1.6 hydro head to 1.6 mech block workable?

[VWSmokr]

Have an almost-new hydro head & mech head w/cracks needs replacement. Is this recommended?

Plugging extra oil return is obvious, but what about the loss of the coolant passage?

Which head gasket to use?

Do the mechanical lifters & shims fit well into the place of the hydros?


J.R.
SoCal

[VWSmokr]

Thanks, Andrew. Bummer... I was hoping I could use the hydro head with mech. buckets.

Oh well. Guess I'll look further in my mech. head 'selection' & will probably also get the hydro head out to clean up & sell it.

J.R.
SoCal

[veedubcanuck]

I'm looking at doing the same thing... Will there be enough oil pressure to operate the lifters? Will the head not flood with oil since there is the extra drain missing?

[rodpaslow]

What is the advantage with using a mechanical lifter head?  I know in a gas motor that is hydro, with a change of valve springs and a change to a mechanical head, extra rpms are gained because the lifters limit what rpm is reached.  Is this the same as a mechanical head in a diesel?

[ODwyerPW]

you need to contact amgraves...

he has peanut butter in his chocolate

and you have chocolate in your peanut butter

while don't you both just swap heads?

[maxfax]

I'm looking at doing the same thing... Will there be enough oil pressure to operate the lifters? Will the head not flood with oil since there is the extra drain missing?

I'm curious as well, someone out there has had to have tried this... Even if they failed miserably I'd be curious to know...

rodpaslow, some say there is an advanage to the mech head, explanation is pretty much the same what you have stated... I always felt my mech heads were quite rev happy, but I haven;t really had any hyrdos to compare to... I know I have heard otheres mention that they felt their mech heads made better power according to the butt dyno...

[veedubcanuck]

 For me the only reason I ask is I have a good hydro head and a good mechanical block... I just wonder what is involved, not worried about performance.  I've had several mechanical headed motors and hydro ones too and for the average tune I highly doubt there is a big advantage from one over the other. I could never notice any. If there is a difference than I'd like to see the numbers to prove it... now a solid roller lifter....that would be a different story!.... someone needs to make some!

[Rabbit on Roids]

For me the only reason I ask is I have a good hydro head and a good mechanical block... I just wonder what is involved, not worried about performance.  I've had several mechanical headed motors and hydro ones too and for the average tune I highly doubt there is a big advantage from one over the other. I could never notice any. If there is a difference than I'd like to see the numbers to prove it... now a solid roller lifter....that would be a different story!.... someone needs to make some!

pretty sure there isnt enough room between the tip of the valve and the cam lobe. you would have to make a lift kit for the cam somehow.. a stock shim under bucket lifter is only a few mm thick in the middle. so if someone can come up with a roller lifter that fits stock VWs, sign me up for about 50, cause i will put them in everything i own..