You should be able to find a serviceable used 2.1 for $500, so get two, you'll need them. Remember, they are all old, and some will have been rebuilt with questionable quality.  

They are all over Craigslist here in the west, shipping will be the biggest issue. You use your current ECU and wiring, and put your 1.9 plumbing and exhaust on, just leave off the 2.1's oil cooler or install an aftermarket one, this is what I did when I put in a rebuilt 2.1 in my previous '84 15 years ago.  The exhaust and cooling system are much simpler for your 1.9, and it's not worth trying to install the 2.1 systems IMHO.

Virtually no good commercial rebuilder will build a 1.9 since it costs the same to make it into a 2.2, which is the smallest engine Go Westy builds (on the 1.9 case), but I wouldn't pay $4300+ for a WBX. 

This is why conversions are so popular.  Here in Seattle we have four shops that do Subaru conversions, one of them also does Bostig conversions, and they all do a steady business.  The production engine rebuilder in town doesn't do very many WBXs anymore, and he charges $2000-$2300 for a 2.2 build.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Dan N
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2014 6:38 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: WBX 1.9 or 2.1... what would you do?

hi all

a 85' with WBX 1.9 need to be rebuilt or at least the top end rebuilt..

if you have a choice to have the 1.9 rebuilt or swap in for a good used 2.1...

for the same price...

what would you do?

thanks for any idea...

dan