I've done it both ways and I'd reccomend that you pull the engine.
You should pull both heads and give everything a good inspection.
If your heads have close to 100k on them have them rebuilt.
If everything is OK you should also inspect your rod bearings and replace
them if they show reasonable wear.
http://williamwareagency.com/forsale/stanvan/buyused.htm
Go to the bottom of this page and get rebuilding and repair tips.

Stan Wilder
83 Air Cooled Westfalia

On Wed, 24 Apr 2002 13:23:39 -0600 "Thompson, Michael"
<METhompson@GOLDER.COM> writes:
> Dear All
> A simple question
> How easy or otherwise is it to change a piston and cylinder, rings
> etc on an
> aircooled Vanagon with the engine in-place?  After previously owning
> a
> beetle, it sure looks a lot easier with the additional room in the
> Vanagon
> Michael
> 1981 'Daisy' Westy
>
>

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