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General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: vwsnaps on August 08, 2012, 03:21:24 pm

Title: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: vwsnaps on August 08, 2012, 03:21:24 pm
(http://i1055.photobucket.com/albums/s510/volkshole/0e1092ee.jpg)

GUys wants to trade me his 1984 Jetta diesel that he " added " a turbo to and blew head gasket -  for my broken mk3 jetta glx vr6

My question - he just bolted turbo to the engine - drove it for awhile and when getting 24lbs of boost blew head gasket...

i am debating about just repairing the head gasket , removing the turbo back to NA -  as its my understanding that you have to do internal modifications to " add " a turbo to a non turbo motor

Any suggestions?  Or like a gas car - can i just buy a " thicker " head gasket to lower compression? i dont think that will work on a diesel?

Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on August 08, 2012, 03:43:14 pm
if he blew the head gasket at only 24psi, then it was ready to go..

ive been boosting up to 35psi on a stock n/a diesel for a LONG time now..

there are no required changes to the engine to boost it. yes, you can bolt a turbo on a n/a engine, and be boosted..

my engine is a CS code 12mm 1.6D, out of a VANAGON.. they NEVER came with a turbo on this side of the pond..

there is nothing wrong with boosting a n/a engine, provided you do it correctly..
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on August 08, 2012, 03:43:59 pm
better yet, what turbo does it have? if it has a K03, than 24psi probably WILL blow a head gasket..
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: vwsnaps on August 08, 2012, 03:48:47 pm
better yet, what turbo does it have? if it has a K03, than 24psi probably WILL blow a head gasket..

k04 from an eclipse...

So i can just buy the proper head gasket , head bolts and other necessary gaskets and go for it..

sweet - i gotta buy tools too...  dont own any injection tools
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: bbob203 on August 08, 2012, 04:00:22 pm
get head studs and do it right.
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on August 08, 2012, 04:07:48 pm
better yet, what turbo does it have? if it has a K03, than 24psi probably WILL blow a head gasket..

k04 from an eclipse...

So i can just buy the proper head gasket , head bolts and other necessary gaskets and go for it..

sweet - i gotta buy tools too...  dont own any injection tools

you need a 12mm XZN (provided it still has the correct engine installed) for the head bolts..

and a 27mm deep socket.. very deep. mine is actually cut in half, with a chunk of pipe welded between the 2 halves..

the injection lines are 17mm, and you DONT need line wrenches, but it never hurts.

its VERY straight forward to replace the head gasket on a VW diesel, but be sure to measure the piston protrusion to be sure you order the correct thickness of head gasket.. even tho its boosted, there is NO REASON to run a thicker head gasket than what the piston protrusion calls for. lowering the compression in an IDI is not a good idea.. it just makes it harder to start, and less efficient while operating.

when you put the engine back together, i would limit boost to 15psi or so, or else intercool it, and run a free flowing intake and exhaust system..

if you leave the boost that high, with that turbo (quite restrictive i imagine) it will more than likely just keep blowing head gaskets.. excessive back pressure blows the head gaskets on VW diesels.. not too much boost.

if you have a good flowing intake and exhaust, you can run LOTS of boost fairly safely..

its when you have crappy flowing manifolds, and restrictive turbos that the head gaskets start going out..

btw, if you dont go wild with boost and drive pressure, there is no need to spend $100+ on head studs..

ive been running a big VNT on my engine, and boosting up past 30psi for a LONG TIME, and i have RE USED head bolts, and a RE USED gasket..
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: wolf_walker on August 09, 2012, 09:25:27 am
Screw the head, if that's as clean and un-rusty a looking A1 sedan as it appears, jump on it!
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on August 09, 2012, 11:51:57 am
looks to have mk2 bumpers grafted onto it tho..
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: 8v-of-fury on August 09, 2012, 12:10:35 pm
looks to have mk2 bumpers grafted onto it tho..

How high are you?  :-* Those are stock north american Jetta bumpers. They're tucked, but fully stock :).
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on August 09, 2012, 01:00:45 pm
looks to have mk2 bumpers grafted onto it tho..

How high are you?  :-* Those are stock north american Jetta bumpers. They're tucked, but fully stock :).

they are IDENTICAL to the bumpers on my mk2 GTI..

they dont look OEM to me..
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: CRSMP5 on August 09, 2012, 01:09:03 pm
tucked oem... duel chrome srrips.. mk2 only had 1...

sadly this guy will get it.. do some work on it.. then sell it like all his other mk1...
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on August 09, 2012, 01:12:41 pm
where are you seeing a SECOND chrome strip?
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: 8v-of-fury on August 09, 2012, 06:24:49 pm
where are you seeing a SECOND chrome strip?

Realllly hiiigghh, one right above the other. Trust me dude, stock mk1 equipment. I have three in my driveway :)
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: CRSMP5 on August 09, 2012, 07:53:10 pm
i have 2 in mine... but got bunny ones on them... euro set im rafters... hate stock ones...

follow bumper from driver tire, around corner to front... its got 2 not a big wide one, not the black stripe in middle... ive seen them in 1 and 2 strip versons... looks to be a double to me...
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on August 10, 2012, 10:20:14 am
OEM or not, they look out of place on that car..

i BELIEVE you guys that they are stock..

i just dont like the way they look at all...
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: 8v-of-fury on August 10, 2012, 10:34:13 am
Unless they are brand new looking, they look bad faded and the strips all dis-coloured. Its why I got these :)

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm307/J_holubek/84%20Jetta/2012-06-22201607.jpg)
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on August 10, 2012, 11:46:00 am
Rabbit bumpers look 100% better than the Jetta bumpers..

the plastic ones look out of place on a mk1.
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: RabbitJockey on August 10, 2012, 04:36:48 pm
id be leary, it could have a cracked head or something like mine did.
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on August 11, 2012, 08:07:51 am
id be leary, it could have a cracked head or something like mine did.

head gaskets usually dont blow at that low of boost...

ive ran ~40psi to my engines ALOT.. and all on stock gasket and bolts..
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: 8v-of-fury on August 11, 2012, 09:21:55 am
But they do blow if you over heat it.. or they dont seal if you've cracked the block or head. :(
Title: Re: Buying 1984 Jetta converted to turbo / blown head gasket
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on August 11, 2012, 07:45:39 pm
But they do blow if you over heat it.. or they dont seal if you've cracked the block or head. :(

yea, i guess these things CAN overheat..