~My 91 GLI to 1.6TD conversion build up~

[zukgod1]

I'm sure he will reply but I'm almost positive the head was COMPLETLY gone through, pressure tested, valve grind etc etc.

[53 willys]

The oddity with the oil out the dipstick might be explained by crankcase venting issues.  It could also point to combustion gasses entering oil the crankcase.  Odd how venting the block helped so significantly as the block is connected to the head by several large drains.  

Did you ever get the head pressure tested?  How about magnaflux on the block?  

If it were me I'd first do the outlined coolant pressure test.  If it tested positive for pressure I'd pull the head and have it pressure tested.  I'd carefully inspect the gasket, hoping to find evidence of leakage.  With the head off I'd carefully inspect cylinder walls for any hiding cracks.  Check the head for flatness.  If everything checks out, then decide whether or not you want to go for the metal headgasket.  Put it all back together and check.

Andrew

well it's true the HG must be leaking.....55 seconds=pressure in my expansion tank!!
*** I am so pissed about this!! :evil:

the head was pressure tested and had been completely gone through....

I think I might try torquing the studs a little more and see if it will reseal?? it's easier then pulling the head...
i'm so bummed about this...I dont think it was something I did...I have installed 100's of HG's and never had this kinda problem..but this is my first VW HG....

[53 willys]

wish I would have gone with a MLS gasket from the get go!!! :evil:  :cry:

[TurboJ]

WOW. Nice pictures!
 :shock:

[zukgod1]

I'm sure you'll get it worked out.  It's just a hiccup.

Andrew

That's right. Hold your breath Mark. Works for me.  :lol:

Seriously though. At least once you get it sealed up you'll know how to work on any part of this car.

[53 willys]

I'm sure you'll get it worked out.  It's just a hiccup.

Andrew

That's right. Hold your breath Mark. Works for me.  :lol:

Seriously though. At least once you get it sealed up you'll know how to work on any part of this car.

hey wait!!! I just put this car together from scratch!!....I already know how to do that...I just wanna drive it!...lol

[zukgod1]

Good point!

[53 willys]

Good point!

i know what you mean tho...I am learning a lot about vw's thats for sure...

[Quantum TD]

I'd retorque the head first. Look at it this way: you haven't overheated it since the rebuild have you? So, the head is fine (assuming it was good to begin with), and the block is fine, so retorque the head gasket. What's the worse that could happen? You have to replace the gasket anyways if it turns out to be bad, and on the bright side, you won't need to replace the head bolts, since the studs are reuseable.

As far as the torque procedure: You do the cold sequence, warm it up to temp, then turn 1/4 turn.

Later on, if you see some seepage from the gasket, you can retorque an additional 1/4 turn at 1000 miles. Some claim the new gaskets don't need this last step. If it's not leaking, then Jack at VWdieselparts says you can skip it. Since your head studs can handle the extra turn, I wouldn't rule out the last 1/4 turn.

I think you just need to finish the sequence and you'll be fine. I'm pretty sure those ARP head studs aren't even maxed out. The old strech bolts finish at about 100-120 ft-lbs once they're fully torqued. If I'm not mistaken, the final torque value listed for the ARP studs is significantly less, and they can take a lot more stress.

Unless you're running high boost values, I'm not sure you need to try to retrofit the metal HG.

[53 willys]

ARP's spec=80 ftlbs
What I TQed them=85 ftlbs
re-toque=????90 ftlbs???95 ftlbs???


I ordered a MLS gasket for it today.....so either way it's getting torn back down sooner or later.....I dont wanna worry about HG's anymore :evil:

[Smokey Eddy]

Could be the HG didn't seal right? always a possibility.
The only thing I can think of is a bodged HG because your hardware is all fine.

"Did I earn a sticker? :oops: ", squeeks the mouse in the corner.

DO not re-torque. Sweet jesus. Perhaps check them? don't go to 95...
just my 2 cents. But seriously, I totally called that HG . But it does suck man   I don't see the point in spending the cash of ARP's and not using a metal HG.

(I can't believe I was actually right about something. I always thought I was useless and annoying on this forum. I'm amazed you guys don't tell me to shut up!)

[53 willys]

Could be the HG didn't seal right? always a possibility.
The only thing I can think of is a bodged HG because your hardware is all fine.

"Did I earn a sticker? :oops: ", squeeks the mouse in the corner.

DO not re-torque. Sweet jesus. Perhaps check them? don't go to 95...
just my 2 cents. But seriously, I totally called that HG . But it does suck man   I don't see the point in spending the cash of ARP's and not using a metal HG.

(I can't believe I was actually right about something. I always thought I was useless and annoying on this forum. I'm amazed you guys don't tell me to shut up!)

haha yeah I did not want to belive it was a HG so I kinda kept thinking "no it cant be"...you nailed the radiatopr cap and the HG Ed!! your getting good!! nice job!!


I was talking with zukgod1 about the possibility of a bad HG just last week...we both wanted to believe it was something else and tried to come up with other reasons.......but nope....




the reason I went fiber and studs was I thought I would/could get much more life and boost with studs and fiber vs fiber and stock bolts....
I REALLY wish I would have MLSed it from the get go!!!!
I just felt like the oil cap rubber trick would/could be unreliable....now look at me with my super reliable fiber HG :roll:
o well least its not a 6.0 power stroke ford head gasket!!! :lol:

I think I may just tear it apart tomorrow and wait for my MLS to get here...even if I did re-torque it I would still worry about it lasting now that it has been leaked past before...
bad-luck=me

[fatmobile]

I don't know of anyone that has had a fiber gasket go bad that fast.
,... but I hope it's the head gasket.

[Smokey Eddy]

Sigh, there there Mark.
Just think, after all this freakin' grief you have a sick ride now. (will do when you put the new HG on that is)
make a check list before you tear into it. I forgot about the oil return line once and was struggling uselessly like a moron standing on the strut and rad mounts trying to lift the head off. OH, the oi return is still on there. ooops.
Gosh this thing feels light now.

[53 willys]

I don't know of anyone that has had a fiber gasket go bad that fast.
,... but I hope it's the head gasket.

ugh!!! I dont even want to think about a cracked cyl wall or something else!!!! I had all that checked before rebuild...so hopefully I'm ok?
it does make me nervous tho....the HG should not have failed so fast and it makes me think it's something else major :cry: