The engines are almost identical. Both are 2.0L engines. The only thing that
I know is different about the case is the oil breather. On the '79. there is
a stamped metal oil breather box with a wire bail retainer. On the '81, it
is a cast-in assembly.

The cylinder heads are different, too. The '81 will have rectangular exhaust
ports and the '79 has round ports. Of course, that means the heat exchangers
are different, too. The heads can be swapped from one to another. If you
want to keep the round-port heads, swap over the heat exchangers with them.

I used to have a '78 2.0l cased engine in my 1981 Vanagon. Worked just fine.

TomC
tcarrington@relitech.com
http://volksweb.relitech.com
85 Vanagon Crew Cab
82 Westy diesel=>gas conversion
65 Notchback

> Can any body tell me if the basic engine is the same on a '79, as there is
> one at the local pick and pull, as it is in the '81 or is this a 1700 or
> something, the heater boxes outlets are not, but might be worth it if the
> long blocks the same??
>
> Appreciate any help, any other major part interchangable
>
> Thanks
>
> Joe