I agree, but I've driven almost exclusively VW/Audi since the early 80s.
Our '88 Westy has a 1.6TD from our first '85 Jetta (with a cheapo rebuild
done by me - rings & bearings, now ~600k on it, with original injection
pump), and a 5 speed and engine carriers from a donor '83 diesel Vanagon.
We had a stock '82 diesel Westy which drove remarkably like the '81 Rabbit
diesel that I learned to drive on... when it was towing a boat! :)
I have contemplated going back to gas in the '88 with an inline 4, as they
are cheap and plentiful, but having just bought an Espar D2, I will have to
stick with diesel for a bit longer.

On Sun, Jan 14, 2018 at 3:46 PM, Christopher Schimke <
christopher@t3technique.com> wrote:

> I suppose if a Vanagon owner is not a lifelong VW sort, they may not
> notice the difference, but having a VW engine in a Vanagon feels
> (literally) different than a Subaru or any other engine in. Engines have
> personalities and there is a certain "DNA" in many VW engines that makes
> them all feel like part of the same family. Being part of the family makes
> them feel "right" in a VW, regardless if it’s a Vanagon, Golf, whatever. I
> was having a discussion about this with a guy at Bonneville Speed Week who
> ran a hot rod with a turbo VW ABA engine, along with other various engines,
> depending on which class record he is chasing. He said the same thing: the
> car takes on different personalities/feel depending on which engine he is
> running. And he made it clear that it wasn't just differences in torque and
> power. These were intangible things that made each engine feel unique in
> ways that were difficult to impossible to describe.
>
> Thank you!
> Christopher
> T3 Technique
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET
> Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2018 2:26 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Fri: opinion on the proper conversion for Vanagon
>
> I agree.  I really like a Volkswagen in a Volkswagen.  I have the Gen V
> inline Golf engine in my 87 Westy.  The engineering and mods to the ECU
> were made by FAS in Maine.  It's nice having OBDII.   I have done a couple
> of cross country trips, along with a few East Coast down and up trips.
> It's a daily (almost) driver/hauler and used whenever we go away (hotel
> stays too).  There is always something in there we need.  From multi-day
> camping/hiking to being my ski vehicle, it's very versatile and with a hot
> little engine.  80 is no problem so long as the hill is not too long or
> there is no room to get going.  There is a nice wide powerful RPM range in
> all 4 gears.   I have the long use engine as opposed to the hot rod
> engine.  Would a 2.5L subie be better?  Sometimes climbing some high hill
> (and you folks have sent us up or down some doozies) on the highway at high
> altitude I find myself wishing for some more HP, then I remind myself I got
> a new factory engine, not an older technology and otherwise rebuilt subie
> engine and I deal with it. I have been using it for about 5 years now, and
> have had no real engine related issues other than those caused by Old RT.
> 66 or where I have driven it.  The guys at FAS keep telling me I don't have
> a Syncro.  Bottom line, it's a reliable engine system and all the parts are
> available easily.  I like it.
>
> Dave B,
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
> To: vanagon <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Fri, Jan 12, 2018 1:21 pm
> Subject: Fri: opinion on the proper conversion for Vanagon
>
> I have an 84 tintop with most of the Westie interior and a 5 sp manual
> transmission, powered by an inline VW motor that's installed on the factory
> inline deisel engine mounts.  I happened onto this rig on a whim... there's
> not much "buzz" about this kinda Vanagon... though they are around and have
> been done for years.
>    I'm no expert, and I can't quote exact figures, VW numbers, current
> costs, etc. but here's my take on this type of Vanagon.
>   I think, for those who're using the Vanagon a lot, it's a great set up.
> It is very simple and easily maintained, performs like a normal vehicle and
> has very good gas mileage.   The increase in power from a stock WBX motor
> is not so much as to  break things, and these inline VW motors are quite
> robust.
>   I like the way the inline conversion makes the Vanagon still a Vanagon..
> Many other types of conversions seem to make these vans into something
> else...
>   I like to be able to get parts in small towns, if needed.  I like to be
> able to fix it without a degree in computer science and a flatbed ride to
> some dealership...
>  It's a VW van... I've got now an ABA Jetta inline that my wife leaves
> over tbe summer in the desert.  Her work car.  That one is super, too.
> Great little simple cheap motors...very appropriate for a Vanagon,
>

-- 
Shawn Wright
shawngwright@gmail.com