At 12:30 3/31/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Hey Volks,
>        With all this talk about head gasket failures it got me thinking
about cost comparisons between fixing
>the heads and replacing the engine with a vw in-line 4 of some kind.  What
I would like to know is
>
>        1. How much does it cost to replace the heads yourself and how long
does it take?
>
>        2. How much does it cost swap in a in-line 4 if your van is not an
oil burner and how long does it
>        take?
>
>        3. Can an in-line 4 be installed on an automatic?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Later,
>Stephen Davis
>85 Westie Auto

Having avoided replacing the heads, I shudder to think of the cost to have
this done..

You can adapt just about any engine to a VW trans, stick or auto. I think
the outfit to check out is Kennedy - for adapter plates.

The Diesel Vanagon used the same engine block as the Diesel Rabbit, mounted
differently, and with a different oil pan. The gas engines are the same
overall outline, and should fit with a bit of work.

Chuck Kuecker

ckuecker@mcs.net

'83 Scirocco (Katy's car now)
'58 Ghia Convert
'75 Bug
'67 Bug
'63 Bug (*still* for sale)
'91 Vanagon