Date:         Sun, 1 Aug 2004 09:01:11 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: diesel conversion
Comments: To: Skip Emmert <skip@SKIPEMMERT.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <5755.69.35.193.187.1091313055.squirrel@69.35.193.187>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

Dump your van for whatever you can get for it, and invest the price of
the newer engine conversion plus whatever you get for you hulk into
another van that is running. For 5K plus you can get some nice machinery
that is road ready. For a little more, like $7Kand up you can get into a
reasonabley nice Westy, and be on your way.

Your big problem is that the '80 model is aircooled and to convert to
watercooled version is going to be expensive (needs all the hoses and
radiator plus some other bits and pieces) .

Better to just get the replacement van.

Wish you the best.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Skip Emmert wrote:

>Well, we've left on the grand voyage.  The plan is to travel in the '80
>Vanagon for a year or so.  Made it 150 miles before the engine gave up.  I
>knew we were in trouble when the golf cart passed us going up the hill.
>So, we've holed up in Pine Valley, UT and started talking about engine
>conversions.  The turbodiesel has pretty much won our hearts and minds and
>initial estimates to install a used 1.6 TDI in our '80 van are running
>about $5000.  A brand spanking new 1.9 TDI could be added for around
>$6000.  Needless to say ... ouch.  The real rub is even worse though for a
>traveling couple, three weeks before they can even start and then another
>couple of weeks for the conversion.
>
>This conversion is way out of my league, so we're going to have a
>professional do it.  Has anyone had a gas to diesel conversion done in the
>southwest?  How'd it work out and how much did it cost.  Any suggestions
>would be helpful.
>
>I'd also love to know what owners of the 1.6 turbodiesel think of the
>engine.  Does anyone have an intercooler?  Does it make a large
>difference?
>
>Thanks again.
>Skip Emmert
>
>
>