Hi Scott,

Type4 engines were originally supplied that way, but VW later issued
a technical bulletin recommending that they be removed and a spacer
used at the base of the barrel to compensate for the gap. This was
done to allow for better heat transfer from the aluminum head to the
steel barrels.

I had tried to implement the tech bulletin, but was not able to do
that without sending the heads out for machine work that was not
affordable under my current budget constraints. So I went back to the
gaskets for the re-reassembly.

I do have plans to go watercooled, using a Mexican baywindow
transmission and engine mounts with a 1.8L inline 4 digifant engine
sourced from a domestic jetta or golf. That won't happen until later
this year.

Happy Trails,

Greg Potts
1973/74/77/79 Westfakia "Bob The Tomato
www.pottsfamily.ca
www.busesofthecorn.com

On 23-Jan-08, at 8:08 PM, Scott Daniel - Shazam wrote:

> All very good.
> It's not normal to have metal rings on top of the barrels where the
> heads
> sit on them ?
> I believe it is.
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
> are you anticipating moving up to watercooled any time soon-ish ?
>