>
> dear people that might be able to help me,
>      i'm rebuilding the engine on my 81 vanagon and i've decided to
> replace the rather rusted heater boxes.  the best price i've found for
> replacements is about $200.  but i found some for a 72-74 bus for $150.
> i noticed, while replaceing some parts on my exhaust system, that the
> parts are almost exactly the same, if not actually the same thing.  my
> question is, will the 72-74 boxes work on my 81?

Absolutely not.  The parts are the same in their function but not even
close in their form.  The Vanagon heater boxes will only fit '80-'83
Vanagons and Bus heat exchangers will only fit Buses up to '78.  The
differences are in the shape of the exhaust ports in the cylinder heads
(Bus=round and Vanagon=square) and in the connection to the fan housing
(Vanagon=no connection while Bus has a connection) not to mention the
locations on the heat exchangers for fresh air intake.  There's no way
to use the '72-'74 Bus exchangers on a Vanagon.

i'm on a very small
> budget and need to save whenever possible.  also, some of the sheet
> metal on the underside of the engine (cooling the underside of the
> pistons???) are very rusted and beyond repair.  is there anyplace i
> might be able to find those kinds of parts?
>
Your best bet is a junkyard or try Jim Thompson at Old Volks Home.

--
Sean Bartnik
Fredericksburg, Virginia
1981 Volkswagen Vanagon L Westfalia
1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia convertible
http://www.type2.com/bartnik/myvan.htm
http://www.mwc.edu/~sbart7kb/vwbooks.htm