Heads dead, advice needed on options please!!

[Timmae]

I need some advice, please. I have a 73 van with a 1981 2.0ltr vanagon engine installed. It's been torn down and rebuilt with all new internals as of 10 years ago, with me putting a total of maybe 500 miles on it since than. All the internals are stock and it has dual weber 40 idf's. I've had issues over the years with it seeming to over heat and valve chatter when it sits for a couple weeks or so as it has hydraulic lifters that take a while to pump up with oil.

I have a suspicion that either the over heating issue has been caused by me using an old case to rebuild as I remember the crank end play being borderline. Or more likely the hydraulic lifter adjustments being inconsistent with it sitting for weeks at a time and once the engine heats up, the air expanding and keeping some valves open at times.

My main issue though is that the van has now sat for around 1.5 years as I had a friend replace all the wiring. When I went to fire up the engine there was a lot of chatter from the hydraulic lifters and as I was allowing the engine to idle and pump them up, there was enough slop in the lifter being left in the compressed state for so long that 2 of the push rods fell out of the rocker arm and basically blew out a section of head material in both heads.

The heads are needing to be replaced at the very least. My question is that given the state of my motor would you recommend just replacing heads or maybe swapping the motor for a more powerful one or one with solid lifters, so I don't have to worry about the finicky adjustments any more. I don't mind spending a little more money if it's more of a sure fix. Just curious to see what someone with more experience would suggest. Thank for your time!!

[jlrftype7]

With as little running as you're putting on an engine, you don't seem to be a candidate for another hydraulic lifter version engine. You'll have to adjust the valves with a solid lifter engine as you know, but at least you won't worry about a lifter not pumping up after sitting for months at a time. My 2 cents
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'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
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'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
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‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[SGKent]

a stuck valve can do that too.
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[Timmae]

I appreciate your guys reply. Seems like there's quite a few engine options out there. I'll start my planning on a solid lifter setup once I've taken a closer look at whatever other damage there may be. Thanks!