On Wed, 29 Mar 2006 08:41:19 -0500, Neal Barrentine <vwneal@BLUEMARBLE.NET>
wrote:

>        I have a 1986 GL that I want to upgrade the engine on eventually. I
>have read about several different options, including the VW turbo
>diesel, 4 cylinder from an Audi Fox, Audi V8, Zetec, etc, etc. Even if
>I had unlimited funds I still would ask for others' experience with
>various swaps, but I have very little money, average mechanical
>ability, above average enthusiasm for the beast, and I know a guy who
>hauls wrecks for a living. What, in your opinion, should I have him
>keep his eyes open for me in the way of donor-mobiles? Both for engines
>and other goodies? Thanks, fellow Vanagon afflicted!
>Neal Barrentine
>Bloomington, Indiana
>1986 GL
>1960 Baja Bug

I've thought about this a lot, and I've pretty much decided that the best
ECONOMICAL replacemnt for a waterboxer is a single cam Subaru 2.2 (EJ22) or
2.5 liter. These are beautifully designed motors, modern electronics, get
better gas mileage and POWER than a waterboxer and cheap as dirt. It will
help if you can do some of the fabrication engine mount and exhaust
yourself. Also the wiring harness is a challenge, I guess.
    I like diesels, too, but getting a modern VW turbo diesel or TDI
installed into a late Vanagon is just too expensive to realize any logical
savings unless you have your own source of Waste Vegetable Oil.
    I also like the idea of an Audi 5 cylinder using OE South African parts,
too, but that also is a fair amount of work (unless you buy the Overland kit
complete with 2.6 engine for about $6k!) And, I doubt the fuel economy would
be as good as the Subie, just because the Subie uses newer electronics.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Al Brase