Date:         Sun, 12 Feb 2006 11:04:40 -0800
Reply-To:     John Liu <johnliu@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Liu <johnliu@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Starting My Vanagon Search - Some Questions Please?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Hello all.  I'm starting my search for a Westy Camper Vanagon.  I've
been lurking here for some time and researching online.  I still have
some questions, and hope you folks can shed some light.  Thank you!

First, what were the major differences between model years of the
Westy Vanagon?  I know that they went from aircooled to watercooled
around 1982, and it seems that interior went from brown to gray
somewhere around 1986.  Otherwise I don't know what the difference
between, say, a 1984 and a 1990.  I assume there must be some
significant difference as the price seems to go up 2X.

Second, how big are the disadvantages, if any, of the aircooled
Vanagons as compared to the watercooled?  I'd like the option of
transplanting a different motor down the road.  In a couple years the
3.2L from my Porsche 911 may become available (I plan to upgrade the
motor in the 911) and  am guessing it would be easier to transplant
the aircooled 911 motor into an aircooled Vanagon.  But in the
meantime, I'd be driving the Vanagon with the stock motor.

Third, is the idea of doing a Porsche 3.2L transplant just silly,
when used Subaru boxer motors are cheaper and the Subaru-Vanagon
adapter kits and knowledge much more available?  If this is the case,
I guess I'd want to look for a water-cooled?

Fourth, can the Subaru boxer motors be transplanted into both the
manual and automatic Vanagons?  My wife can drive a stock, but
prefers an automatic.  I'm the other way around.

Fifth, how feasible and costly is it to locate a used Westy interior
(the full camper, not the Weekender) and roof, and install those in a
regular Vanagon?  In case I found an irresistible non-Westy Vanagon,
for example.

Sixth, were there major differences between the California and non-
California Vanagons?  I live currently in the SF Bay Area, which is
crawling with used Westys for sale, but may be moving to another
state, where I think Westys are less common - but they'd be 49-state
versions.