In a message dated 5/12/02 1:58:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
wsmith@SAN.RR.COM writes:

> . The '71->'79 got upgraded to a "pancake motor" with fuel
> injection starting in '72. These motors are a PITA. They are pretty cheap to
> buy parts for and replace, but they are so hard to work on most people just
> take them to a mechanic and pay out the a$$ to have them fixed. Not a good
> motor in my opinion.
>
>

**correction**
actually, fuel injection started in '75, NOT '72.  '68-'70 had the single
port 1600 , and the '71 had the dual port 1600, both upright "beetle" engines
w/ single solex carbs.  in '72 they went to the 1700cc dual carbed pancake
motor.. in '73 the motor was also the dual carbed 1700 , then in '74 they
went to the 1800cc dual carbed pancake..  in '75 they added fuel injection to
the 1800cc, and eliminated the carbs..  in '76 they came out with the 2.0L.FI
.   then in '78 they added hydraulic lifters to the 2.0L FI.  then in '79
they used the square port vanagon style heads on the 2.0L FI and the Cat
became standard.. basically the same engine as the aricooled vanagon with the
alternator in a different place..
 '78 is the best year, because you have the nicer interior, the 2.0L FI
engine w/ hyd lifters, and there is no cat..

chris