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 |
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