New owner of a79 Westy

[OldAl]

I sort of aquired a 79 westphalia with 95000 Miles and a dead engine. I took it apart because there was no compression on three of four cyl and only 100 on the one that read.
This engine was really overheated, valves shot, pistons scuffed stuck rings etc. I am having the heads fixed at the local engine builders, and I found a set of cyl, and pistons.
The crank and rods seem OK so I'm not going to split the case. There is a bellows thermostat on the side of the crankcase under #3-4 it doesn't seem to work. I put it in the freezer and it didn't contract and I heated it with a heat gun and it doesn't expand. Is it important and did it contribute to the overheating issue?.
I'm sort of new to these engines, the last one I fixed was a 1200 from a 60 Bug in 1968.
My first instinct was to get rid of the VW engine and stick something modern into it like a EJ 22 Subaru engine. However I'm going to keep it original for now. Are these automatic transmissions the least bit reliable?
Al King

[wildthings]

The automatics are good boxes. Of course yours is over 30 years old, so who knows the condition. Take a look at your cam and lifters. They are usually the determining factor in whether the case must be split or not, it is pushing it to expect more than 150,000 miles from your cam though I have seen them go much farther. Your engine more likely has 195,000 miles at this point and not 95,000 so the cam may well be toast. There are a few places known for doing good head work on these engines, HAM Engineering, Headflow Masters, and Rimco. You will likely be disappointed in head work you have done elsewhere.

Most people do not understand the cooling system on these engines. All the tin must be there and in perfect condition, along with the engine compartment seal. The flaps for the thermostat must be in the hot position after initial warm up and their movement is not at all intuitive. In a cooler area a thermostat is a must, less so in a hot area.

[OldAl]

This engine has a sticker on it as a rebuilt from VW Canada on it. Of course there is no way to tell when or how many miles since. This doesn't have the look of a vehicule with more mileage. My Question about the tranny was because it has obviously been recently rebuilt the cases are very clean like after they would be from a rebuilder. My cam and crank show no wear. I pulled the lifters out and they too show no wear.
Here's hoping new cylinders pistons and a valve job get the old girl back on the road.
I have a natural suspicion of any automatic transmissions after owning a couple of Chrysler vans. We don't drive anything with the name on it either and never will again.
AL

[DannyK]

Post some Westfalia pics !