In a message dated 98-07-15 18:24:31 EDT, kennedy@FDU.EDU writes:

<<
 Consensus of past conversations, list and elsewhere, is that
 VW never did six cylinder engines from the factory, altho as
 Joel has documented, Oettinger did a brutally expensive
 aftermarket six with Vanagon pistons. Porsche connection
 deserves mention, tho.  One of the catalysts for my long
 dream of a Porsche=powered Vanagon was a conversion done by
 the Porsche factory, which I saw in the early eighties as it
 passed through NJ on its way to CA, to the dealer who had
 commissioned it.  It was a white Vanagon with grey interior,
 Porsche gauges, and a Porsche six which you would swear had
 been installed on a factory line.  Nothing about the engine
 looked at all out of place or cobbled-up.

 And in fact when I built mine, the Porsche engine went into
 the Vanagon suspiciously easily.  Most tellingly, the oil
 tank goes in in the proper orientation to the engine without
 affecting ANY other mechanical systems -- not so much as a
 taillight wire.  I have to think that the Vanagon was
 designed with the then-current Porsche six in mind as an
 option.  They just didn't poll the right wackos when they
 did their market research to justify the model.

 B.
 --
 William R. Kennedy, University Webmaster
 kennedy@fdu.edu  201.692.7275  201.692.7273fax
 http://www.fdu.edu  Fairleigh Dickinson U., Teaneck, NJ
 07666
  >>
 Do you know if the Oettinger conversion is available?  Also the conversion
that you did, did you have to modify the rear engine lid to make room for the
fan? Some more info would be great. I'm interested. Thanks.
 Michael Modl, 87 syncro.