Is it possible to tell 11mm from 12mm head ... if not off engine ?????

[doonboggle]

Regarding my thread ... http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=25118.0 ...
can someone advise how I might be able to determine what version the present head is ...
if still attached and bolted down to block ...
without having to take off first?

Is there a way?

A fellow has offered me one, but as the thread revealed, I need to know which one I have ...
in order to know if the one offered will work for me.

Thanks

[theman53]

I believe ALL 11mm are mechanical lifters and will not have 2 drains "humps" up front...only one in the center.

The 12mm will all have the triple square bolts and the 11mm are hex drive.

*Edit* To see that look through the valve cover oil fill or take the valve cover off.

[doonboggle]

Thanks.  Don't mean to be a pest; am not a mechanic but learning every day ... as Benny Hill used to say on TV.

Regarding "2 drains "humps" up front" ... can you provide a bit more detail please.  By 'up front', are you are referring to where the various sprockets and belts are?
Thanks

I believe ALL 11mm are mechanical lifters and will not have 2 drains "humps" up front...only one in the center.

The 12mm will all have the triple square bolts and the 11mm are hex drive.

*Edit* To see that look through the valve cover oil fill or take the valve cover off.

[truckinwagen]

with both side by side of each other it is obvious, the 12mm bolt holes are bigger, and they are recessed farther into the top of the head.

with only one in front of you, it would be hard to tell if you had never seen them side by side.

[lovinthedeez]

so how do you tell the difference between a 12mm hydro and 12mm mech head?

[theman53]

This is a picture of my Hydro. lifter head. You can see the 2 holes at the top those are the oil drains. The little one on the left won't be there on a mech head. The "humps" are when you are looking at it this way. The little hump by #2 injector isn't there on a Mech. head.

[theman53]

So it wasn't as confusing 2 posts.
Here is my mech head only hole and one "hump". Imagine it the other way.


Here is another way of looking at it

[doonboggle]

GREAT!!  That helped tremendously.  Glad that you corrected me; front for me was at the sprocket end; for you as one looks at the engine when in the bay.

Looked at mine, and I only have the large 'hump' ... thus mechanical.

Now I have to figure out how to tell if it has the 11mm versus the 12mm bolts.

Thanks again for the image ! ! !

This is a picture of my Hydro. lifter head. You can see the 2 holes at the top those are the oil drains. The little one on the left won't be there on a mech head. The "humps" are when you are looking at it this way. The little hump by #2 injector isn't there on a Mech. head.

[Rabbit on Roids]

what year is the engine supposed to be?

[doonboggle]

The truck is a 1981; but do not know the history ... and former German (Nazi) owner is deceased.

Part number on 'front' of head is ... 068103373F ... if that helps any.

what year is the engine supposed to be?

[theman53]

The engine code may help more. It is located under the coolant port on the head between #3 and #4 cylinders.

[Rabbit on Roids]

seems like everyone with limited VW knowledge, always tells me the casting number on the head instead of the actual engine code. lol

[doonboggle]

FWIW ... we all had a starting point from zero....

seems like everyone with limited VW knowledge, always tells me the casting number on the head instead of the actual engine code. lol

[truckinwagen]

don't mind Rabbit on Roids, he often speaks without thinking, and he rarely means to be offensive...

the head casting number would be helpful if we knew how to decipher it, but engine code is easier(as we all know what it means)

-Owen

[Rabbit on Roids]

i was simply pointing out a fact. you are not the first one to think the head casting number is some sort of magical code to tell you everything about the engine. for all we know, it might be, but like owen said, engine code is more definitive. and i meant nothing by what i said to you about not knowing your engine code. i was not trying to be mean or make you feel bad/stupid. usually i try and be nice on this forum. all i was doing was pointing out the simple fact that the casting number is more often than not, mistaken for the engine code by people who do not intimately know VW engines. i dont expect everyone to know everything about what they own. although it would make things a hell of alot easier. people shuold have to atleast have to pass a test on how to check fluids, change their oil, change a flat, basic stuff like that, either to buy a car, or to posses a drivers license. i think its funny how many people there are that dont check there fluids till lights and buzzers on the dash start going off. lol