ 2,000 or so, well less than what he
>>>> had into it. Had a large goofy wing on the trunk too.  If I didn't
>>>> already own 20 vehicles ...........
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I believe the 'small block' chevy V-8 engine, first introduced in 1955
>>>> with 265 cubic inches displacement..
>>>> and with variations and other versions with larger displacements, was
>>>> produced into 2000's and may still yet be in production..
>>>>
>>>> I think no basic engine design on earth has had so many examples
>>>> produced..
>>>> in the 10's of millions of them.
>>>> And that engine is generally the most common hot rod or conversion
>>>> engine ever, certainly in North America,
>>>> and around the world, GM of Australia for example. I'm sure they know
>>>> that engine well ther.
>>>>
>>>> Merry !
>>>> Scott
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 12/25/2013 11:40 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Yes! Any car with a conventional front engine driving the rear wheels
>>>>> via
>>>>> drive shaft and solid rear axle. On all of these use most any
>>>>> engine-transmission assembly your wish and even change the rear axle!
>>>>>
>>>>> Dennis
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>>>>> Behalf Of
>>>>> Jim Felder
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 3:08 PM
>>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>>> Subject: Re: Engine woes - what to do?
>>>>>
>>>>> Does anyone know of a car that has more engine swap possibilities
>>>>> than a
>>>>> Vanagon?
>>>>>
>>>>> Jim
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, Dec 24, 2013 at 6:28 AM, Jack R <jack007@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>   I know a couple volks who are very pleased with their Bostig
>>>>>> conversion.
>>>>>> http://www.bostig.com/
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In my case, I came very close to putting in a 2.5l 5 cly TDI (owned
>>>>>> the motor, and was ready to proceed), but the cost to beef up the
>>>>>> trans due to the torque of a diesel among many other things, resulted
>>>>>> in converting my
>>>>>> 84
>>>>>> Wolfie to a 2.1L out of a 91 in tip top shape.  Very pleased in all.
>>>>>> As I use my Westie for a few weekends of Michigan Camping, and put
>>>>>> about 5,000 miles on it a year, the ROI from the costly conversion to
>>>>>> get more MPG or performance is not there for me.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Each conversion is a unique decision, and Scott makes some valid
>>>>>> points on your current situation.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Good luck with whatever you do... I'll speak for everyone on this
>>>>>> list, we ALL hate to see any Vanagon leave circulation!!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Jack R.
>>>>>> 84 Westy Wolfie with a 2.1L (owned since 87, and restored to original
>>>>>> splendor)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>>>>>> Behalf Of Scott Daniel
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 7:14 AM
>>>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: Engine woes - what to do?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'll have to second this. Inline 4 gasser didn't pop into my mind as a
>>>>>> solution out of the poster's current delema ..
>>>>>> but yeah ..
>>>>>> simple , cheap, durable, easily repalced, all VW , good fuel economy,
>>>>>> decent power ..
>>>>>> there is a lot to like in a VW-based  I4 gasser conversion.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ...if I ever find time to my to play with my 3 actually.... ..mutter
>>>>>> mutter.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 12/23/2013 4:07 PM, Don Hanson wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'll chime in for the inline VW swap as probably the simplest and
>>>>>>> most
>>>>>>> economical way to go.   Like Jim, I really like the power, the fuel
>>>>>>> economy and the overall simplicity of having a VW motor on VW
>>>>>>> parts in
>>>>>>> my VW van.   I did keep the Digifant  1.8 liter head and all the
>>>>>>> wires
>>>>>>> do plug right in, pretty much.  It bolts right in using VW diesel
>>>>>>> parts that are available and proven...the diesel VW engine is the
>>>>>>> same block as the gasser, so all the parts for mounting it are
>>>>>>> factory
>>>>>>> stock.   ABA blocks are also identical.   My motor cost me about $600
>>>>>>> to build from a $300 Jetta ABA and I sold off the extra parts to
>>>>>>> almost make a profit.
>>>>>>>       You can find almost unlimited inline VW motors for under $500
>>>>>>> all over everywhere.  The only downside is there is no one source of
>>>>>>> information on this particular swap, not that it needs a lot of
>>>>>>> explaining.  Inline parts are dirt cheap, they are simple to work on
>>>>>>> and quite robust.   I was a VW rookie when I got mine already
>>>>>>> converted, but the fellow who did the conversion was a carpenter and
>>>>>>> not a mechanic.  I've since done a lot of swapping around and
>>>>>>> messing with it, mainly to learn and because they are so cheap and
>>>>>>> simple....They are easy to mess with....I never HAD to work on mine
>>>>>>> much, but I chose to go to the ABA 2.0 liter block after reading
>>>>>>> about it and finding one for $300...Took me 2 days, about to swap all
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> the
>>>>>
>>>>>> stuff over and re-install it into my van.   I have a spare motor now,
>>>>>>> too...should I ever need one.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 1:09 PM, Todd Last <rubatoguy@comcast.net>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> After almost 230,00 miles my '88 Vanagon is displaying symptoms of
>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> head
>>>>>> leak - I have not yet confirmed this or done a recent compression
>>>>>> test, but plan to do so.  I have concluded that one of the worst
>>>>>> things you can do to your van is not use it. Bad things happen when
>>>>>> they
>>>>>>
>>>>> are left sitting!
>>>>>
>>>>>> In any case I am looking at my options, and started out thinking
>>>>>>>> about
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> replacing the heads, then thought if I was going to do that, I might
>>>>>> as well put in new piston rings too, and well, once you do that you
>>>>>> might as well go a step farther and do an engine rebuild. Of course,
>>>>>> once you get there, the question becomes, stock, modified (like
>>>>>> GoWesty) or engine swap.  In looking at these options, it looks like a
>>>>>> cost of $5,000 or more. From what I have seen, Subaru conversions can
>>>>>> reach over $10K.  Yikes!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I was wondering if I could get opinions on the best course of
>>>>>>>> action in
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> this situation, not wanting to spend tens of thousands of dollars.
>>>>>> Would list memebers give me their 2 cents worth and if possible, what
>>>>>> the aproximate costs for the various solutions range from? I'm not
>>>>>> sure if it makes more sence to just install new heads and hope for the
>>>>>> best, or go full bore and swap the engine.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What does the voice of experience say? Anyone out there have
>>>>>>>> opinions on
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> the GoWesty performance engines vs. a Subaru transplant?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>> Todd
>>>>>>>> '88 Westy
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>