Date:         Sun, 15 Jul 2007 11:02:35 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Inside a Subi engine EJ22
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>  and the van itself is not already so low in value that it would be
> totally irrational to spend that much on it.

This seems to be a common concern, and for my part I find it useful to
divorce myself from that line of thinking, or at least look at it in two
parts.

To my mind it isn't the market value or potential resale value of the van
that factors into its candidicy for a transplant; if that was the case then
my '87 GL and probably many of the passenger vans wouldn't make the cut. I
think the basic issues, after deciding that the conversion is suitable or
necessary for your driving needs are 1). How long do intend to keep the van,
and 2). Does the mechanical condition of the van support the investment (in
terms of effort as well as money)?

I for one wouldn't attempt to convert an air-cooled to a water-cooled, for
instance. It'd be an interesting challange but I don't need one of those at
the moment and if I did I'd pick something else. : )

I paid $300 for my van, it took about another $850 including insurance and
the first full tank of gas to get it on the road. Off the top of my head I'd
say the cost of a conversion itself would be more than what I could expect
to get for the van if I ever sold it and the conversion wouldn't add a great
deal of value except to somebody that was into Vanagons and wanted that
particular conversion, assuming I did it well enough for them to find it
acceptable. That pretty much rules out any locals.

On the other hand, it would cost me more to buy another vehicle that was
worth having, considering my current needs and circumstances, than it would
cost me to convert the Vanagon, probably by at least a factor of two, if not
three (this is with me doing the labor). So from a market value standpoint
the conversion makes no sense, but from a bottom-line cash outlay vs. return
standpoint, it makes a lot of sense. I can't really buy a drivetrain with a
vehicle wrapped around it that will serve our needs as the Vanagon will,
however I can wrap my Vanagon around a drivetrain, or at least an engine
(since I have an automatic) that will make the whole package serve our
needs.

Even at 350K miles, the vehicle itself is in good enough shape (thanks to
the original PO) that I can justify the conversion on those terms and keep
up with the mechanical condition of the van at no greater cost, really, than
any other used vehicle.

I think if it came down to paying 7-9 $K for a turn-key or to have somebody
else do the install (or both) I'd probably have to consider a modern
vehicle, probably some kind of mini-van, but go around and look and look at
any of those that are around ten years old, and see what even the decently
maintained ones are like and consider how many useful years are left in 'em.
In ten years my Vanagon will probably be much the same as it is now, for
much less money, so given that maybe even the pro install might be 'worth
it'.

Cya,
Robert