Hi there.

Sounds as if the garage don't see the value in a classic van.  You probably ought to ask the question another way.  If you had a new head gasket and pipes, would the rest of the engine be OK?  If the answer is generally Yes, then there are several places where you can get the parts, or even get a rebuild on your engine. 

Try searching for VW Heritage, Just Campers and similar to find out more.  Some fo the companies already have links on our Links page, some will come up quite quickly if you Google them. 

Probably the best thing to do is get to the British Volkswagen Festival, Vanfest, or indeed any other VW show, and then you can browse through various companies who may offer restoration services or parts.  Best of all, some companies offer special discounts at the shows, so it really is worth it.  You can speak to their technical staff, and get advice and support directly.

All the best - I hope you get your van on the road again soon!