In proud memory of Bob "Boston Bob" Donalds

The Type 2 or Bay window bus came with many different engine setups over the years. To ensure that you can easily reuse your old parts with your new engine. 72-74 models used a 1700cc motor, 75 recieved the 1800 and 76-79 all used a 2000cc motor. These motors very easily interchange, with minimal external differences.

Exhaust Ports

1972-78 bus motors used "oval port" exaust systems. These sealed with a copper gasket which can be quite difficult to install and seal if you do not have an engine stand or exceptional finess. If your exhaust needs replacing, we reccomend you order an engine with the later square port heads. 79 and all air cooled vanagon motors used what is reffered to as a "square port" exhaust system. A normal metallic gasket is used to seal the exhaust flange to the head, and is much easier to align.

image of oval port exhaustsquare port exhaust
oval port style head square port style head

Case style

There were several different cases offered by VW over the years. Early dual carb models had a mechancial fuel pump on the lower passenger side of the case. We do not like to use these cases as they can not be as easily flushed out. The biggest difference is between "open top" and "closed top" cases. The open top uses a black clip on breather with a PCV valve which can be seen directly above the fan shroud, to the right of the distributor. Later cases use a "closed top" which seperates the PCV valve from the breather top. this looks like a dome on top of the case with a black UFO snaped on top. The cases interchange however there may be dipstick location differences if the case came from a vanagon or 411/412 fastback. Also porsche 914 cases used a different dipstick location. If your core is coming out of your vehical, you do not need to worry about the differences as you already have a complete setup, however if you purchase a core motor on the web or from a junk yard, be sure to pick one that will install easily with minimal extra parts.

Displacement

the early 1700 and 1800 engines can be upgraded to 2.0L. All we build are 2.0 engines. We will accept the older cases as cores, however a small extra charge will be added as we need a new crank and rods to match.