type 3 engine problems

Hi having issues with the motor in my type 3. The car is backfiring consistantly and has no power. To check that the distributor is working I removed plug leads from the distributor one at a time. When the left side leads are removed the motor stalls and stops. When the right leads are removed the engine continues to run no differently. I susspect possibly a valve. The exhaust is blowing a fair bit of unburnt fuel.

Any ideas as to any other possible causes would be greatly appreciated.

Also who would be the best to work on engine if necessary. Am on a small budget. Have seen engines priced around $4000. Should I expect to have to pay that much for a rebuild with possible increase in capacity.

I love the car to death but am rapidly losing patience with it being a garage orniment. And am starting to think of going suby power to make it reliable(really want to stay with vw power though). As it is at the moment it is reliable in the fact that you know its not going to work propperly or something is going to break.

There are a multitude of possibilities,ie tight valves,burnt valves,loose cylinder head,air leak in intake,blocked low speed jet,broken low speed jet solenoid or wire off,closed ignition points. This is just a start,there must be someone on the central coast that is good with vw's.