> Honda motors to my experience have little low end torque.  You generally
> have to wind them out up to 7000 rpm to get any power...not very user
> friendly for our Vanagons....
good point.

> Rather than that, how about a 1.8T from an later model Audi.  Full torque
> available at 1650 rpm and 150 hp stock.  Now that sounds like a
> much better
> swap....
Yes.  Keeps it VW, and does give a wide torque range.
The 1.8T is an excellent motor, tuneable to much more hp than the trans can
take.