I will probably be able to get a sludged 1.8 engine complete long block for free. Is there anything I can do w/ it or is it junk. If its rebuildable I would be tempted to make a 2.0 gt28 and swap it in my b5.

 

swapping a 1.8 into a 2.8 is not fun even if you have a full shop at your disposal. check the engine, i'm sure some of it is at least salvagable

 

if you have access to a machine shop or something, take it there to get it all nice and cleaned up...if your going 2.0 well the you will need new internals anyway so unless the block is cracked or something major, i think you should be good...

 

My concern is the head. Being that the aluminum head is the bearing for the cam do I need to worry about anything? If I did get as far as doing a swap it would probably not be in my 2.8. I would probably buy a 1.8t in need of an engine and swap it into it. Keep my 2.8 if I can if not oh well.