That would be a Go Westy engine:
http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=24110&category_id=82&category_
parent_id=

Custom forged pistons, AMC heads with better valves, new studs as needed,
plenty of machine work, etc., as good as it gets.

I'll give them credit for trying, but are they worth $4300 to $6000, plus a
$1000  core charge (you will be lucky to get $100 back).  Then add the $250
crate fee, and $300 or so in shipping, plus $300 to ship your core back, and
you are in the $6100 to $7850 range. I have to ask if they are worth it.

No doubt they are to some folks or GW wouldn't be making them, but I would
never pay this much for an obsolete, inefficient, failure prone engine.

Because, no matter how hard you try, you cannot duplicate the OEM quality or
longevity using 25 to 30 year old cores, reworked parts, and new parts from
multiple vendors of varying quality. I would expect these engines to last
about half as long as the originals at best, especially the high
displacement versions.

In reality, most people will do something on the cheap to get back on the
road, and as Dennis says, they may be disappointed.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Dennis Haynes

If you shop engines on price you may be disappointed.
Call, ask what you are getting, what upgrades are available such as new
heads and a better piston-cylinder set or even rings.
New heads, upgraded valves?
How is the case align bored?
Are the head studs tested-replaced?
Camshaft-lifters new or reground?
Crank, rods, pistons, flywheel balanced?

These are just some of the details for getting a good engine

Dennis