I'm very indebted to this list and what I've learned here. The world of VW
engines seems such a morass compared to Japanese ones (with which I have a
lot of experience). I checked out the engine on CL with the "rebuilt"
engine, and I called the guy who did the rebuild (who was very evasive IMHO,
a red flag in itself) Apparently he takes used cases and throws on new rings
and rebuilt heads - doesn't even crack the old case. He also owns a junk
yard, which I guess is a source of used cases? Yet this CL engine does have
the gold case and the VW factory rebuilt stickers - two in fact, one old and
one shiny and new. None of it adds up. The worst part of all was that the
kid no longer had the receipt for the rebuild (although the heads looked
new), and the fact that this "new" case had caked-on oily grime underneath.
The kid said he had it in his van a week, so where did the mess come from?.
I really don't think he was lying, but there were too many unanswerable
questions. He was even willing to let it go real cheap, but I would then
have two engines, one needing work and the other doubtful, and wouldn't be
any further ahead. So my case is off to the machine shop tomorrow. Here's
hoping that all I need is a new thrust bearing (hah).