86' TD swap

[vegfuel]

So I saw a deal on craigslist for an 86' Jetta TD engine for  $800 (year of hydraulic lifters?). The engine was taken out after the timing belt tensioner broke as well as the timing belt. The engine is disassembled and needs a new camshaft, tensioner and belt. From talking to the seller, the engine is a one owner and runs well.  The head is in very good condition s well (accept for the the cam). The turbo needs to be assembled as well.

My question is if this would be worth it. After looking around I can see that a good TD can get up to 2 grand used. I am looking for more power for my n/a Golf. Would it be more practical to just turbo and n/a?

When I heard that the timing belt broke I suspected bent valves and ruin pistons but the seller says they are good.

This seems like a pretty good deal if it is in good condition.

[jtanguay]

So I saw a deal on craigslist for an 86' Jetta TD engine for  $800 (year of hydraulic lifters?). The engine was taken out after the timing belt tensioner broke as well as the timing belt. The engine is disassembled and needs a new camshaft, tensioner and belt. From talking to the seller, the engine is a one owner and runs well.  The head is in very good condition s well (accept for the the cam). The turbo needs to be assembled as well.

My question is if this would be worth it. After looking around I can see that a good TD can get up to 2 grand used. I am looking for more power for my n/a Golf. Would it be more practical to just turbo and n/a?

When I heard that the timing belt broke I suspected bent valves and ruin pistons but the seller says they are good.

This seems like a pretty good deal if it is in good condition.

$800 for a broken engine on this side would be ridiculous... i would sell a good used 1.6TD that burnt oil, but was otherwise driveable for around $500-600.

'86 was a change over year.  it could be either hydraulic or mechanical.  i don't have a pic but the way to check is to look at the head if it has the big return (big bump at front) then its hydraulic.  getting another camshaft might be pretty costly...  i wonder what else was damaged? lifters, valves??? prothe has a kick ass deal on those pieces though!

[foxracer1]

I paid $800 for two complete cars 85 an 86 jetta tds. The 85 broke the timing belt and cam. The 86 needed the turbo rebuilt.

They both have MF code blocks. But the 86 has the extra hump in the head next to the drain hump. The 85 doesn't. The 86 has an AMC(chinese) head it has the extra hump too but it isn't drilled? It has a solid lifter head. The block has a plug in the extra hump oil galley.

The book says 85 to late 86 vw's are solid. (and of course earlier than that) 87-up are hyd.