In a message dated 9/23/98 12:30:23 PM Pacific Daylight Time, KENWILFY writes:

<<
 Only problem with this idea is that yes you have better performance at lower
cost, but you also are still stuck with the waterboxer motor and all the woes
that go with it.  Also do we know this performance package's effect on our
already troublesome heads and head gaskets?
 I would rather not have to sniff for coolant ever time I pass the rear of the
van.
 Ken Wilford
 John 3:16  >>
Well I'd rather stick with my non troublesome waterboxer that has no problems.
New heads were done at 125K. The exhaust note sounds cooler too.  Besides why
would I want to deal with a timing belt now every 60K and no power steering
and possibly no A/C.
Assuming that heads need to be done every 125K, it will take 600K on the water
boxer motor to catch up with the cost of the conversion, provided that the
conversion has NO break downs.  My .03 cents.
The conversion would be very practical for 85 and older vanagons.
 Michael Modl
 87 syncro