Engine Case Standard VW OEM

Engine case standard VW OEM.
Type 1 engines - from 8/70 onwards (large oil galleries).
T2 Bus 1600 (except CT) - from 8/70 onwards.
Type 3 1600.

When you have started overhauling your engine, you should check whether the crankcase is still suitable for this overhaul. Due to corrosion the crankcase is often damaged on the outside. This is a normal phenomenon, but it should still be worthwhile to reuse it. Before you start measuring, check the crankcase for cracks. There are agents with which you can make capillary cracks visible. If cracks appear, it is better to replace the crankcase. If no cracks are found, measure the bearing bores. Bear in mind that the crankcase has to be align-bored. It is rare that the crankcase is in such good condition that this is not necessary. Look carefully at the oversize bearing bores to be machined. If these are more than 1.5 mm, we advise you not to start again. In addition the size of the camshaft bearing bores must be measured (it can easily be that the engine has already been line-bored, this is often the case with VW-overhauled engines) if line-boring is necessary. Oversize camshaft bearings are available, but if you ask us, we prefer the standard size and advise you not to reuse the crankcase. The smallest possible oversize is preferred. If possible, preferably completely standard. If you take a new crankcase, you have no further costs. You can use the standard-size bearings and you have a crankcase that is not affected by corrosion or cracks.

This crankcase is an original AS 41 VW crankcase, made of an alloy of 4% aluminium, magnesium and 1% silicon, making it more resistant than an AS 21 crankcase, which was also supplied by Volkswagen. It is also worth mentioning that the crankcase is fitted with large oil galleries, as there are also crankcases with small circulating oil galleries, only suitable for stock engines and certainly not for tuning.

The crankcase is of the so-called universal type, meaning it is suitable for the Volkswagen Beetle, Karmann Ghia and VW Thing. It can also be used for a Volkswagen Bus and a VW Type 3.

The crankcase is supplied bare. We recommend ordering the spare parts kit for the crankcase. This way you can discard most of the parts not supplied with the crankcase, and you do not have to reuse old parts from your existing crankcase. The 8 mm studs for the cylinders (only for 1300 and 1600 cc dual port engines) and the plug for the camshaft seal are not included. You can reuse them from your old crankcase or order them in our shop.