Date:         Fri, 14 Sep 2001 18:27:31 -0700
Reply-To:     Coby Smolens <cobys5@HOME.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Coby Smolens <cobys5@HOME.COM>
Subject:      TD Availability??? SA 5 speed?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

At the risk of inciting list members to sell parts, I am desperately seeking
the goodies for two turbo-diesel conversions. One is for myself and one for
a customer, both are for stock diesel 82 Westfalias. I am looking for EITHER
1.9 TD or TDI. I had hoped to be doing NEW engines, based on a cursory
glance at various websites all blithely advertising NEW COMPLETE! TD and TDI
engines. After finding and purchasing a gorgeous 82 diesel Westy for myself
and a long talk with a potential conversion customer in San Diego I went
about ordering the stuff, only to find that nobody actually has anything "at
the moment". The feeling I got was that this "moment" had been a rather
prolonged one by the time I came along, and gives every indication of
continuing as before...

I CAN get the TD 1,9 longblock new, but the question then becomes where to
find the turbo parts. TDI might be a possibility, but seems impractical both
for myself and for my customer, not to mention WAY over time & budget. I'd
be happy to hear that I'm wrong about this. I HAVE seen "Sunny" the cheery
yellow Syncro, thanks. Gorgeous bit of work, but as indicated above, outside
the boundaries of what can be done within reasonable time and financial
constraints.

The next question is: Is there, to anyone's certain and immediate knowledge,
a realio-trulio 5 speed South African transmission available now, within the
borders of the lower 48?

Thanks in advance for any help with this. Sorry if this generates
redundancy, but I'm beset with a couple dozen too many things to do right
now and lack the time to go archive-diving.

Coby Smolens
Valley Wagonworks
VW Bus and Vanagon Specialists
"Intimately acquainted with VW Vans since 1959"
1535 SF Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960
415-457-5628