VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.
Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: somepunk22 on February 25, 2009, 06:09:02 pm
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Anyone purchase a remanufactured head from here? I've been searching for a straight 1.6 mech head for a little while with no luck. Any reviews? Thanks.
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they are a good company.
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I'll say that their customer service is absolutely lousy. I had cash in hand to buy a head and could never get a straight answer about what they had and what they sold, between 4 phone calls. That was the last straw for me and I'll never buy anything from them again.
It was nice when I got to tell the head dude that they lost a $750 sale, and why they lost it. The $150 core charge for a new head really rubbed me the wrong way too...
Rimco did wonders on my head, surfacing it for $55 (assuming the rest of the head is still serviceable).
Chris
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Yes I just bought one for my 1.6 T/D I built for my 81 Rabbit. I bought the complete Master rebuild kit, pistons, head, the whole works. I've bought things from them for about 4 years now and I am very happy with everything I've ever got from them and they are very helpful people. This is my second Master kit from them actually. The name of the company that made this head is one called Top-Line and I've read that others have used them with no problems. Just don't get the hydraulic lifter version, too many problems. This is a 12 m/m head also. Get yourself some ARP headstuds when you put it together and save yourself a lot of problems down the road. They screw in the block a lot deeper which is a problem on the 11 m/m non-stretch headbolts and the 12 m/m factory bolts are the stretch type and a total pain in the ass. The ARP's work like a charm and the torquing procedure is real smooth with them, no creaking and jerking making you wonder if you cracked something or pulled a thread and most of all keep the head sealed longer.
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I know someone directly that worked there. In the past year they have changed ownership. (Jack sold the business to his daughter) And during all the changes they have been buying cheap chinese parts yet still selling them for the same price.
I have had nothing but bad luck with them. I ordered cv boot kits and it took forever to get them.
The rebuilt pumps just consisted of checking for leaks and cleaning them up a little.
I would beware of them. They are ok for some things like parking brake cables and such but leave it at that.
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Topline is a good head,..
if that's what they are still selling.
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So if not parts place, then where? Thanks.
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I could hook you up with a solid rebuild, pm me.
Parts Place in my opinion has always been way overpriced and very rude.
I didn't realize they are now selling Chinese junk too, sad...
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Their "all-encompassing" brake kits are all Chinese. It'd be nice if they'd put in the catalog the same note that's included in the kit, stating something to the effect of "What's this?! Chinese brake parts? Don't worry, Jack uses these on his kids cars and they're great, pay no mind to the ever increasing wheel bearing clearance and the brake shoes that require custom bending to fit..." Or something like that. I would have liked to know this before laying out $50 to ship rubbish.
Their parking brake cable for the Caddy was longer than the one that hadn't broke yet, that was nearly 30 years old and stretched.
Their rebuilt injector pumps are very nice in my opinion but that was 2+ years ago and just bumped to a rebuilder, not done in-house. It would have been nice of them though to give a courtesy call when the part number didn't match the application...
I just went through a big mess to find a new (Topline) head. Parts Place seems to be the only place that has one and Topline themselves claim no availability until April.
I recommend you ship your head to Rimco if it's not FUBAR.
Chris
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I have a topline head. Its been good so far no problems and I havent melted it yet :D
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Yes, they have gone way down hill of late. 16 years ago, they had real diesel gugu's working and enjoying their time there.. Today, down load their latest "catalog" from their web site. Then call them for a wide variety of parts... you'll get rude or clueless guys on the line who after you get them to the right page of their catalog, will say, "Oh that, we don't carry THAT." to which you ask, when was the last time you carried it... your answer - YEARS ago. I could not get a single part from them this past 6 months for my project - including something as basic as a 2 notch HG and head bolts / studs... the conversation about studs was equally amusing.
So, the followup question - I got what I needed from S & G. They have been around a long time. I don't know if they do mail-order, but here's their site.
http://www.sgparts.com/
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The head I have now is a stage 3 head I purchased from Dave at passenger. Never fit from the start since it was a 11mm stud head and I have 12mm. I drilled it out and installed with arp studs 2 times. Always leaked coolant out the back, and trashed the cam. I've purchased a couple other used heads, but I haven't found one close to the flatness spec yet. Dave said I can send the $1k head back to him to inspect it, but it took many many months to get in the first place and I don't want to deal with him anymore. I don't think I want to bother rebuilding it. Well... we will see once I pull it off again and have it checked out. So now I'm tired of head problems, and just want new or proven flat head so I can drive my diesel!
