Aligning AAZ Head ??

[wpinnix]

Hello,

I've replaced my head gasket and have installed ARP head studs. I've got the head gasket and head aligned, no torque on the studs yet.

The head can move in all directions about 1/16-1/8 of an inch. Is this normal? How do I know if it's perfectly aligned?

I've used old head studs to align it, but they still have that little bit of slop.

Thanks,
Bill

[wpinnix]

So I went to the hardware store and picked up a 1/2" wooden dowel. I 'polished' it ever so slightly with sand paper so that it would slide into the bolt holes easily but with no play. These recessed into the block nicely and the head was aligned with no play. Then snugged up head studs and then removed dowels, inserted two head studs and then torqued to ARP specs.

[R.O.R-2.0]

VW 1.6s dont have alignment dowels.. they didnt come until much later..

im not positive, but i believe the 1.9 IDI doesnt have dowels either..

i dont think its really that big of a deal if the head is perfectly centered or not..

[theman53]

I am almost positive the AAZ has pins for the HG in the back. ROR is correct about the 1.6 never having any. I had studs in my 1.6 and eventhough it would move there was no way to position the HG on the studs to cover a water or oil port completely or interfere with the pistons.

[CrazyAndy]

My AAZ has alignment pins, but from what I hear some early 1.9 IDIs might not have had them.  Maybe they were added when the TDI blocks started being made?  I can't say for sure about the 1Ys, though.

[theman53]

For some reason I thought all of the tall 8v blocks had pins.

[8v-of-fury]

My 91 1.6D had alignment pins as well as my 90 1.8 gasser.

[R.O.R-2.0]

My 91 1.6D had alignment pins as well as my 90 1.8 gasser.

the only engines i own with pins, are 2 litre varieties..

my ABA has pins, and my 92 16v has pins..

none of my 1.8L engines, or 1.6L engines have had pins, or even the provisions for them..

my 92 mexican digifant 1.8L engine had no pins..

the AAZ head i have, has no provisions for pins either..

OP: does your head have provisions for alignment pins? they are basically under #1 and #4 exhaust ports..

i think that just the head studs should be more than enough to keep it centered.. it really cant even move around much, even with stock head bolts..

many people just cut the head off a couple head bolts, cut a slot in the top of it, and thread those into the block as alignment dowels, then un-screw then after the head is set on, and a few head bolts installed..

[TylerDurden]

My 1.6s have pins for the HG, but not the head.

I prefer wood for the dowels - they can't ding the head.

[theman53]

Yeah, the aaz I have the pins are on the block and the head doesn't have material where the pins are.

[CRSMP5]

rear corner headbolts are smallest holes in gasket.. they line it up... not like it can plug off any orfaces if installed top up.. puttin on upside down screws with oil port..

[R.O.R-2.0]

Yeah, the aaz I have the pins are on the block and the head doesn't have material where the pins are.

thanks for the confirmation..