At 06:40 PM 12/4/96 +0000, you wrote:
>'85 Vanagon blues -
>
>Her tale of woe,
>fiddling with the radio,
>3rd gear at 6000 rpm,
>do I need to shift again?
>what's that clanking sound
>that's getting louder all around?
>then there is a bang and a cloud of smoke,
>perhaps this is no joke?
>lets stop the car and take a look,
>why, that is oil pouring out underneath,
>the towtruck number is in the book.
>Hun, can you fix my car,
>I didn't want to go very far...
>
>
>We like our car, but...
>Is there a market in used engines, or is it salvage time for the old beast?
>
>Any suggestions appreciated,
>Mark
>
>
   Mark,

   Sorry to hear about your engine!
   I was recently in the market for an engine for my '84 GL.  I did not find
any working engines in Portland, OR, auto recycling yards.  One place had
sold one recently for $550.  The Vanagon it came out of read 200,000 plus
miles. I don't think I saw a newly rebuilt engine for less than $1,300. And
the range of prices I found, went up steeply to $4,000.
   I decided to rebuild from 2 blown engines (with different areas "blown"),
and many new parts.  So far, 300 miles on rebuildt, so good.

   good luck,

   Scott Maurer
   1984 GL