1981 Rabbit Pickup 1.6D Rebuilt Caddy

[slavik19]

hey guys i just picked up a 81 rabbit truck pickup

got a 1.6d with oil in the coolant overflow.
needs head gasket
wondering if i should just get a rebuilt kit
something like this
http://www.partsplaceinc.com/products/product-detail.aspx?keyword=VW+Rabbit+diesel+engine+rebuild+kit+with+oversize+pistons+68-198-100&s=96&&sku=21276

quality parts?
i mean i didnt have any problems with hans auto parts out of charlotte but i dont want problems so rather buy from a trusted source

thanks in advance

truck in question:

[ORCoaster]

Seems like an expensive way to go for a head gasket.  Why not open it up, do some measuring on it and perhaps get away with new head gasket, valve cover gasket and new head bolts.  You may not need the rest of the parts just yet.  I would spend the money on paint. 

[billybobf]

shoot, buy just a headgasket put it on, see if it runs very well, if it runs, then do other stuff to make it better. if fires up then timing belt and other good upgrades, could even re-use bolts with headgasket to see out it runs, put a few miles on it, if it runs good, fix it right later on

[slavik19]

i will deffinaly take the head off first. the truck has never been rebuilt and spend its life in NC NO SNOW
i will get it painted and all but first mechanical
i would like to do full rebuild just so everything will last for a while
227k on the motor/truck

[shwak23]

Seems like an expensive way to go for a head gasket.  Why not open it up, do some measuring on it and perhaps get away with new head gasket, valve cover gasket and new head bolts.  You may not need the rest of the parts just yet.  I would spend the money on paint. 

This is the only advice I would follow.
That is most likely an 11 mm block... might be worth throwing studs in.



Sent from my DROID X2

[billybobf]

dang, were 81s 11mm? weird I keep ending up with 12mm mechanicals

[maxfax]

dang, were 81s 11mm? weird I keep ending up with 12mm mechanicals

81 and some early 82 models got the 11mm block...  I have had some 81's having 12mm, but it can't be verified that things didn't get swapped over the years...


Pop the head off that baby and have a look..  Check the block THOROUGHLY around all the head bolt holes for cracks first and foremost..  If nothing appears then proceed..  OR you could just ship the car to me.. 

[slavik19]

so i took the head off.
allot of wear on the cylinder walls.
how much is a bore. roughly?
on the head between the valves looks like cracks.
my mk1 12mm engine was different it didnt have those cracks or as much wear on the cylinder walls.
what are my choices? find a low mileage block and head. can i fit a hydrolic valves head?
looking for a rebuilt 1.6d really.
kinda disappointed

[billybobf]

mine has cracks between the valves, I think its pretty common on the vw diesels.
I have a boring bar, lol, but Im as far away from you as I could probably get without crossing an ocean.

[maxfax]

Cracks between the valves are typically ok as long as they are not wider than the thickness of an American dime...  Can you throw up some pics of the cyls?  How you want to go with this engine patch er up and run it a while, or fix it up and not deal with it for a long time?

[slavik19]

Cracks between the valves are typically ok as long as they are not wider than the thickness of an American dime...  Can you throw up some pics of the cyls?  How you want to go with this engine patch er up and run it a while, or fix it up and not deal with it for a long time?

ill get some pics later, no they arnt that wide.
i dont understand why i have allot of oil in my radiator and hoses? my head gasket doesn't seem burned through or anything. can the head bent so bad? also my pistons they show wear and slightly "wobble" in between the cylinders. i think i can get .20 over without boring the engine and they would fit..
i suppose  i can pick up the $10 headgasket form hans and give it a shot. just confused about the oil issue.

[billybobf]

Does it have an oil cooler attached to the filter?

[slavik19]

99% sure it does not. i didnt even check, at work now, will check when i get home.

[slavik19]

-NO oil cooler  attached

[MattRabbit]

dang, were 81s 11mm? weird I keep ending up with 12mm mechanicals

81 and some early 82 models got the 11mm block...  I have had some 81's having 12mm, but it can't be verified that things didn't get swapped over the years...

I have an '81, and it has 12mm head bolts.  Late '81 had 12mm.  All '82 AFAIK had 12mm.  Only the early '81 1.6 and 1.5L engines had 11mm.

Good luck with the head gasket!