Volkswagen Repair: new motor, porsche engine, train design

Question
Hi there this is the first time I have ever used this site but I had a question if i can.  I just bought a 69 vbw westfalia and I wanted to completly restore it.  I would like to put a new liquid cooled engine.  I was wondering if I could put a front wheel drive engine in the back of the westfalia(i understand there would be a ton of adjustments).  I was just wondering if it was possible.  Or would be better to look at buying a write off porshe or something with a rear engine allready?

Answer
Hello Ryan;
It sounds like you have some amazing ideas about what you want this vehicle to be for you.  It is not usually recommended to start "re-engineering" a complete drive train design, and assembly, especially if that is not your expertise, or your "forte'."  If you want more power for your van than you have with the "pancake" then look into some upgrades that can be done with engine you have.  If they are still not enough then a "swap" to a Porsche engine might accomplish what you want.  The "water-cooled" idea is simply not a viable solution if you want to drive in your lifetime.  You need to decide what the purpose of this vehicle will be.  Do you want to use it as a camper again?  Do you want to just use for "cruise-in's" on week-ends?  Do you want to drive it everyday, everywhere?  Or, do you just want to go to the drag-strip and run in the 10's?  For restoration purposes alone, the only I can suggest is to use the engine you have, and study some of the modifications others have made to get more power, and torque using parts that are reliable, and drivable.  Good luck, Ryan.  I hope to see you out, and about in it some day.