Engine Parts & Performance

Everything inside and around the air-cooled VW engine. From pistons and cylinders to cam kits and performance upgrades.

Type 1, Type 4, and the dates that decide which part you need

This collection is what goes inside and around an air-cooled engine: top end, cooling, oiling, tin, pulleys and hardware. Complete engines and long blocks live in Engines and Long Blocks.

Check these before you order

• Cam and oil pump generation. Our 32mm-gear filter-flow pump is catalogued for the pre-1970 flat cam, 1949-1970. Later engines take a different pump. Know which cam is in the case.
• 36 horse or later. Cooling tin does not interchange. The 36HP-style Super Shroud here is listed 1946-1960; the doghouse Super Kooler is 1971-1979.
• Displacement, for gaskets and bearings. The Type 1 head gasket set is a 1300-1600cc part, and the MAHLE cam bearing set is catalogued 1966-1986 for 1200-1600cc.
• Type 1 or Type 4. A Bus from 1972 and a Porsche 914 both run Type 4. Those piston and cylinder sets go 93mm x 66mm for 1800cc and 94mm x 71mm for 2000cc - different family, different parts.

Dual carbs will not clear a stock engine lid

This is the one that stalls otherwise finished cars. Build a bigger engine, fit dual carburetors, then find the lid will not close. We make the fix in our own shop: Washburn Windows engine bay access plates in a 7.5 x 6.5 inch single-carb size, and the 11 x 7.75 inch Big Washburn Windows version for dual carbs and big engines, with carbon fiber cover panels if you want them. The full write-up is on the Tech Bench.

Ask us about the combination before you order rather than after - we would rather talk you out of the wrong part than process the return. Parts line (657) 438-7002, Monday to Friday 8am-5pm Pacific. Related: oil and cooling, engine tin, fuel and intake.