>> How do I go about an engine conversion?  Do I just get an engine and
>> then order that adapter kit from Kennedy Engineering or Hetlef
>> Hanschke (sp?)  and go to it or will I need other stuff?  Where do I
>> find an engine?  How much is it all this likely to cost.
>>
You will need considerable fabrication skills to successfully complete an
engine swap. Adaptor kits usually consist of an adaptor plate to mate the
engine to the transmission, and a special flywheel, and maybe a clutch.
You're usually on your own with the engine mounts, hoses, cables, wiring,
etc. The lone exception to this appears to the be the KEP
(www.kenndedyeng.com) subaru kit, which does include almost all of the
parts needed. This is probably what you would do if you had a watercooled
van.

Engines would usually be procured from a salvage yard.

>> I've heard that there are Porche engines that I could switch to that
>> would allow me to stay air cooled--which ones are these?  Do I just
>> walk into a Porsche dealer and ask them to order one?  If I want a

Well, if you have $10 - 15k or so burning a hole in your pocket, sure.
Otherwise, look for a used one.

>> used one is there some sytematic way of trying to track one down or am
>> I just looking at spending months of my life wandering through salvage
>> yards?

Many salvage yards participate in parts networks, and can track down almost
anything. You need to make a few phone calls, and be prepared to spend a
lot of $.

>>
>> If I want to go to a Subaru engine or an Audi 5 cylinder or some other
>> water cooled is it possible to do this--how hard/expensive would it be
>> to add a radiator to my 1980 Vanagon?

Dunno. Is the space there for the radiator? I'm guessing there isn't much
of a difference between the diesel and ac engines, so I'll be you'd just
need to cut the hole for the front grille, install some radiator mounts,
the grill, cooling lines, etc. Keep in mind that this is a fairly major
project, independent of installing a different engine. I think Helmut may
have done this?

Joshua Van Tol -- jjvantol@lear.csp.ee.memphis.edu