Todd: Things have evolved for the better with engines in the past 30+ years, so that now a 2,110 can produce a legitimate 145 hp AND be reliable AND last for 100,000 miles.
That said, I'm retired and usually add 2000 - 3000 miles per year to my car, so it'll take a heck of a long time for me to get to that magical number. In the meantime, I just enjoy having an engine that I can depend on that gives me twice the power of a stock, original '57 356, plus the benefit of front disk brakes. All good, in my book.
Welcome to the forum! Take your time, read through back threads (that search function mentioned is really powerful - I use it a lot) and take the winter to become "edumacated" on the cars and reach out to meet some of the SoCal contingent (there is a pretty large group of active members out there) to see their cars and go from there.
I, too, started working on VWs starting back in 1966 or so, building a dune buggy clone of Hal Haven's wooden buggy in 1967 and never looked back. It's been a great hobby and THIS is a really decent website.
Welcome to the Madness!
Gordon - The Speedstah Guy from Massachusetts.
(Where just this Autumn, we've received over 18" of rain - Wish I could send some out to you guys and gals where you need it - We're saturated!)