After putting in the reconditioned AB cased 1300 into my 68 when I was over in Ireland, I noticed that there were two bits of tin missing from the engine.

The bits are the ones that screw on at the front and run down between the sump and the heat exchanger. The one off my old engine was pretty mangled and the screw holes were none existant.

Am I liable to crack a head or overheat the cylinders with this tin missing?

The car only does about 100 miles per year if that! The old tin didnt seem to want to come out with the heat exchangers in place which makes me think that putting new tin in there, may mean removing the exchangers, exhaust etc.

My dad suggested making some deflectors up from aluminium sheet, as beetle parts are few and far in Ireland.

Cheers

Steve

Do you mean the tin that screws on to the side of the sump?

I'll guess it wont change cooling much (specially in a cool climate like ireland). It does sorta protect the pushrod tubes from crap getting flicked up from underneath though.