The cases/cranks used in the air-cooled Vanagons are all the same whether
carburated or FI.  The bottom end of these motors is very strong and unless
something catastrophic happened inside the case itself the case is probably
OK, though it may need an align-bore.  I doubt you're seeing "stress marks"
over the top of the case; I've seen motors with some sort of flashing left
over from the casting process but the case itself was OK.  Take the case to
a qualified shop and have them look it over.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Young                  tomyoung1@home.com
Lafayette, CA 94549    '81 Vanagon
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Sean Garrett" <seangar@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2000 6:57 AM
Subject: Case and p[istons shot?

> Well I removed and disassembled my FI 2L 1980 this weekend. The 3 and 4
> Cylinder side of the case has stress marks (my guess) all over the top
> portion of it. It looks like a very old painting. The piston skirts on all
> the pistons are brown (discolored) and the #1 cylinder dropped a seat that
> exploded and welded itself all over the head and piston. My question is
> this: should I just throw in the towel here and look for another block and
> pist/cyl set? or should I take to a shop and have then tell me what parts
> are good (possible 3 cyl/pistons and crank?). My 5th sense tells me the
case
> is shot and most likely everything else. I know where there is 2L (1980)
> that had a carburated system on it. will this be a different case/crank
> (etc...) than the Fuel Injected? My motor is FI.
>
> Sean
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