This is what happens when you don't take care of your engine.

[Z0_o6]

...when you have a 2.2L that was created from a 1.6L engine, the material has to come from somewhere. The issue with boring these motors out so big is that there isn't enough material left on the cylinders to prevent this from happening. I don't think this was as much assembly error as an issue with over-revving the piss out of the engine, looks like valve floated, struck the piston breaking it, then shattering the cylinder.

[Jecht]

...when you have a 2.2L that was created from a 1.6L engine, the material has to come from somewhere. The issue with boring these motors out so big is that there isn't enough material left on the cylinders to prevent this from happening. I don't think this was as much assembly error as an issue with over-revving the piss out of the engine, looks like valve floated, struck the piston breaking it, then shattering the cylinder.

To bump a 1.6 to a 2.2, you have to get new cylinder sleeves and a new crank case so they are usually thicker. But you're probably right; Beetles don't have a tach so some people won't know how much is too much.