Date:         Tue, 3 Aug 2004 16:13:35 -0400
Reply-To:     Skip Emmert <skip@SKIPEMMERT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Skip Emmert <skip@SKIPEMMERT.COM>
Subject:      diesel conversion
Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1

Ok, thanks again.  Please read the entire post carefully before
responding.  So far I have gotten suggestions to replace the motor with a
rebuilt 2.0 air-cooled engine or scrap the van and start over.

Replacing the engine with the original would be the cheapest, quickest
option, but ...  the list has sung as a mantra how under-powered the
original vans were and in the days of over-powered SUV's, climbing hills
on the highway at 40 mph is no longer safe.  I know they're easy to work
on and carry the purists sense of stock, BUT I am living in the van for a
year and value reliability and usability more than ease of working on it.
The original engine is not an option without JATO rockets.  Nice little
weekend van, but not for serious travelling anymore.

Now, selling the van and starting over...a new van runs around $7000. I
may be able to get $1000 for my van without an engine.  So, that will cost
me $6000 plus tax and licensing.  A used 1.6 TDI conversion will cost
$5000.  I'm ahead at least a grand.  How long will it take me to buy and
sell vans?  A month?  OK, I'm behind a week since they can't start for
three weeks and it will take two to do the conversion.  So I lose a week,
save a grand, and keep a truly beautiful old van that could have come with
the 1.6 as stock.  I know a conversion is a lot of work, that's why I'm
letting a professional do it.  I don't really care how much work it is
since it's way out of my league to begin with.

So, again, back to the original question...anybody have any sources for
such a conversion in the Southwest?  I've been in contact with ZS Imports
and they're the likely vendors so far, but they're the ones with the three
week waiting list.  Also gotten a couple of possibilies in the Bay area.
Thank you, BTW, to those of you who have forwarded that information.  It
has been very helpful in a sea of notes telling me to scrap my van. Also
thanks to the one person who kindly forwarded their experience with 1.6
and 1.9 TDI's.

I'm sorry if I sound snippy here, but I genuinely need some help rather
shot-from-the-hip suggestions from people who clearly didn't read the
original post.  The van has 80K original miles!  Not a candidate for the
junkyard and while it would make a great conversation piece for a purist
van owner (the only person that would buy it without an engine) it has a
practical future with the right powerplant.  Another big thank you to
those of you who have been able to help and many warm thanks to anyone
else who can point me in the right direction here.

Skip
'80 Westy