Ari, after spending an afternoon getting my 81 with the non functioning
cat convertor smogged by the state referee and pumping him for all the
information I could I feel that a running conversion could be done for
less that the cost of the rebuild I got when I bought the van two years
ago.  It would be a lot less than going to Fast German Auto, Mark
Stephen's, Gene Berg or FAT performance.  I've talked to all those
people. I am inclined to agree with all the people who feel the Rabbit
motor was the engine that was right for the Vanagon not the 411 motor
that should have died with the 411. I have a line on a cheap diesel
Westie and I intend to stick the biggest, ugliest and most reliable
straight four or five I can find in it and travel all over the country
to bother some of the people on this list.  LOL

        DrRufo
        SOCal-81 vanagon