Hi Tristan. I too am considering going down this route, not because my engine has thrown its cards in, purely because I'm currently carrying out a ground up resto to my 72 crossover so convenient as its already stripped, with an outlook to improved performance and economy cos of a hi-top i'm re-fitting that weighs a ton and will probably kill off my 1600 TP in no time.
I came across a blog last night and read it front to back as its mega detailed and informative, outlining choices that can be made and components necessary to complete the job such as bellhousings or conversion plates, flipping the inlet manifold or fitting a converter pipe to change its direction, (allowing fitment of inlet pipe to throttle body without firewall/tank modification) its loaded with pics etc
and I found it really inspiring. See what you think..!
http://1979vwconversion.blogspot.com/2010/09/start.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Through out the blog it suggests several relevant suppliers and engineers who produce and manufacture the components needed such as rjes and kennedys plus more.
Hope its of help or of interest to you and sorry to hear about your lump jossing it..
Deano.
