Thanks guys!
Hubby would prefer to use the 1981 parts as much as possible. As you put it TomJ, the unadulterated version. Another reason is the mileage was about half on the 1981 than on the 1985, so it seems that it should have more life left. But he wants to be sure there will be no ill effect in doing so.
vwbuge, if I read your signature right, you did exactly what we are doing? You put a 1981 motor in to a 1985 car? Can I ask you some questions about that? (or anyone else who wants to chime in). These are some differences we've noted, which year's part would/did you use?
The 1985 has 2 temp sensors, 1981 has one.
There are electrical wires going to the throttle linkage on the 1985, the 81 has only vacuum lines.
What about the diesel injectors? Interchangeable?
For those of you who have found emission lines 'accidently plugged', are you in an area that has emission testing, and do you have any difficulty passing?
The transmission on the 1985 has some extra line going to it, and I think the plate is a bit different. Which would you chose... the 1985 tranny that was rebuilt 2 yrs ago, or the 1981 that has about 140K miles? If we go with 1981 for everything else, should we use the 1981 tranny too?
Thanks again! We're starting to get close now. Whooo hooo!