Which top end rebuild kit would you recommend please? 1600cc T2

After recently discovering my head is cracked (as is the vans!) I decided to move my plans forward (by a year) to do a top end rebuild and fix all the niggly leaks whilst I am at it!

I have surfed a bit and well its down to the usual suspects - who strangely appear to have the same price and probably same kits as each other.

I would like a decent top end rebuild kit for my boggo AS upright 1600 engine.

Just kamper/Status-VW (together now I guess)
Heritage
Machine 7
Maga Bug
Coolair?

Have I missed any?
(sort of given up on GSF - you need to be a rocket scientist to understand their website these days)

Brazil better than the Danish ones or are there others? (No I dont want anything from China or Taiwan!)

Yes I know they wont be as good as a genuine good old German VW but beggars cant be choosers so which is the best of a bad bunch ?

Many thanks

Stan

 

Of course I can buy it all seperately but which are the best heads? Just discovered Euro Car Parts sell Dansk ones too. Any good?

 

Ours are autolinea which vw themselves use if that helps?

If I can help with any advise or info feel free, alex@vwheritage.com 01444 251 270

 

Thanks for the quick reply Alex - yes I did a bit of research on them too.

 

Wasn't aware that you could get Danish ones...I thought all replacement heads were Brazilian (or poss Mexican).

I found the Autolinea ones fine, although I haven't checked whether they cracked as I haven't had them off. Casting quality was as good as (or better) than the originals, IMHO. Grind the valves in before you fit them.

 

th

Thanks mate. Danish ones are the Dansk etc http://eshop.jpgroup.dk/xProductCatalogue/Default.aspx
Euro carparts also sell Dansk but could not tell me which one fits my van!
Just pricing it all up see the best compromise for the money.

 

@Alex VW Heritage ... can you still get the small-valve Mexican heads? Recall VWH used to sell them.

 

No they are not available anymore, we stock the autolinea ones now instead.

 

Alex

so what is the difference between the 2 kits please the cylinder heads? If so what is the other make?

Part ID
043198001
Part ID
043198001A

 

Cool air will give you a 10% TLB discount which is a fair chunk of change on that kind of kit. Not sure what discount (if any) the other usual suspects give for TLB members these days - I think VWH give 5%.

 

Thanks for the info mate - it all helps!

 

Exactly that is is down to make of pistons etc

Personally I would go for the cheaper Repro ones,

The repro quality on these parts is very good these days, I know people using the repro make of pistons in 2387cc negines with no issues.

Oh and yes we do a blanket 5% on everything where as you find some companies have T&C's with the discount offered so it doesn't apply to everything.

 

Cylinder heads are the same just one set comes in a VW box from VW and through their quality control

Pistons are Mahle in the Repro kit,

So seriously not much in it between the two, the major difference in cost is that the heads that go through VW quality control cost us more so the cost is passed on.

 

Thanks for the info Alex appreciate it.

 

I ended up buying the VW boxed heads from VWH which are Autolinea as Alex says. Fitted stainless valves and recycled all the other parts rockers springs and collets from my ancient cracked and sparkplug spitting heads, with worn valve guides and seats. Not cheap but the wheels on the bus still go round and round.

I would also suggest you check and clear the casting flash from the fins and the thermostat wire hole. That was blocked on the VW/Autolinea heads and needed a bash with an electric drill to clear it.

 

Taiwanese is probably better than German these days....

 

Thanks mate.
When I first got into aircooled vw's well my first car infact 1200 Beetle in 1986, I fitted a new set of Brazilian pistons and cylinders. Worked very well and still on the engine all these years later, so as I have said in the past beggers cant be choosers. But I do still draw the line at chinese and taiwanese (anything with Empi on it!)
I also agree just because it is made in Germany does not automatically mean its best quality!

 

I believe the Brazilians have always had a good rep for castings, even if some of their other stuff is a bit ropey...

 

I got 2 new heads and all the other bits needed from Machine 7.

No problems so far

 

Thanks for all the replies .
I went for the repro kit in the end from VWH.
Including club discount it works out as £419 - which considering you are getting half an engine is not too bad for a 40 year old van!
The vans was always a long term commitment it has only let me down once (when the points broke) in 4 years and I have covered 50,000 miles in that time so its not done badly really has it?
I will let you know how it goes with the rebuild and what I think of the kit.

Thanks again
Stan