You have asked two very interesting questions. Every one who has
rebuit motors will tell you the more performance you get out of a 
motor the less its life spand will be. Therefore the answer
to both your quesions is, that there is nothing you can do.

            Eric                   86-VW4x4
            vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
            Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler
   

On Wed, 8 Sep 1999, [iso-8859-1] Bj�rn Ratjen wrote:

> Hello Volks,
> 
> I am currently overhauling a 2.1L Waterboxer with 280000kms. It's for a
> friend who is a mechanical newcomer but owns a Syncro crewcab. The engine
> is completely apart now and the core of the engine including main bearings
> look really fine. I will replace them anyway. Camshaft and bearings are
> alright as well. Pistons and cylinders still measure up. I will replace
> rings. Piston pins are not easy to remove due to the high sidewall of the
> block. Tip: I used a 6" long 3/4 bolt removed the clip on the more
> accessible side (through hole), stuck the bolt through, put a nut on the
> open end that fit through the clip and pulled the pin out hammering against
> an adjustable wrench placed before the head of the bolt: cheaper than VW
> tools. 
> 
> The heads need the usual work with resurfacing and new valves. The
> resurfacing might increase compression slightly. We might go for new heads. 
> 
> The engine should last a long time. Two questions remain.
> 
> 1. What should be done as corrosion prevention? 
> (grounding straps?, insertion of kathode? special gasket sealer?)
> 
> 2. What can be done to improve performance?
> (larger valves? different camshaft? 
> or: Kompressor also called blower to precharge intake air, would Digifant
> recognize and adjust mixture through O2 sensor, any experiences?)
> 
> Let's see what we come up with to make the waterboxer more lasting and more
> efficient. 
> 
> Bj�rn
> 
> 
> Bj�rn Ratjen
> Mill Bay, B.C.
> 
> 1987 Vanagon est alia (self camperized)
> 1978 VW Bulli (self camperized)
> 1995 Passat TD Wagon (hers)
> 1970 VW Beetle (son's)
>