Finally have heads off internal corrosion ?'s w/pics

[67SingleCabGuy]

I was hoping for some advise on my 87 2.1L. I'm guessing it has approx. 150,000 on it. I say guessing because the speedo was broken for the previous owner for about 4-5 years. But everything I take off of it is original VW stuff that appears most of the time to be the first time its been taken off. Engine is pretty clean except for what I see below.

Was going to do a head gasket job and have the heads off. At first I was not planning on splitting the case, just going to install rebuilt rods, rod bearings, new rings, and some new heads and the work that goes along with that.

After taking it apart and seeing this:

Was wondering if this is normal as this is the first WBX I've ever opened up.

Also after seeing this would most people that work on these more than I do split the case and go thru everything?

Or can I just clean this up and hope for the best?

Thanks

[IdahoDoug]

I don't see anything that would stop me from cleaning this block up and reassembling, though the jury is definitely out until you clean the water jacket rubber sealing surfaces on both it and the head. However, your head has cracks between the valves which is considered typical, but I'd have a shop do a proper test on it.

But mostly just a bunch of coolant scale. What does it look like in person?

DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[Vango Conversions]

It doesn't look TOO bad. I would never reuse heads with cracks (even though VW says it's "normal" ), but you said that you were planning or replacing those anyways. clean up the gasket surfaces and see how bad they are, usually cleaning them and smothing them out with JB weld is enough for the gaskets to seal well enough. PM me if you're looking for some good used AMC heads

[Type17]

that is exactly why you need to use the correct coolant in these engines.

its hard to tell how bad it is with all that gunk on there. ive seen some that came out alot cleaner than that but were corroded beyond the point of being functional, wont hurt to clean it all up and inspect.
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[67SingleCabGuy]