Finn, I have rebuilt many of these engines over the years.  If you wish 
to have a place you can call on for help and advice I would be glad to 
send you an estimate for the parts you are going to need and if you buy 
the parts from me, I would be glad to share all of the wisdom I have 
accrued over the years in rebuilding these engines.

Rebuilding a waterboxer engine is not really a big deal.  There are a 
few gotchas that, if you know about ahead of time, can be avoided.  
Besides these small issues, rebuilding a water boxer is not that much 
different than rebuilding a beetle engine (it has more in common with 
this engine than it does with the type IV aircooled that preceded it imho).

Let me know if you want my help.  Anyone else who is thinking about 
doing this as a spring project, please pmail me.  My offer stands for 
anyone here on the list.

-- 
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
Phone: 856-327-4936
Fax: 856-327-2242

On 2/29/2012 8:18 PM, Finn Runyon wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I have asked this question off the list to one of the list Gurus, but figured I would get a larger sample too.  I was hoping to get one of Chris Corkin's (aka Tencentlife) 2.2 engines built for the 89 which some of you helped me with a month or so back, but his lead time is late summer.  To refresh, the previous owner blew a cooling hose climbing a pass in Colorado, and overheated the engine.  There was oil in the coolant, but not coolant in the oil, and I did a through cleaning of the cooling system, changed the oil cooler and although there is no further migration oil to coolant, the compression is low and there is a noticeable lack of power, leading me to think I need a new engine.  So, how many of you have rebuilt the bottom end of a 2.2, and would you recommend against me diving in to such a project?  Although I have never rebuilt an engine, I am mechanically inclined, fastidious, and have done 90% of the work on my 87 for the last 18 years.  That said, any advice on where to source the parts?
>
> Best,
> Finn
> 87 Westy Pooh
> 89 Westy Roo