Replace Cylinder Heads and Gasket or just get a new Engine?

[Aryana]

224k miles on my original WBX
Never been towed
Regularly cruises at 80 mph on flat ground, sometimes with a 500 lb motorcycle inside and the slider door open.
Heads were resealed at 130k miles
Heads were replaced at 210k miles, oil pressure and temp gauge installed

No oil pressure issues even when it's 110F ambient and operating at 4500-5000 rpm cruising speeds.

My WBX is a workhorse that never lets me down. I'd love to rebuild the engine, but it just keeps going.

[16CVs]

Is there a difference between Towing and flat bedding? Just asking.

Stacy
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1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.

[Abscate]

I think in this context people who have been towed mean never recovered, as opposed to two or four wheel towing/whole car on trailer( flat-bedding)
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.ssS!

[Aryana]

Never towed meaning the Vanagon has never required another vehicle to rescue it due to a mechanical failure. Any movement on the road has it being propelled by its own engine.

It has never left me stranded due to a mechanical failure and needed another vehicle to move it.

[jacksonpm]

I just went through this same thing. The engine in my van only had 120k on it but is 30 years old, and was starting to drip a little antifreeze from the head. Stop leak bought me time to consider the options. Honestly i think it would have been ok for quite awhile just doing that, but after a lot of consideration I decided to put in a new GW 2.3.
I can verify, the "while we're in here" clause is absolutely true.

[djkeev]

I'll clarify....... I've towed plenty of my vehicles home, at purchase, new to me, NOT running at purchase. Flat towed or on a car trailer.
I've never paid for a tow.
I've done several at the end of a rope! Fun!

Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[Wildthings]

Rebuilding a bottom end that hasn't blown up is typically pretty easy to do. Bearing inserts, new seals, rebuilt rods, replacement piston rings, and maybe cam and lifters may well be all you need. You will need to learn how to measure things like piston ring clearance and piston skirt clearance.

Cleanliness is next to godliness when rebuilding an engine.

[mikemtnbike]

FAS and boxeer are brand new engines. A FAS gasser is my dream someday.

Smallcar and Vanaru shops are using pretty new motors, like 2010-12 I think? I wouldn’t consider that old tech and I think you can get some pretty low mile motors and/or factory new short blocks.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual