Here's a controversial question...... Does tinware really matter?? I ask because I've looked at the whole air cooled situation and the engine seals. Prices for the lower tinware seem extortionate?! Is it because they're necessary and because nobody makes them anymore people feel they can charge loads for the pieces that they've found in the back of the garage or from abroad? Not meaning to start a thread which promotes comments but I've heard that missing lower tinware/ under tinware on type 4 engines isn't really that much of an issue. I mean, at the end of the day how many of us on here are missing these parts and still running around? Just a thought, do I really need to spend loads of money on possibly unnecessary parts?
If you spent £2500 on engine work, would you risk not having them on? If you spent £600 on a running lump and chucked it in you probably wouldn't care that much! Have you seen Paul's post on the fibreglass under tins he is making?
Generally, the advice that I've come across that seems to make the most sense is: if VW could have done without a part, then they would have done so. Therefore you can pretty much guarantee that if it's supposed to be there, it is necessary, and it does serve a purpose. As to why people miss it off? Some people think they know better. Some people are too lazy to fit it, particularly when you realise that lower tin isn't actually the last thing you fit to an engine, so by the time they realise it needs to be fitted, they'd have to half-disassemble the rest of it to fit it. Also, the lower tin is most exposed to the elements, to things like road salt that rot things. So a combination of people not fitting it, and if fitted, it rotting away, means its pretty rare, and hence the high prices. My van originally came without lower tin. The first piece of advice I got was to find some and fit it, so I did.
no tin ware isn't necessary, VW were making so much money that they were looking to put extra bit's on their car's for no reason at all
I had fibreglass "tinware" fitted as mine was originally missing and I can say it makes a big difference.
