RUSTAFARIAN

[arb]

How deep is that scratch on cylinder #2 of head combustion surface?

do you mean the scratch on piston? the U SHAPED ONE?

Nope, the scratch on the head that looks like it was dragged across a stud. That concerns me too as it crosses the head gasket / cylinder seal. You really don't want that kind of leak. Here part of my project where I re-surfaced my head due to a scratch as well. http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=15633.330

Other suggestions - do the rod to crank bearings too. When they say crank bearings, they mean only the ones from the crank to the block.  Also, I'd install an intercooler and be sure to set the injector timing correctly. On a cheap rebuild, I don't know that you would be happy with the results compared to the $900+ full Monty that Giles will do for you.  Usually you get what you pay for - http://www.performancediesel.ca/performance.htm  There is a detailed post in this forum on how to rebuild yourself. It will not increase the performance like Giles does, but its cheaper.

Last suggestion and as important as that head scratch, do you have a cover for the cam belt? One little pebble from the road, or a thrown alt belt and you WILL have broken metal when the pistons and valves try to share the same space at the same time.

[peacedub]

thanks for the advice arb, ill be getting a timing belt cover from the jy next time i go.
if my wallet lets me ill do rod and crank bearing all together, as for the scratch in the head, i dont know what your talking about, my head doesnt have scrathes on it, they only problem is the crack between the valves, but i measured them and they are within specification of 0.5mm so i think im good to go,.

cheers.

[truckinwagen]

it looks like he is talking bout the scratch shown in this pic, going from the face of the valve out into the gasket area:




its hard to tell it it is indeed a scratch(which would be a problem) or if it is just a line drawn in the gunk on the surface of the head.

clean the head up real good and make sure there are no scratches you can catch your fingernail on.

-Owen

[peacedub]

oh no, haha that isnt a scratch. i took that picture when we just pulled the head and it was all caked up in oil.

i need machine the head surface because i cant get all the residue off, i was thinking of doing it myself. has anyone done this?

[rabbitman]

oh no, haha that isnt a scratch. i took that picture when we just pulled the head and it was all caked up in oil.

i need machine the head surface because i cant get all the residue off, i was thinking of doing it myself. has anyone done this?

arb gave you a link to resurfacing your head.............