New 2.0 Aircooled needed

[ajsimmo]

If engine is out it takes no time to whip that head off and have a look, instead of guessing. Chances are, as already said, only a few bits needed to put it back to good running order. Aircolds are simple things, and relatively cheap to repair.
And £400-£700 just to fit an aircold????
It's a lazy afternoon's work. Maybe a bit more if there's ancilliaries and tinware to swap over. EliteVW charge £950 for their engine, and £150 to fit. Probably not much use to you in Bristol/Bath, but a good guide to what you should be looking to pay.

[mark.sleep]

HI guys,

Thanks for all the advice, the key problem here is that I am at present 250 miles off the coast of Scotland supplyng the oil rigs and will be until the end of Jan. My wife is the only one who can liase with the garage as I only have internet and phone access after seven pm. So I have to take her word for it, she is keen to get a recon engine as it comes with a years guarantee. Would you suggest getting the engine but having someone else, i.e. a mechanic mate to fit it for mates rates, is it easy and straight forward, he is very good, but specialises in classic minis and modern diesels!! If there is anyone around my area who could give a hand or advice to my missus while I am away that would be great, otherwise to ensure the van is ready to go a week after I get back I feel this may be the only option I have.

[988mick]

it only takes about an hour to fit a cu engine when you know what your doing,the quote you are getting is obviously what they charge to fit a normal car engine which takes a hell of a lot longer.alot of mechanics havnt a clue about the vdub Aircooled engines.bring it to a garage that work on old vdubs only and get them to check it over and rebuild it,it will work out cheaper in the end.
good luck with it.

[mark.sleep]

An update on the engine saga,

Finally got hold of the mechanic myself today rather than relying on my wife, who is normally very good, but a new baby has taken her mind off things a bit.

The engine took a long time to get out with rusted bolts etc needing assistance!!

When she was out the guy stripped the heat exchangers, exhaust, clutch etc off ready to fit the new engine, three and a half hours in total.

When this was done he found the following, my heat exchangers are religous they are so holy!!, a section of exhaust tucked away where you couldn't see it was held together by what appears to be wall filler and the clutch had about 1000 miles left in it if that.

He has quoted £900 plus vat to include two new exchangers, a new clutch and fabricating and fitting a new section of exhaust, plus the fitting of the new engine and an oil change when the engine has run in.

I've decided I can't complain too much about that and I am sooo glad I didn't try it myself.

The added expense does mean that I now have to fit my own interior, where I was going to get someone else to do it, hey ho what can go wrong, keep an eye on A and E admisions at Bath hospital!!!!