The 1.8 counterflow head type VW engine was a pretty neat upgrade for
some diesel Vanagon owners. I installed a 2.0 ABA Jetta engine in my
formerly air cooled '81 Westy.
Quite a learning curve. Engine is still running well.
This swap will obviously be much less work. Haven't decided exactly
what I'll do but I'll
likely run Bosch Motronic and likely run the ABA as is. The downside
to that for the 2wd
is that the engine lid has to be modified, or raised, to accommodate
the intake manifold.
One fellow worked around that by lowering the drivetrain. I'd consider
doing that.
It's not that big a deal. The 1.8T swappers have to raise the engine
lid and if I recall,
lower the drivetrain as well.

Neil.

On 8/26/16, Eric Caron <ecaron1@comcast.net> wrote:
> Yes,
>
>         A friend of mine did that to his Westfalia.  Interestingly, it was a
> aircooled van and he added the cooling system.  He ran it for many years
> until the body finally rusted out last year.
> the engine was from his own used 85 Quantum wagon. Last we heard the motor
> and transmission were powering another vanagon.
>
>
> Eric Caron
> 85 GL Auto Westfalia
>

--
Neil n

Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>

1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>

1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>

Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>