WTB Early 1.7L Case Options

[JimVG]

Looking for an early virgin 1.7L engine case with no previous non-factory machine work or damage/repairs.

[technicalninja]

VW created the depression that we are talking about to IMPROVE windage between cylinders.

This is a common problem and even the first GM LS1 blocks needed a mod like this. The "new" block was (internally to GM) called the LS4.

The windage "tray" is the piece of metal that separates the oil portion of the crankcase from the rotating assembly.

I watched his Vid again and this time I was more interested in the W blocks. It appears that the W blocks may have the registers for this cover already cast in.

One thing I noticed in his video is the big holes (two) into the sides of the "oil tower". All of the cases had them and he doesn't mention them at all.

These look like crankcase ventilation holes to me.
They are large enough to vent a big block Chevy through.

He spoke of having NO blowby due to Nickies and good engine building but it looks like he has MONSTER ventilation in my book...

The tray is important to keep the oil from riding up into the rotating assembly.
If the oil gets up into the rotating assembly, it gets "frothed up" and has a shitload of air in it. It immediately saps power as well.

Smokey Yunick did a bunch of early NASCAR testing and proved the value of windage trays.
During hard acceleration the tray was worth up to 50 hp and it kept the air out of the oil.
So, more power AND improved reliability with almost no downside...