Mike, do you have heads you can rebuild in stock? PM me if you have any ideas. Thanks.
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yes I think I do have a nice one back there I could rebuild. I generally like to get a usable core back so I can offer the next guy the same service but I might be able to part with one outright.
I find it strange that the last 2 times you've had a head on it, it leaked out the back.
Have you had the block checked / magnafluxed ? Perhaps the deck is warped or the block cracked? Was this ever overheated?
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I find it strange that the last 2 times you've had a head on it, it leaked out the back.
Have you had the block checked / magnafluxed ? Perhaps the deck is warped or the block cracked? Was this ever overheated?
This also got my attention. Maybe you had several things going on. Who ever magnaflux's it for you should also have a "machined" flat edge. I perfer ground flat edges...
Also, do you have a photo of your block deck just before you bolted one of the heads on ?
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I have never driven the car except a few test runs. Lower end has be rebuilt. This is the only pic I have. This was from awhile ago, and is a bit messy.
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1256/531972064_9851f1d66f_b.jpg)
I'll straight edge the head after I take it off. I'll also check the block. I was hoping to have a head to put on when I remove the current head.
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the deck looks clean from this low res shot... I see your IP is locked at TDC but the block is no longer there ;-)
Magnaflux is your friend, it not that of your wallet in the short term.
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I know someone directly that worked there. In the past year they have changed ownership. (Jack sold the business to his daughter) And during all the changes they have been buying cheap chinese parts yet still selling them for the same price.
I have had nothing but bad luck with them. I ordered cv boot kits and it took forever to get them.
The rebuilt pumps just consisted of checking for leaks and cleaning them up a little.
I would beware of them. They are ok for some things like parking brake cables and such but leave it at that.
Man I hate to here that about Parts-Place changing ownership. I've been getting things from them since I started messing with these things again 4 years ago and always liked them but since you mentioned it on my last rebuild kit I did have problem back in Nov. 2008. The kit came with .5 m/m over turbo pistons {King} and one of the wrist pin holes was machined so far off that there wasn't even enough material for the snap ring groove on the one side. I called them and they said they will gladly replace it. Well they sent me a 1 m/m over piston for a 1.9 instead and this was even after I sent them the whole set back. I did get the right ones finaly but I can tell there is definately some confusion there that wasn't before. I just got some stuff from Autohause {transmission seals} and they seem to have a good bit of stuff that others don't and their prices seemed okay. Where are some other places where you all have been getting things from that seem good. It's a shame about Parts-Place, every place you go seems to be going down hill now days.
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I've used german auto parts, Mykew from here(% of sale goes to this board!), and a couple other places. It's hard you really have to price shop.
somepunk22 your pump looks nice and clean.
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somepunk22 your pump looks nice and clean.
Thanks to Giles!
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Man I hate to here that about Parts-Place changing ownership.
In the US (everywhere ?) it is extremely rare for a successful business to transition from the founder to his/her children. Almost every time, the kids did not invest blood, sweat, and tears into it. They usually are spoiled by the money that comes from the successful business while their parents ran it. When the take-over, they usually run it into the ground. If she switched to cheap parts from China w/o disclosure, I'd bet she (the daughter) is a member of "Young Entrepreneurs of America." I know a manufacturer in west Michigan (Grand Haven) who's son it taking over the $25M business. He's a member and drinks the cool-aid. He directed his production manager to shift several million $$ in production to China. When the manager said he could get them made in the US for less (we don't have unions on the west side of Michigan like the east side) than China (even if there are no problems with the goods from China) the owner's son said that was not the point.... just move the production to China. One interesting thing he learned, when you produce in China, you pay in full for your product BEFORE it is loaded on the boat... if there are any problems, damage in shipping, lost container, bad quality, etc - it is all your problem. The producer has his money and has met his contractual agreement.
So, buy from Germany / US if you want quality :-)
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Myke_w - Can you PM me some price quotes? Thanks
How does this one look?
http://tinylink.com/?6HUQJoENL7
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That does look like a good head.
Hard to tell how well they rebuilt it.
I see they didn't peen the prechambers before surfacing.
