Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.

[935racer]

Its only worth what someone will give oyu for it. Doesn't help much but I have seen mk2 jettas in great shape with rebuilt diesels sell for as low as $1000CAD up to $6000CAd in virtually the same shape. I don't know what they are worth in your area. One nice thing about vw's is that the engines are so easy to swap out, I can do a complete mk2 diesel engine swap from running to running in 6-7 hours without breaking a sweat.

[rx7145]

I just hate to borrow $$ just for a engine.

[rx7145]

Well I'm going to ebay a lot of stuff and see how much money I can raise.
 I'll let you guys know.

[rx7145]

Well I found two engines for sale. One is $675 runs good 90day warrenty. Engine has 160K mi on it.
Other is $500 one of the injectors needs heli coiled.  No warrenty. I do have a good head on my old engine but for $150 I think I might just get the complete one. Then I have a complete engine to rebuild.

Thoughts?

[tylernt]

Well I found two engines for sale. One is $675 runs good 90day warrenty. Engine has 160K mi on it.
Other is $500 one of the injectors needs heli coiled.  No warrenty. I do have a good head on my old engine but for $150 I think I might just get the complete one. Then I have a complete engine to rebuild.

If your head is the one run out of oil then you may need to have the cam bore line-bored (cam rides directly in the head, no bearings) and maybe a new cam too. Or it might be just fine, hard to say.

I would be leery of the injector helicoil. The injector bosses in the head are prone to breaking anyway, so there's not a lot of material there to hold an injector and a helicoil to torque without cracking.

[rx7145]

Thanks I'm not going to mess with that bad head then.

[rx7145]

OK I ordered the engine today. Should have it next week.

Right now I'm planing on changing the timeing belt, tensioner, engine seals and mabey clutch. Anything else?

Should I replace the Head gaskit and head bolts also?

[tylernt]

Right now I'm planing on changing the timeing belt, tensioner, engine seals and mabey clutch. Anything else?

Should I replace the Head gaskit and head bolts also?

If it's a good running engine, I see no reason to pull the head off.

I'd definitely replace the clutch and pressure plate and rear mainseal. I re-used my presure plate bolts but some say you should replace them.

And if there is no block heater installed, this would be a good time to add one while you have easy access to the back of the engine.

[rx7145]

Block heater, good idea.  Anything else?

[rx7145]

OK thanks.

[burn_your_money]

Injectors and glowplugs. If you remove the pump it will be much easier. Be careful when doing the injectors though

[tylernt]

Injectors and glowplugs. If you remove the pump it will be much easier. Be careful when doing the injectors though

If you don't have the dial gauge and adapters to time the pump, you may not want to disturb it.

[burn_your_money]

If you don't have the dial gauge and adapters to time the pump, you may not want to disturb it.

That's true, but personally I'd want it timed anyways just to know what it is set at. There is a pretty big window for what a car will run at.

[rx7145]

I'm going to buy the timeing tools. I'll need to change my TB about every year and haft.

Should I get new injectors or rebuilt ones?

[tylernt]

Should I get new injectors or rebuilt ones?

Rebuilt ones have the important bits, the nozzles, replaced with new parts. So unless new ones are almost as cheap as rebuilt, there shouldn't be much of a difference.