Hi All,

I'm rebuilding my 81 Westy and came across a VW service bulletin which says to leave out the thin aluminum cylinder to block sealing ring as well as the head to cylinder ring and install a 1.6mm aluminum shim (071 101 341) at the base of the cylinder instead (with no head ring).   VW no longer stocks the shims - any ideas on where I could get them?

Also, on the cylinder to block seal there were 0.78mm steel rings on the bottom of the cylinders, followed by the thin 0.22mm aluminum sealing rings, then the block.    Should these steel ones have been there?  I can't find them in the Haynes manual and need to know if I should leave them in or not if I can't get the shims mentioned above.

Thanks for your guidance!
All the best, Olin in Santa Barbara