Worst problems I've had with rebuilt heads is they surfaced a warped head and the cam rocks in the journals when unbolted,..
another problem is valve shims that are too thin, I worry that somewhere in the life of the head I'd have to pull it and have a new valve seat installed.
I've wondered about those companies that are shipping used German VW diesels into the country. I see a California company posting in the Iowa craigslist,...
With a Giles pump, Passenger Performance intake and fat exhaust, I'd like to see you get a true TD head; one with the dots on the prechambers. I know you've been through hell trying to find a working head and would like to just get it on the road,.. so that's probably the last thing you want to hear.
Maybe one of these importers would have one,... maybe check with the ebay seller or the folks posting on craigslist.
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Dots on the prechambers from peening? Ya I guess I'll keep searching for a little while, but we'll see.
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Re: Parts Place in Michigan:
I used to buy parts from these guys exclusively for about 8 years. However, I always wondered if there weren't "better" deals to be had out there the whole time.
They made a few mistakes in the 30 or so orders I submitted over the years....and I was able to get most of those corrected....but, at a slow rate.
One year I purchased 3 pair of CV joint boots for my cars (both inner and outer). I installed these in the nice warm summertime when it was comfortable to work.
In about 4 months, EACH pair of these boots had already cracked and were essentially useless. By that time, it was winter and I had to lay in the snow and ice to replace these....once again. I thought there might have been a mistake made on my part for these to fail so soon. But, I doubted it. I was furious. Apparently, they were OLD stock or china china (yes, small c).
A few months later, I read several posts on Vortex about people who experienced the identical problem with them....and they were denied replacements when they complained.
I never will buy from them again. There are such more reasonably priced reputable sellers out there anyway.
Just my take.
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I've bought nearly $500 in parts from them in the past year.
All were bosch or similar german companies. I always went in person to get parts, and inspected before and money was spent.
They did help me out when my hood flipped up merging onto I-75 on the way home. Nice used hood, hinges and latches for $70 out the door.
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When I met with Jack last year, he was open trying other brands of parts, but he normally lists the brands that he sells. I think he is pretty conservative about switching parts. I think he sells more German parts than most others.
I've always found Bob on the phone to be knowledgeable about the parts I needed. He would also give me the option between cheap and expensive brands.
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I always thought they were real good people and were very helpful in the past and never really had much trouble except that one time with a bad piston which they did straighten out and didn't charge me the shipping for any of it back and forth. I've bought a hell of a lot of stuff from them in the past and hate to change if I don't have to. I feel just like a kid opening Christmas presents when I get a box from them and spill those styrophom peanuts all over the floor :lol:
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Does anyone know where they source their remanufactured heads?
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Turbo or not?
Depending on who you talk to, they either don't sell reman turbo heads because they can't verify what valves are used or they have 5 on the shelf but won't divulge who does their reman work.
As much as I will never buy from them again, "Chris" is the person who seemed to know his *** from a hole in the ground and who says they don't sell reman turbo heads. Skip the phone jockey and go straight to the top.
Chris
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Mine is a turbo. I'm not having any luck with the head search. Anyone else seen anything? Thanks.
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http://stores.ebay.com/J-and-C-Cylinder-Head-Exchange
I had these guys do my first head for vw diesel. It ran good for as long as I had it. I don't think they replaced all of the valves, but it was for an n/a and if you request it they said they would do anything for additional cost. They also found my friend another head casting as his was not rebuildable. Maybe you can call them and find something. The one time they had a mechanical head on the shelf, but I needed a hydro. Don't worry about the ebay part and the store site that doesn't even list a vw head...I found them off line and they have just about every cylinder head on the planet.
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Message sent. Thanks for the tip.
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Here's some more info on places I've turned to again and again.
TOPLINE
Corporate Office
8150-8200 South Hoyne Avenue, Chicago, IL 60620 USA
PH: 800-44101400 Fax:773-487-1403
http://toplineauto.com
CANADA
7650 Kimbel Street. Mississauga, Ontario L5S1L2
800-435-3986 905-677-0996 Fax:800-706-4456
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MIDWEST FUEL INJECTION
1100 Hosler Drive
Bolingbrook, IL 60490
815-866-9900
www.MWFI.com
The website has other locations.
They rebuild the pumps for The Parts Place
They have really good prices for injectors
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NORTHSIDE IMPORTS, INC.
