What are the odds that this head is junk?

[houseofdiesel]

I wouldn't worry about the head too much since the cam isn't broken and it was only cranking speed HOWEVER I would really worry about rod bearins...be sure to measure all your piston protrusions before you put the head back on, the solid lifter motors pass a lot of the force onto the piston (vs a hyd lifter that collapses and breaks). I have had one that spun a rod bearing after rebuilding the head from a broken timing belt, not fun. Hundreds of a mm matter here, be very specific with your measurements. Hopefully all measure out the same, but if you have one or two different from the rest a rod might be bent or the bearing damaged, do your research now before you have issues trying to get it running right....

[wikdslo]

I wouldn't worry about the head too much since the cam isn't broken and it was only cranking speed HOWEVER I would really worry about rod bearins...be sure to measure all your piston protrusions before you put the head back on, the solid lifter motors pass a lot of the force onto the piston (vs a hyd lifter that collapses and breaks). I have had one that spun a rod bearing after rebuilding the head from a broken timing belt, not fun. Hundreds of a mm matter here, be very specific with your measurements. Hopefully all measure out the same, but if you have one or two different from the rest a rod might be bent or the bearing damaged, do your research now before you have issues trying to get it running right....

I can do that, care to elaborate or point me in the direction of finding out how I go about doing that?

Thanks!

[burn_your_money]

You're basically measuring how high above the block the piston travels. Every vw diesel does this, that is why there are 3 different sized headgaskets.
Basically just measure all 4 pistons and make sure they are the same

[hillfolk'r]

yea when i took the head off my old td jetta for the 1st time
i had valve marks on the pistons
besides the idiot that used tons of copper spray tack on the hg
then i also found that i could use a 2 notch instead of a 3 notch
 i slapped 'er back together+ran it
 someone in its past must have timed it wrong+hit the valves too
you may be able to get away with new valves+seals

[burn_your_money]

The trouble is that even without being damaged they rarely measure the same from piston to piston...

Andrew

They are usually fairly close though right?

[wikdslo]

They're usually close, but I have seen them taper from one side of the block to the other.  I have seen the flywheel piston call for one gasket and the pulley side for the next notch up or down.  If that is the case I go with the gasket that fits the piston of the greatest protrusion.  That's a good reason to check all four.

Andrew

I'll check at lunch. So needless to say it's safe enough to turn the crank freely?

And I am scheduled to pick up the head tonight for reassembly.. (was told just the one valve, that's it) I know the process for tightening the bolts per a link on this page, but for the gasket, do i need to do anything, ie:
Clean the surface?
Use a gasket sealer?

[burn_your_money]

Both surfaces need to be clean but don't use any sealants or anything, just the gasket.

You know what thickness of gasket you are buying?

If you want to wait until sunday I can give you a hand

[wikdslo]

Both surfaces need to be clean but don't use any sealants or anything, just the gasket.

You know what thickness of gasket you are buying?

If you want to wait until sunday I can give you a hand

The old one had 3 little notches on it, so I got mike to order me a 3 notcher.. I thought thats how it goes yeah?

Well, I think i can get it back on there myself. What do i clean the surface with?

[burn_your_money]

its always good to measure but you'l be fine with a 3 notch

Check this out Jonas
http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=4998&highlight=

[wikdslo]

its always good to measure but you'l be fine with a 3 notch

Check this out Jonas
http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=4998&highlight=

Really? DId they make 3 notch gaskets of different size?

And on that block cleaning q, what about if stuff falls down into the cylinders with the pistons at the bottom.. Best way to clean that out, and how do I get EVERYTHING out of there?

[wikdslo]

Great news!

I just found out, no bent valves. Twas but a crushed lifter.
Head will be good to go by tonight.

Here is my plant o clean and prep.
~ lower pistons below surface of block.
~Stuff holes with shop towel
~Scrape surface with razor blade to remove old gasket
~Clean surface with 400grit wet sanding paper
~Clean surface with brake cleaner
~Remove rags, clean in cylinders

~Same thing on the head, just no need to clean in combustion chamber.

I'm goint to try to make a screw taht i can cut the head off, and notch it so i can chase it right through the head, see how that works.

[wikdslo]

Well, I got the head back, new tensioner, timing belt, head gasket, valve cover gasket, and head bolts..

But I'd rather not rush something I don't really know about, so Imma wait for you tyler

Shouldn't take us long i dont think.. provided everything goes smoothly.

See you Sunday holmes!

[burn_your_money]

Sounds good, glad to hear you got it all back together.

Give me a call when you get home, I'm in Missisauga right now

[burn_your_money]

Turns out it was just the crushed lifter. Threw the head back on (we had to re-use the head studs, but they were the 6pt 11mm ones) and it fired up and ran no problem.

Those 6pt ones are reusable right?

The timing was set at 1.02 IIRC, that should be good for an NA right?

[jtanguay]

not sure on the head bolts, but 1.02 should be fine.  running retarded just decreases emissions i believe and maybe torque???...  advanced should give better economy.

glad to hear it was something simple!!!