Maybe a different power plant.  If you are going to pay for a complete rebuild, and have any extra cash, you might want to look at putting a new (Golf) or a newer (Subaru, used Golf, or  used Ford) engine in there.  The up side would be more power for climbing those hills, more reliability, especially if you bought a kit with a new Golf engine. and less break downs.

Dave B.
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On 03/19/15, John Rodgers wrote:

First - it overheated. Then came the fun. Oil leaks. Found split push rod
tubes. Then discovered bent push rods. Next a loud tick or clatter that
won't go away no matter what - so bad lifter perhaps the result of
overheat. Now discover coolant in reservoir going down while overflow
reservoir filling up - meaning a blown head gasket. What next?

At best this calls for head reseal with new gaskets and a valve job on
each head. At worst, since it was overheated, a rebuild or replacement.

Are there other considerations I should make?

John