using a 1.9 head on the 1.6 engine

[chrissev]

hey:  anyone ever tried putting a 1.9 hydraulic head on a 1.6 TD engine?  If so, what head gasket did you use?  Any modifications necessary?  Still playing around with the idea of replacing my head.  It has bad valve seals and I don't want to get a rebuilt head because I've bought enough rebuilt stuff to know that it's mostly junk (rebuilt bosch injectors, garbage, rebuilt motomaster starter, also garbage).  

Chris

[935racer]

Yeah I did the swap, no mods necessary, use the 1.9 metal hg, even if you use a 1.6 head it seems to hold better than the fiber 1.6 ones. Also the 1.9 head flows a lot more air so its perfect for a motor you want to make big power out of. There is nothing wrong with a properly rebuilt head. Its hard and expensive to find a good condition 1.9 aaz head.

[steve]

Properly is the key word...  

Before I was online and could benefit from all this great info, I had no knowledgeable person to consult, and couldn't afford the stealership.  In the 10 years prior to getting a new head, I had gotten about 5 rebuilt ones and they each lasted a few years.  I had enough and have been totally happy with my new head from TopLine for $500.  It was worth the little extra cost to do it once and do it right.

[chrissev]

Properly is the key word...  

Before I was online and could benefit from all this great info, I had no knowledgeable person to consult, and couldn't afford the stealership.  In the 10 years prior to getting a new head, I had gotten about 5 rebuilt ones and they each lasted a few years.  I had enough and have been totally happy with my new head from TopLine for $500.  It was worth the little extra cost to do it once and do it right.

I've had mixed success with rebuilt items.  My rebuilt fuel injectors from Bosch for my 1.6TD were junk.  They leaked.  My rebuilt starter from motomaster is also garbage.  The solenoid sticks when it is below 0 degrees outside (and I live in frickin Canada so that is like 6 months of the year).  I know I could take the stupid thing apart and oil it or replace some bits but for a rebuilt starter with maybe 10,000km on it this is pretty ridiculous.  On the positive side, my rebuilt fuel injection pump is working fine and the rebuilt bottom end of my turbo motor is also still working perfectly after 50,000km.  It was done by a diesel truck mechanic.  

However, I am going to forget about rebuilt cylinder heads since a lot of them are reportedly not worth the cardboard boxes that they come in.  I  will try to find a good new never used 1.9 head for my car, or a new 1.6 head (but that is unlikely).

[steve]

I wish I knew enough about the 1.9 to consider putting that head on my 1.6 TD.  I wonder if Topline has one.  What would be a car I could tell them to look it up under?

On the bright side.  I've had zero problems with my Bosch rebuilt starter.... after going through a few crapy ones of another brand.