I was rooting around in a junkyard (one of my fav. pastimes) when I found a 94 jetta TD. The engine was raped of it's pump already, but everything else was there. They wanted way too much for an engine that probably had dropped it's crank sprocket (why else would a rustless, crash-free AAZ TD car be in the pile?) so I left. Just so happened to be in there again the next day (yes, it's an addiction. I can admit it!) and asked the dude how much for the head only. His price was agreeable, so a pal and I went back the following day to grab it. We tried to get it with the turbo, injectors and downpipe all for a package price, but he claimed the turbo was already cataloged on the computer for $400. Nucking futz! So we pointed out that the head was "junk" due to the cracks between the valves, and got everything minus turbo for cheap. Nice.
The following day, (sigh, I know) I went back and asked how much for "that duff bottom end"? He shrugged and asked what I thought. I said $100, he said ok.
So I went back the next day, and grabbed it. Once on a stand at home, a helper stripped all the accessories off it. I noticed a little sticker on the back:
Volkswagen Canada Remanufactured
Upon closer inspection, there are no ridges in the cyls, and in fact, the hone marks are still clearly visible. On a whim, I popped off the dampener and sprocket and found a shiny new TDI crank installed. SWEET!!!
Just a few days earlier, I was at the dealer, scaring myself with prices for factory overhauled engines. That exact bottom end was just a tick over $3000 cdn before taxes, and lucky lil ole me found it in a junk pile for $100! A true diamond in the rough!
