The nice part is that some later model improvements can "bolt up" or
be modified to fit earlier model year Vanagons.

- seats
- "power" side mirrors
- steering knuckles, (which may lower cost of a "big brake" install)
- suspension (my bus has a '91 sway bar on the OEM suspension)
- WBX transmission
- dash cluster
- steering wheel (??)
- engine and/or engine management
- fuel tank and filler neck
- WBX radiator on diesel Vanagon ??
- interior: become a Weekender! Become a Westy!
etc.

As far as I know, the only part that can't be swapped in (without
enormous body work) is the slider door and latches.

On 9/26/14, Higginbotham, David A. <dhigginbotham@hazenandsawyer.com> wrote:

> I know that it is accepted that the later year vanagons are better than the
> earlier vanagons, why? Not wanting to open up a can of worms here, but I am
> curious what were the various improvements made to the vanagons between 1980
> and 1991.

--
Neil n

Blog: tubaneil.blogspot.ca

'88 Westy http://tinyurl.com/c8rlw6p

'81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

Vanagon VAG *Gas* inline-VR Engine Swap Group:

http://tinyurl.com/d7gd5ej