3650 West Pratt Lincolnwood IL 60712 800-247-2491
3605 Kennedy Road So. Plainfield NJ 07080 888-472-0455
25-06 BQE West Woodside, NY 11377 888-472-0455
5060 Convoy Street San Diego, CA 92111 866-671-9249
www.northsideimports.com
These people have great prices on OEM parts
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FORNPARTS
501 Ogden Ave Downers Grove, IL 60515 630-963-4621
Another good source for OEM parts.
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Emails sent all around. No luck so far. Will it just be easier to buy a new hydro head for my mech block then to find a decent mech head? Seems to be quite a few people going that route. $600 shipped from one of our vendors...
http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=11016&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60&sid=119e15e900673b5530913afc746b873a
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MIDWEST FUEL INJECTION
1100 Hosler Drive
Bolingbrook, IL 60490
815-866-9900
www.MWFI.com
I think these guys use junky IP bushings. I had 8-9 months on one of their pumps and the bushings got sloppy. They have a 1 year warranty but they still charged me $95 to put new bushings in and forgot to send it back for 2 weeks after it was done. Now the bushings are bad again less than a year and a half later.
The belt hasn't been over tightened because the IM bearings are still good.
I'm trying to try not to bash 'em, I'm glad they still do vw IPs and injectors I just feel like I got took is all.
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MIDWEST FUEL INJECTION
1100 Hosler Drive
Bolingbrook, IL 60490
815-866-9900
www.MWFI.com
I think these guys use junky IP bushings. I had 8-9 months on one of their pumps and the bushings got sloppy. They have a 1 year warranty but they still charged me $95 to put new bushings in and forgot to send it back for 2 weeks after it was done. Now the bushings are bad again less than a year and a half later.
The belt hasn't been over tightened because the IM bearings are still good.
I'm trying to try not to bash 'em, I'm glad they still do vw IPs and injectors I just feel like I got took is all.
I don't know how tight you are actualy tightening the belt but if you can't twist it in the middle of it's longest span from the pump to the head 180 degrees in the middle of the span its too tight. That's just a common adjustment on all timing belts if it has a manual adjustment. If it sings similar to a turbo sound after you adjust it it's really way too tight.
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I don't know how tight you are actualy tightening the belt but if you can't twist it in the middle of it's longest span from the pump to the head 180 degrees in the middle of the span its too tight.
The first time the IP bushings wore out the owner of the vw shop I was working at helped me tension it so I know it wasn't overtightened.
Actually the bentley says 45 degrees, if you were to twist it 180 degrees the belt would be way too loose and would slip or else you'd wreck the belt.
If it sings similar to a turbo sound after you adjust it it's really way too tight.
I had it do that with my first pump. I went on a 5,000 mile road trip and 1,000 miles into it the belt started singin', I finished that trip still runnin' fine. Later I went on a 3,200 mile road trip to wisconsin and when I got there I had a terrible fuel leak out the back of the pump. That had nothing to do with overtightening the belt, I think it was caused by the ULSD.
That was when I bought a new IP and installed it as I said above.
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MIDWEST FUEL INJECTION
1100 Hosler Drive
Bolingbrook, IL 60490
815-866-9900
www.MWFI.com
I think these guys use junky IP bushings. I had 8-9 months on one of their pumps and the bushings got sloppy. They have a 1 year warranty but they still charged me $95 to put new bushings in and forgot to send it back for 2 weeks after it was done. Now the bushings are bad again less than a year and a half later.
The belt hasn't been over tightened because the IM bearings are still good.
I'm trying to try not to bash 'em, I'm glad they still do vw IPs and injectors I just feel like I got took is all.
I know this thread is pretty much dead, but I wanted to give MWFI a little praise. I bought a set of injectors for my old 7.3L IDI from them a couple years ago. They had the best price I could find, all 8 pop-tested within spec, and they worked flawlessly until I sold the truck a couple years later.
As for PartsPlace Inc. I've spent a good few hundred bucks there in the last few years and have always had good luck with them. I have a set of their HD springs on the Rabbit...LOVE them! Tighter handling, no squatting under heavy load, perform just like they did when they were new after two years of driving the living HELL out of them (and I'm rough on suspension parts). *twisted*
Yes, their prices are steep, no arguments there. I need to find another source for rebuild parts...I has a feeling I can get quality for less. :-\