Thanks I appreciate the help, this VW diesel stuff is all new to me
I bought a complete engine gasket kit (minus the headgasket), and I am changing the front and rear crank seals etc, and had planned to pull the intermediate shaft on the 1.5 going in to inspect for wear etc, and reseal.
This replacement 1.5 engine has been sitting stored for a very long time. I have been agonizing over pulling the head off, and I put the engine on my engine stand and pulled the pan, everything was pristine inside. The area that I could see of each cylinder looked good and showed no signs of corrosion.
I may yet regret not pulling the head and doing it right, but I just could not justify the ARP cost, vs money saved towards the core (later)1.6 I have that I want to build.
This 1.5 is a 60 000km unit that was pulled and stored a long time ago originally to be marinized by my neighbour for his sailboat. He changed direction and here we are today

I ordered the reseal kit for the injection pump and should be getting to that in the next few weeks... :0
New Timing Belt and tensioner on the way as well
Any thoughts, suggestions are always welcome