Differences in heads

[TDDrew]

We should compile a list of casting nubers and corresponding headbolt sizes and such to aid in cylinder head swapping, unless it's been done or there is some other reference- couldn't find any here.

I have a 0868103373M casting from a 1.6 N/A with 12MM head bolts. The head also say Germany on it

Does anyboy know if the 0868103373D cast will work as a replacement??

[myke_w]

I think this is a good idea, I'll add some head numbers soon to aid this cause.. I have some on the shelf. I can surf etka too and try to glean some info too..

[theman53]

I just asked this question awhile back on some forum, but I do now know the answer. Or at least as I have been told, many here are more learned than I and can correct me if I am wrong. I have heard that you can use a hydrualic lifter head on a solid lifter block if you use the solid lifter head gasket to block the oil passage. I have also heard that you could use the 11mm head bolt head on the 12mm solid lifter block after a lot of drilling and a special head bolt. Those are somethings I have heard...I haven't tried.
       What I do know is that all 12mm head bolt mechanical heads will work on all 12mm head bolt blocks. The mechinical heads have 2 "notches" on the valve discs under the cam that are 180 degrees across from eachother. That is what you pull out to adjust the valves. The hydrualic heads don't have this b/c they should never need adjusting as they are pumped up with oil.
       Both heads have a large oil passage cast into the middle of the head right in between 2 and 3 injectors. The hydrualic heads also have a smaller one just to the left of the big one if you are looking from the front of the engine.
       The MF engine code is for a turbo diesel block, and came in both cylinder head configerations, I was told vw didn't scrap anything and wanted to use up all available castings before changing over to the newest design. So in theory a late 85 MF block could be either. I believe that 84 were all solid though.
       Sorry for such the long post, but I think that this is a GREAT idea to try and get us all together and get the casting numbers so we all know what we have and what will interchange for sure.
       I have had 2 of these heads 0868103373D and both were hydrualic lifter heads...if that helps:D

[Quantum TD]

I'd like to second this notion. I'm currently compiling a spreadsheet of the various IDI head part numbers and the cars that they came on. I'm trying to compile the list from VWs EKTA program. What I'm finding out is that the part numbers VW provides do NOT coincide with the numbers cast on the heads.

For example, VW's EKTA shows the following part number for the head on my 1982 Quantum TD:

068 103 351 F

The actual casting isL

068 103 373 F

When looking at the heads on other cars here in my yard, the actual cast numbers rarely coincide with ANY number provided by VW.

The reason I became interested in this is when I began to think more about the different heads and what exactly was different between the Turbo heads and the NA head. After speaking to a VW diesel head expert (Frank from Frank's TDIs), he claimed that VW used the same high-silicone aluminum on all their heads. So, no difference in material. Moreover, when I type in the PN for my Quantum head, VW's part finder claims it's for non-turbo applications only. Huh? I'm pretty sure that it's the original head, and the only difference is in the last 3 digits: a difference that appears to be roughly consistent among all IDI heads.

So, I'm trying to weed out all the chaff theories about head differences and make a spreasheet of all the VW specified head part numbers, the actual part numbers, and a list of the valves that each head calls for.

As it looks now, I think that the only REAL difference between an NA and a turbo head, is that VW used cheapy intake valves on the NA, and sodium-filled valves on the Turbo. All the other part are the same size, spec, etc.