Prob w/ webers is that if they're not correctly jetted they wash the cyl's with extra gas and prematurely trash motor. They're great if you have old school know how, not so if not.

No suggestions as to whether or not that is a good engine, but I sure like the looks of it with those twin Webbers!

I'm probably the wrong person to ask - but I say go for it if it's not too expensive - webers will sound good - not much on a '81 to install/uninstall if necessary.

Amen to this. I’ve made a small cottage industry out of buying dusted diesel trucks and rebuilding them. Always caused by K&N style filters that were never cleaned and oiled, not that it helps all that much on a huge air sucking turbo diesel.

Me? I am more of a risk taker and negotiator. I would tell the seller that you can't verify much about the engine and make an offer that reflects this. Duel webers are sweet! Great start just for style points.

It's been up for 2 weeks. I'm going to wait a week, if it's still for sale then, I'll get it.

I used to be a risk taker or more aptly described, easily fleeced believing people are generally good. Some times it works out, many times not.

Engine is only $1K, yes I know that's less than the cost of the Webers, but nothing is more expensive to me now than another project I have to fix that I wasn't planning on. I would much rather pay $2K for the motor with it running, a build sheet and numbers.

Dang, I'd probably just buy that for $1k. This kind of watercooled vw stuff is getting very hard to find these days!

Yeah but $1K quickly becomes a minimum $3K+ in time and materials if I need to do anything to the motor, or it sits in a corner. My logic is simple on this particular purchase. I lose FBMP deals all the time because someone else, 10 other people see the ad first, sometimes by an hour, and it's gone. This thing has been up for 2 weeks now. That has run forest run written all over it.

"That has run forest run written all over it."

For the cognoscenti, yes. But there is always the sucker that foils the plan. You want it at a price or you don't.

Thats a fair assessment, I missed the part where it had been for sale for that long!

For $1k I’d do it, all day long. Worst case you can part it out and get your money back. Feels like a no-brainer.

I’d prefer that motor over a modern 1.8T as well. More period correct and I bet it screams with the Webers.

I say go look at the engine , hem and haw for a bit and pull out eight hundred dollar bills . Tell him that's the highest you will go . He either says yes or no . Just be prepared IF he says yes to be able to load the engine and leave . Assuming you want the engine .

Will he let you pull the plugs and scope the bores. If it looks good and you can work a deal, prepare to pull the cover and pan when you get home to see if it is all their.
Prepare to buy a couple of hours on a dyno shop with weber experience.

Engine sold last night making me very happy I didn't get it.

Congrats!

That $1k motor is the quickest $5k you ever saved on a $10k project.

amen brother! I would have loved that sitting in the corner for the next year. Or 5.