Quick Aircooled Vanagon Rescue 

Gotta try at least!

Thanks, Edvin

Yeah, that’s my shop-mate Miguel’s. I’m very jealous.

These are likely to become Baja 1000 chassis or adventure vehicles. Definitely not doing full restorations (at least that’s not the current plan).

They’re probably too gone for client/sale vehicles but we’ll come up with something. So far they’ve just been taking up room at our shop for the past 6 months ;)

Ha! I seem to find quite a few in these juniper forests.

@@Busaru You just found them deserted out there..?

No, friend of a friend sort of thing. What I meant is that people seem to tuck them away hidden deep in the brush.

Why the problem with a Subaru engine? I really am curious.

It's not longer a vanagon , not aircooled , not german it looses its character

I totally get it. and appreciate the honest thoughts. If these were show pieces I’d certainly follow the route of restoration. Since these will likely turn into adventure vehicles it’s probably wisest to maintain the look but put something with a little more power, reliability, and parts availability.

BUSARU they are reliable if maintained properly, mine got maintained properly ( regular fluid changes) and it never broke down on me

You’re right, they can be reliable. Unfortunately they’re just getting harder and harder to service in garages, hence the big wave of Subaru engine swaps. The power is another thing. With 165hp it’s much safer in today’s traffic. I get the spirit of your desire to keep everything stock, I’m just a little more interested in the mentioned points overall.