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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: doonboggle on April 06, 2010, 06:26:16 pm

Title: 1.6L diesel head swap ??
Post by: doonboggle on April 06, 2010, 06:26:16 pm
Are the diesel heads for a 1.6L engine ...
one off of a non turbo engine ...
the other from a turbo engine ...
interchangeable?
Title: Re: 1.6L diesel head swap ??
Post by: Kantdrivefast on April 06, 2010, 06:37:19 pm
Are the diesel heads for a 1.6L engine ...
one off of a non turbo engine ...
the other from a turbo engine ...
interchangeable?

Some say yes, some say no...

I've got a mech N/A head on my hydro turbo block...
Title: Re: 1.6L diesel head swap ??
Post by: rabbitman on April 06, 2010, 06:41:14 pm
Depends if the head bolts are the same size, they started out with 11mm and partway through 81 started making 12mm.

12mm is lots better.

The other thing is some are hydro and some are mechanical.
Title: Re: 1.6L diesel head swap ??
Post by: theman53 on April 06, 2010, 06:43:33 pm
1.6L had some with 11mm headbolts if I remember and those won't work for the 12mm turbo heads. Also, if one is mechanical and the other is hydro lifters then you can't just bolt it on even if they are both 12mm heads.
BUT
From what others here have done then the quick answer is yes. If you have a head that matches specs you can run it in STOCK form with no troubles. Boosting more than stock you might want to replace the valves with stainless or the OEM turbo ones.
Title: Re: 1.6L diesel head swap ??
Post by: doonboggle on April 06, 2010, 06:47:58 pm
What I'm trying to accomplish is to have a spare head on hand in case the one there now develops a leak from the water inlet/outlet flange that I drilled out ... due to stripped threads by p/o ... and put in heli-?? thingies ... and apparently got off center due to a PITA when re-bolted down.
Title: Re: 1.6L diesel head swap ??
Post by: Kantdrivefast on April 06, 2010, 06:50:48 pm
1.6L had some with 11mm headbolts if I remember and those won't work for the 12mm turbo heads. Also, if one is mechanical and the other is hydro lifters then you can't just bolt it on even if they are both 12mm heads.

Only reason being is there is a coolant passage where the second, smaller oil drain is. That needs to be plugged.
Title: Re: 1.6L diesel head swap ??
Post by: theman53 on April 06, 2010, 06:54:24 pm
Quote
Only reason being is there is a coolant passage where the second, smaller oil drain is. That needs to be plugged.

Yep exactly why you "just can't bolt it on" but it can be done. Same as running a MLS on Mech block.
Title: Re: 1.6L diesel head swap ??
Post by: doonboggle on April 06, 2010, 06:56:00 pm
Along with the 12-11 bolt issue ... right?

[/quote]Only reason being is there is a coolant passage where the second, smaller oil drain is. That needs to be plugged.[/quote]
Title: Re: 1.6L diesel head swap ??
Post by: subsonic on April 06, 2010, 08:20:39 pm
Are the diesel heads for a 1.6L engine ...
one off of a non turbo engine ...
the other from a turbo engine ...
interchangeable?
As long as you have like head, example:  11mm and 11mm  / 12mm mech and 12mm mech
12mm hydro and 12mm hydro, you are good to go.  You may hear some talk about difference in the metal content between turbo and non-turbo.  That has been discussed before and is pretty much a non issue.
You may find some NA heads have 1 groove keepers, some may have 3 groove keepers.  I think most turbo heads have 3 groove, might be wrong though.
Title: Re: 1.6L diesel head swap ??
Post by: goon on June 30, 2010, 09:40:46 am
bringing this back from the dead for a quick question... do only the 12mm heads come with hydraulic set up
Title: Re: 1.6L diesel head swap ??
Post by: Rabbit on Roids on June 30, 2010, 01:22:13 pm
you can only get a 12mm head with hydros, yes..