Pulling heads & cylinders from a VW Vanagon, ...can it be done without pulling the engine? Options

[Radmacdaddy]

Anyone who reads this and knows who it's from knows that I am in a time crunch. I will be with me new van in two days time, so will know more then, and could possibly answer this question myself...

anyway... I see pics of the heads being removed from a 70's vw van while the engine is in the van here: http://benplace.com/heads.htm

So, my question is, is this also possible on a vanagon with the updated design... mine is a 1980.

Finally, is there any reason I can't go further and remove the cylinders as well from there?

Ultimately, I am thinking this is far quicker than my newbie self removing the engine, without all the tools at hand without having to build them or buy them (I'm $ crunched too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif))

Thanks for any thoughts... this has been a great active forum!

[nathansnathan]

Up to '83, the engine is the air-cooled, just the top breather is cast into the case is the difference in the blocks. I'm not sure how it is with the van body as far as access; I've got a 72 bus with the type 4.

In my experience, though it may seem easier, every little thing will be so much harder with the engine in the van. Putting it back together especially.

It ends up taking longer when you drop the engine because you can do it right, cleaning it all up, etc. Succumb to the urge to split the case though and it may not be back together for years!