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

[doonboggle]

Well ... to be honest ... after 55 years of driving ... began at age 14 ... I very diligtntly like you touch upon, check everything almost any time we go anywhere; particularly trips out of town.  I offer a 'gotcha' apologiy for not knowing that about that number ... especially since it is hidden behind the other components. 

But as Benny Hill from England used to say on TV some decades ago ... "Learning all the time!"

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

[doonboggle]

Thanks.  I'll try to get the stuff off so that I can decipher the number.

Do recall having read from another forum someone saying that all 1981 engines had the 11mm bolts.  Is that plausible any?

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]

its alright, no apologies needed. but none of us on this board knows how to read the number, or what it means. if anyone does know, they havent let us in on it. thats why i said the code on the head is almost useless.

and i really wasnt refering to you about the having to pass a test on your car. just people in general. if you buy a brand new car, you should have to take a class on how to do most basic maintenance on it.

i can change a flat tire in about 10 mins. thats from the time it goes flat to back on the road driving again. most people, it takes them longer than 10 minutes to locate the jack and lug wrench. lol.

i laugh hard every time someone tells me that they dont know how to change a flat. i feel like every driver on the road should by law, have to know how to change a flat tire. i dont know how many times i have seen a half dozen idiots standing around a car with a flat on the side of the freeway.

one of them has the jack, one has the lug wrench, and the other one has the spare, but everyone of them has an equally puzzled look on their faces. "CRAP, none of us know how to change a tire, call a tow truck!" and then it turns into a big traffic jam on the freeway, everybody driving by has to see whats goin on.

and as for ALL 81 engines being 11mm bolts, not so. 81 was the change over year. some were 11mm, some were 12mm.

[doonboggle]

Hope this is all of it.  Really difficult to see way back behind the ip pipes, etc..
049251 with the vw 'star' at the end.

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

[truckinwagen]

the engine code should start with two letters, which are the important part.

JP, MF, etc... sometimes it is really hard to see, but the numbers alone don't tell much

sorry...

[Rabbit on Roids]

Hope this is all of it.  Really difficult to see way back behind the ip pipes, etc..
049251 with the vw 'star' at the end.

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

the code is on the block, right under the head. its right at the top edge of the block. its easy enough to see, you just gotta wipe it clean, then get your head close enough to see it. prolly gonna need a flash light too.

[doonboggle]

Thankfully for a wife who does not have a fused spine, and a little bit better vision, we got it...
CS049251 we think... with the vw star in front and behind.

the engine code should start with two letters, which are the important part.

JP, MF, etc... sometimes it is really hard to see, but the numbers alone don't tell much

sorry...

[rabbitman]

Yeah what rig is this outa!!!! That's a very abnormal code is why.

[truckinwagen]

looks like CS came in the type-2(bus)

[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.

Yeah what rig is this outa!!!! That's a very abnormal code is why.

[rabbitman]

Andrew gets the money, http://www.busdepot.com/links.jsp about a 3rd of the way down under Identifying Engine Codes it says "CS   1982-84 Vanagon, 1.6 liter, Diesel".



So you have a vanagon engine in a caddy.

[doonboggle]

WOW!
OUTSTANDING!
Guess the old fellow had an engine failure at one time or another.

Any idea then whether or not it is a 11mm or 12mm version ... my post purpose?

Thanks

Andrew gets the money, http://www.busdepot.com/links.jsp about a 3rd of the way down under Identifying Engine Codes it says "CS   1982-84 Vanagon, 1.6 liter, Diesel".



So you have a vanagon engine in a caddy.

[doonboggle]

Plan to remove the cover again then.
As a 'rookie', what would I be looking for once it's off?
Are the bolts there; and if so, presume a simple seeing is the 12mm socket fits???
As a clue ... and guidance ... if this is the way, how many bolts would I be looking for?

As I mentioned previously, almost all of the CS engines were 12mm, but a very few early ones were 11mm.  You'd have to look under the valve cover to see.

[truckinwagen]

its the shank of the head bolt being referenced to 11mm or 12mm.

if it has 12mm head bolts the heads of the bolts will take a triple square bit(looks like a CV joint bolt head, just bigger)

if it has 11mm bolts, and has never had the head removed before the bolt heads will use an allen wrench.
if the head has been removed before(and is 11mm), the bolts could be allen or triple square, as gasser bolts fit, and are often used upon reassembly.

if you are unsure about which bolts you find, post a pic, and we can help you identify what head it is.

-Owen

[doonboggle]

Have valve cover off.  Here is image...



The nuts are 13mm, and there are 10 of them.
Down in the pit are 10 things that have oil in the top.  I took a screwdriver and tried to slosh out as much as I can, but see no indication (so far) of any allen wrench or other tool.
What am I doing wrong?
Thanks

its the shank of the head bolt being referenced to 11mm or 12mm.

if it has 12mm head bolts the heads of the bolts will take a triple square bit(looks like a CV joint bolt head, just bigger)

if it has 11mm bolts, and has never had the head removed before the bolt heads will use an allen wrench.
if the head has been removed before(and is 11mm), the bolts could be allen or triple square, as gasser bolts fit, and are often used upon reassembly.

if you are unsure about which bolts you find, post a pic, and we can help you identify what head it is.

-Owen