The Cal-look Lounge

Customer of mine heard from another vendor that the magnesium cases are a thing of the past. Anybody else hear this?

They where just out of stock, but are still available

They have to be supplied for another 20 years I believe? USA rule?

Far from it!
The law in the US is that manufacturers must provide spare parts for 10 years after sales end.  That ended 20 years ago.
However, I believe Mexico has a similar law.  It has now been 7 years since production ended.

This all sounds too familiar... Didn't Brazil say the same thing a few years back about doing VW heads? I think they just use that same, tried old complaint to jack up the price..... and we gladly pay it. I saw hundreds of mag cases in a warehouse in so Cal a few weeks ago. So, at least currently, they are here.

  Well I'm hearing stories now that there is to be a new run of VW brazil AS41 cases on the same molds but with much better metalergy with a higher aluminum content and silicone impregnation??   Anybody heard anything about this?

Yes, but only about the Rhino trans case.....

They're still making them but cost much more, a mag case used to retail at £350 two years ago, now £795 due to Vw more than doubling the price  >:(

Cases have been outsourced again, and finish quality has improved; however read this letter we received from our supplier:

"I have now confirmed that Volkswagen of Brazil sold into the Brazilian Market Approx. 2000 pieces of the Engine cases that failed quality control .  These cases were sold at Approx. $180.00. They have numerous  problems.

  U.S. Autobarn Inc.  deals only in first quality products and we mark all of our cases so that none of these junk cases will be accepted for return.  We have only had 3 returns in the last year, 2 of which were valid.  We stand behind our products and do not sell seconds.

These cases are currently being sold to customers in the United States and Europe as "Normal Cases" through importers here in the U.S. " Pay up Front"  at about $390.00

Please do not buy cases from these  "Junk Merchants" I hope they marry these boat anchors.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Thanks,   Chris Cocks
              President
              U.S. Autobarn Inc
 

On the deleted parts front you might want to check out the current law, as I understand manufacturers now only have to keep parts going for 4 years after that model ceases production. Anyway, who is going to sue VW if they stop selling cases? Since the last bug rolled off the production line in 2004 VW was busy deleting air cooled parts. Complete engines went, came back briefly and are gone again. Heads from VW Mexico and Brazil are no more - Mexico broke their molds up. Tranny synchro's are gone (they still make the trans for the watercooler T2 bus, so not sure why no synchros), the list goes on. If you have serviceable parts on the shelf, keep hold of them, they will only go up in price! The only good news is that VW Germany seems a bit more interested in keeping the Bug alive than VW Mexico/Brazil through its Classic Parts dept.

Al Craig. 

Just go a flyer from a parts w/d and they have a NEW stock of AS41 cases, all in vw boxs. Price is pretty high, but they look to have quite a few of them. They will run around $ 775.00 w/studs and all hardware.

Man am I glad I bought Grinder Pete's NOS German thick back case a few months ago for much less than what a new case costs today, and most of the machine work has already been done.

A quick update on the defective cases, they have 2 problem areas to look for - Chris is working on getting the case numbers from the defective run. Look for incorrect OD and out of round rear main and check the oil galleries for size & position. Why the hell VW would let these out the door is beyond me.

Al Craig