thanks Scott...

as of now.. pending work to be done... I will transplant the whole engine
from a '88 to my '85...

transplant will be... engine, gear box, electronics.... sort of making an
'85 to an '88

dan

On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 3:50 PM, SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott ) <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

> if the 2.1 is really a Complete Engine ..
> including all exhaust ..
> you want that ..it's a significant upgrade from the exhaust system on
> the 1.9...
> better everything ..vastly superior mounting system ( the 1.9 bracket on
> the right is a joke ..the muffler is smaller ..
> there's no room for an oil cooler/heat exchanger etc. ) ..better flow
> I'd would think.
>
> you can even retain the 2.1 oil cooler/heat exhanger by plumbing it into
> the 1.9 cooling system layout.
>
> I like my rig with this arrangement a lot.
>
> a general rule of life..all used VW engines need the head gasket/s
> replaced.
>
>
>
>
>
> On 11/4/2014 7:01 AM, Stuart MacMillan wrote:
>
>> 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
>>
>>