Friends-

While it may be true that Ben would be giving up some horsepower "on
paper", having driven both air-cooled and water-cooled Vanagon's, I would
wager that on the whole there is almost no difference in the
seat-of-the-pants driveability between the air cooled and water cooled
motor.

With our noise-proofing and heat package, the air-cooled can be quieter
than any stock H20 van I have been in, and heats far faster and hotter as
well.
(see: www.bulley-hewlett.com/VWindex )

As far as the power, at some point, I will have to drag race our 1982 Westy
against and identically equipped and loaded water cooled Westy to find out.
Perhaps at this Fall's Buggout in Manassas, VA? Any takers? Having driven a
1991 automatic Weekender, I can tell you our air-cooled Westy would smoke
that road slug like a pipe.

You have to remember, the water cooled is hauling around a bunch of heavy
junk that the air cooled is not; radiator, heater cores, etc.

G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree

-----Original Message-----
From:   Brent Christensen [SMTP:bpchristensen@MINDSPRING.COM]
Sent:   Wednesday, April 28, 1999 12:24 AM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Re: converting watercooled vanagon to aircooled

Wouldn't Ben be giving up some significant horsepower with and air cooled
motor?  (Not to mention "real" heat in the passenger compartment, as well
as
a quieter engine and "better" fuel injection)

Though I'm not sure you could call *any* horsepower a Vanagon has ever
produced "significant"...  :-)

Brent Christensen
'89 Syncro Westy "Klaus"
'91 Taurus SHO (For Sale)
'95 Cherokee Sport

----- Original Message -----
From: Ben Wampler
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 1999 9:15 PM
Subject: converting watercooled vanagon to aircooled

Hello,

If I where to come accross an eighties air-cooled vanagon motor, what
modifications would have to be made to put it in an '85 van? It seems
logical with all the problems with WC vans, but is it possible?

-Ben