Scott, I'm with you on that.

With the Vanagon, it's the utility that the beast provides me that
counts. I want it to be a platform of pleasure - so I'm not to concerned
about the collectors market. I'll relinquish use of it and pass it on to
someone else to worry with only when I pass through those Pearly Gates -
and hopefully not get a transfer ticket.

I'm going to just keep on driving it and do stuff as I go.

John

On 1/13/2014 12:09 AM, SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss ) wrote:
> And...does one preserve and maintain their vanagon as a commodity ,
> and thus perserve future value..
> or does one upgarade their vanaogn for they own personal enjoyment  ??
>
> I vote for the latter !!
> sounds like a hellava lot more fun ..NOW ..as in the moment.
>
> If it's an investment, don't drive it.
> Don't modify or improve it ...
> just store it carefully.
>
> Scott
>
> On 1/12/2014 8:39 PM, JRodgers wrote:
>> 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
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>
>