So 1 of the 2 motors i picked up last week is a good block. the thrust is at 22mm and the main bearing is stamped with 0.5 std  so i am assuming the block is 1st cut and the crank is standard.
going to check out the other block this weekend hopefully it is good to

anyone know what block would be better or are they the same
H5
or
H0

Somebody will know more than I...but my impression was that H blocks are best for stock rebuilds only.

i have had a h5 block before but turned out to be beyond repair so i got these other 2 one is a H0 and one is a H5 just wanted to know if there was a real difference between them
the rebuild i am going to do is just 1600 pots and single port nothing huge on power

All H cases have bad reputations. The H5 is just a year or so newer than the H0.

That doesn't mean that you can't build a 1600cc H case motor and use it conservatively. It just means that it was brittle, was single relief, had no case savers, and is not a good case for any motor much bigger than a 1600cc stock build.

why cant you put case saver in it or can you?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=510298&highlight=casesavers

thanks Jeffery
i read that whole thread and now it is still confusing
no not really. from what i read i can install case savers in the H5 and H0 cases.
but i still have questions
can i put larger studs in? i do have a AJ motor thats a boat anchor but has a good set of studs.
also in that thread it was talking about full flow oil, is that where you drill all the oil galleries to a lrger size?

i am thinking that if my H0 case is good i will just throw the H5 together and get this buggy on the road, plus a whole lot more work, and rebuild the H0 during the winter months to get something marginally better.
unless a dual relief dual port falls in my lap

ok so heres the scoop
i have a H5 case that has had one cut on the line bore, the cam and crank ar standard.
the cylinders still have cross hatching in them. a couple of pulled head studs

this one is gonna get a fresh hone, new cam and crank bearings and back together

i also have a H0 case
when i opened this one up i found that it was all original.
the thrust is good no need to cut it and the line bore will require the 1st cut.
this one will be rebuilt to a single port 1600 with new cylinders, pistons, bearings possible a new counterbalanced crank, a new mild performance cam and case savers with 8mm studs.
the first motor will so i can get this buggy going and the later one wil be done as money and time allows

anyone know if you can remove the six crank studs to make doing case savers easier?

You can remove them BUT you MUST align bore the engine after you do this. The case halves never line up EXACTLY like they did before the studs are pulled which they have to.....exactly.....

brad