connecting rod dimensions?

[truckinwagen]

does anyone know the specs on the 1.6 IDI rods?

I am looking at getting a set of heavier duty ones, but need to know the specs on the stock ones first.

thanks in advance.

[rallydiesel]

You are getting them custom built? If you are you should post up a group buy cuz I'm sure other people would want some.

[truckinwagen]

no, but I found lots of places selling rods that have the right big end and bushing in various lengths for other applications, and I was trying to figure out if they could be made to work on our motors.

[MJF]

136/50,6/24mm. Pauter has made 1,6 IDI rods before.

[truckinwagen]

yeah, I found some by them, but not available to ship to the US, so I am looking at other sources.

[truckinwagen]

I found some aftermarket rods for the 1.6 on ebay, not too shabby a price either.

what do you guys think?

http://cgi.ebay.com/VW-Golf-Turbo-Diesel-1-6L-Connecting-Rods-Conrod-Pleuel_W0QQitemZ170111884888QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item170111884888&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

[rallydiesel]

Woah, that is a good price!

[TurboJ]

I would like some feedback before buying though. But then, there's not a big change they are worse than the stock items which are extremely weak...

[TurboJ]

Well, what I mean by weakness is of course in relation to other engines. A 100 hp engine out of a Saab 900, for example - the stock bottom end can easily take 500-600 hp. The TD engine has rods that will bend soon after double original output, while many other engines can handle several times the original. And if the VW engine originally did only make 70 hp, that's not to say it's enough by any means. Why would we be playing around with loving and upgrading these cars if they were perfect just the way they left the factory??
To achieve good performance in today's sense, of course the original output needs to be multiplied. It's not so much a question how much you need to improve the original output, it about how many absolute horsepower you need. The 1.6 TD engine is still an economical way of propelling a classic mk2 VW, when compared to a highly tuned gas turbo engine. But we can't help a mk2 needs at least double of the TD's original power in order to be quick in the real world. Now, why on earth would we all be tuning these diesel engines if that wasn't the case?

Furthermore, it is very rare that a 4-cylinder automotive engine has con-rods that can't handle 200 hp. In fact, I haven't found any other such case than the VW 1.6 TD. This is why, in my humble opinion, I consider them to be weak. This is not to say the engine is bad, or weak, but it definetely has weak spots which need to be improved.
And, improvement is exactly what it's all about building and modifying these old cars.

[TurboJ]

OK, let's therefore conclude that it's silly to try to press boundaries  

[TurboJ]

I completely understand your point.
My original statement was just to point out that in relation to most engines, the VW TD engine doesn't have as much "reserve". Diesel or no diesel, most engines can take more than double their original output and not fail.
And we have to keep in mind that people have bent rods with 150 hp too. It's the torque with VNT turbos that's more often the real problem, not so much the ultimate horsepower.

But as the TD's in so many other ways a nice platform to play with - simple, economical yet versatile, I find it an interesting challenge to power tune.
I believe that's why there are so many of us here too  

As for what's fun, I find no interest in making a 300 hp gas turbo out of, say 1.8 16V - that would just be way too easy! I would end up trying to make 500 hp and break every part in the process...
Why I made the 'silly' decision and started with a 1.6 TD? Well, I think it was the best option really. Sports car humbling performance (when running, say, 200 hp) with 50 MPG and one single wire to keep the engine running. Cheap and plentiful parts, no electric hassles and a combination of economy and performance. That's a rare thing.

And it's not like I could have fitted a 6.0 TDI on the Jetta anyway
 

[truckinwagen]

the reason I brought this up is because I am a vw freak as well as a diesel nut. I hate the way cars have become more computers than transportation and therefore love older cars.

so I am left with the early vw diesels to quench all my thirsts.
I like to have a fast car, but have to drive it daily, so I am looking into solving problems before they arise.

this is why I am looking into headstuds, better rods and a main girdle.
the diesel motors are scarse enough in Alaska to make it worth spending time and money keeping my existing block and head alive rather than swapping in a new one when I bend a rod, blow a main bearing, or warp the head.

I thought the find for reasonably priced aftermarket rods quite cool, and I hope others agree that when rods get bent this might be a good alternative to finding stock ones for almost as much(at least up here)

[zaprzal]

I found some aftermarket rods for the 1.6 on ebay, not too shabby a price either.

what do you guys think?

http://cgi.ebay.com/VW-Golf-Turbo-Diesel-1-6L-Connecting-Rods-Conrod-Pleuel_W0QQitemZ170111884888QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item170111884888&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

looks like other Chinese stuff...

[voodoo]

if you were to buy an $800 set of carrillo vw rods the big end bore is

1.9928"  or 50.617mm

http://www.carrilloind.com/Portals/1/Documents/Carrillo_Catalog_Layout_02.pdf

[SR Heer]

I noticed the add said three available - ? - does that mean three each or three sets of four? I sure would not want to buy just three at that price!
What do you think?
Steve