In a message dated 8/4/98 9:02:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
young@SHERLOCK.SIMS.BERKELEY.EDU writes:

<< I bought a junkyard engine in anticipation of buying a Vanagon that
  had an engine fire <<snip>>
  I suspect this engine is not too old in terms of miles run (it's a VW
  Canada rebuild) but I think it may have been run with some extremely
  dirty oil.
  Anyway, in looking at one of the rocker arm shafts I've pulled, one
  side of the shaft (where the rocker arms ride) is shinney and worn,
  while the other side remains untouched.  I didn't pay close attention
  when I took this apart <<snip>>
  In looking at this shaft, the worn side has some gouges, big enough
  to "hook" a fingernail on, that look like the result of dirt in the
  oil.  <<<snip>>> >>

Just a humble opinion Tom--

If the rocker-arm shafts are that pitted/gouged, I would think VERY seriously
about buying a rebuild from AVP or another manufacturer. Use this hunk of junk
for a boat anchor or a door stop. Too bad the last owner was a putz.
I would bet my lucky rabbit's foot that the trash in the oil will have the
cylinder walls scored, the piston skirts scraped, the valve guides shot, etc.
By the time you replace/futz with all of that you will have spent more than
the AVP, and the AVP will have a warrantee.

best of luck,

gmbulley
cary, nc