1975 VW Westfalia - I am in need of a new Engine.

[Betweentwoferns]

Howdy,

Upon triaging my bus today for issues with oil spitting everywhere I think I found what looks like to be a crack in the block.

none the less, I drove it from Southern California to Zion, Utah last year and it did great, but it was a brutal drive.

I have been heavily researching Subaru engine swaps, but I wanted to keep the nostalgic feel of the bus alive, with that being said, does anyone recommend any people/ shops in Ventura County-Los Angeles County, and or in Southern California, that sell engines?

I will attach a photo of what I currently have in the bus.

much appreciated y'all!

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2198621.jpg

[alman72]

i think you should expand your search nationwide, but get that shipping/install breakin by the same builder is a good thing to have nearby. you will have better luck in cali that us midwesterners. I sometimes think about grabbing a spare, if it is a good build, but have been holding off, just worried it would sit for too long before i need it.
May want to edit down your pics. 7 same pics of engine bay.

[SGKent]

Just be aware that if you put in an engine swap from a car later than 1975 you will run into the State's smog laws. In California smog law follows the latter of model year of the car or engine. The only thing that the 1975 cut off is for anyway is the testing. Everything from about 1968 to 1975 is still under the smog laws, you just aren't tested on a biannual test but you still can be remote sniffer, or pulled over at a mobile testing check point.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[busdaddy]

[danfromsyr]

I'd look at Headflow masters in Vista, CA for a new/rebuilt long block.
https://www.headflowmasters.com/vw-longblocks.html
For a quote you may Contact Us by email or call us at 760.727.1827(cell) or 760.536.3541(office)

then you'll still need to update that fuel system
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[Betweentwoferns]

[Betweentwoferns]

[Betweentwoferns]

[Betweentwoferns]

[aeromech]

I’m between projects

Upon triaging my bus today for issues with oil spitting everywhere

I don’t see the breather vent plumbed into the air cleaner or overboard. This with cause oily residue all over the place
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
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Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[timvw7476]

do you mean shattered crankcase, along the top? That's where a con rod would blow through, the rest of the Type IV case is strong, but the top is thin.
"Pictures or it didn't happen." <<<<I'm sorry I had to type this< <<<
seriously that looks like a very clean un-blown engine.

[Abscate]

[AshC]

Aeromech said: "I don’t see the breather vent plumbed into the air cleaner or overboard. This with cause oily residue all over the place"

Indeed it will. I've driven behind a bus (worn engine to be fair) with just that hose loose at the PCV - never mind missing altogether - and it took a fair amount of cleaning off the front of the car after an hour of driving in the wake of that.
_________________
- 79 CA FI Bay Window Bus
- 92 Mk1 Golf Cabriolet

[Globespotter]

[Cap10323]

I'm with the above posters. If the engine is still running fine, just leaking oil. I doubt the case is cracked.

These engines can leak oil from a myriad of places. Pushrod tube seals, crankshaft seals (front or rear), valve covers, breather, etc etc. Likewise, these engines have a lot of sharp casting lines on them, especially on the underside of the case, which could look like cracks to the untrained eye.

Determine where the oil is coming from, not where its dripping from.


That being said, as far as engine replacements go. I would stick with the Type 4. It's a great engine if you understand it's capabilities and limitations IMO, and the prices on rebuilt long blocks from places like HeadflowMasters are extremely competitive. I think you would be very hard pressed to do a subaru swap for less, unless you bought a junkyard engine and did all the work yourself.

Not to mention, if you stick with the stock engine, you don't need to do all the supporting modifications a Subaru conversion entails (building a cooling system, modifying the electrical system, fuel system, engine bay, clutch etc etc).
_________________
-Ian

'77 Westfalia - 2.0 F.I

[otiswesty]

Much cheaper to repair than to do a conversion to Suby. Don't be sucker for a flashy website and groomed customer testimonials.
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1978 Sage Green P22 Westfalia
1989 T3 Syncro Single cab

Just a regular guy

[Abscate]

[Betweentwoferns]

Finally had time to look at the engine, looks like I found the problem.

[SGKent]

the engine is junk. You threw a rod.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[aeromech]

Big problem but JB Weld might fix it
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound