Advice appreciated, intake valve on number 2 cylinder stuck open

When I first got a bus 30 years ago it was simple, you could wander into any motor shop, even halfords and pick it up off the shelf for a fiver because there were still many vehicles on the road that used it. There would even be a choice. These oils are now specialist "Classic" oils and mostly only available on the internet. Halfords last time I looked did have a 20w-50 but that was it. Like yourself I just buy Pistoneze now. Interestingly Rob is adamant that as a VW service engineer they were told by VW to only use 20w-50 on all type-4 engines.

 

And we make it look easy..

 

And we're all extremely good-looking

 

Right, engine is out and it's on the engine stand



Getting it out of the bus was easier than getting it on the godamn stand!

 

Flywheel looks ok (but I'll see if I can replace that little needle bearing in the centre boss.
The clutch don't look too clever tho so I might as well change that while it's out.
JK will be rubbing their hands together, ker-ching!

 

This looks like a bit too much oil in the bell housing to me, so I reckon I might have to change the seals each side of the flywheel

 

Smell the oil, feel its texture. Sticky, smelly is gearbox oil.

 

And they are often cheaper than the aforementioned lot before the discount these days…

 

Sorry for the slow response; I've been a bit busy driving to Portugal, and I'm now at the start of the N2 route from Chaves to Faro.

That message from Bruce Smith started and ended with question marks so it probably was a question. If it's a statement, it's wrong. An external filter has absolutely nothing to do with what oil should be used, or whether it should be detergent or not. And a straight weight oil has not been the best to use since before you were born.

But it looks like we have moved on and might soon find out what is actually wrong with the engine.

 

Absolutely.
I’m thinking from the first photo, it was in back to front.
Nice journey?

 

Top tip: fit the engine holder to the engine first, then lift the whole lot into the stand

The pilot bearing is an integral part of the big gland nut. Just buy another nut. There are better places to buy stuff than JK.

 

Right I've got it all stripped down now.
Top of the class folks, looks like your original diagnosis was correct ...... look at this cheeky monkey that's popped out

 

Doesn't look like much damage to the top of the piston just a itchy mark where the edge of the valve seat has touched.

 

There we go!

Do I win a prize? Glad you've got to the root of the issue

 

And there's the crack, though to be fair plenty T1 heads are cracked here without the seats falling out.

 

I'd try and gently take that ding out with a dremel or similar, you'll potentially get a hot spot otherwise - personally I'd be happy to reuse with a bit of tidying, others may have different opinions

 

And the other head looks fine to me?

 

I'd reuse it.

 

Pretty oily in the second head, did you spin it round on your stand taking the first one off?

The exhaust valve has been hot around the edge, maybe not sealing - tappet too tight? did you check before you dismantled?