Itinerant Air-Cooled

my buddy has an '85 straight vanagon w/stick...he has found an '86 Weekender poptop Automatic w/non-running engine

question: can the '85 engine be plopped into the 86 Auto without problem....?

are the flywheel and starter the same etc....?

Take the flexplate & torque converter off the '86s engine, put them on the '85. Check/reset the crankshaft endplay and replace the front main seal while you're in there. Might *might* have to replace the two lower studs but I'm honestly not sure.