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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: vdubspeed on September 30, 2011, 05:40:40 am

Title: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: vdubspeed on September 30, 2011, 05:40:40 am
I might be buying a mk2 1.6 N/A Jetta today that lost a timing belt. Owner was into fixing everything but the ever important t-belt. I'm sure it looks terrible in there so I'm assuming I will have to toss in another motor.

I have another 1.6 that ran BUT has a blown headgasket.

Now normally on a gasser I would rip off the head, have the head decked(valves in), and toss it back together.

I know diesels have a VERY low deck and I'm sure the valves will have to be pulled (atleast one). Is it common practice in the idi world to just deck the head to get a nice new flat surfance and reinstall or??? utm.

Thanks,

Jason
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: Mark(The Miser)UK on September 30, 2011, 07:09:51 am
What was the owner doing as the engine failed?

How blown is is other engine's gasket?
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: vdubspeed on September 30, 2011, 07:41:34 am
Your first question is a good one...I haven't asked yet. I will assume the worst though and say he was cruising along...therefore...engine death. If it was at idle...it may be salvageable.

The other engine with the blown headgasket ran fine but water moisture came out the exhaust pipe and it sounded like a steam machine(Water boiling).
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: rodpaslow on September 30, 2011, 09:00:51 am
I've done the blown head gasket thing after loosing all the coolant.  If that's what happened to the other one and that's why the head gasket is blown you will be needing a new head.  If it was just oil leaking into the coolant or vise versa, you can usually just take the head off,new head bolts and gasket; throw it back together and you're as good as gold.

If lost all the coolant and new head at minimum.  If it were me, usually the rings are toasted as well.  I'd be starting from scratch will a full teardown... 

If it were me I'd look at how bad the one you're buying is first.
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: vanbcguy on October 01, 2011, 10:50:50 am
On the busted T-belt engine you might have nothing more than a couple bent valves.  If both engines are the same breed (hydraulic / mechanical) then you should have plenty of valves to go around. 

Chances are the bottom end in the busted T-belt engine is completely fine as you know it was in running order when the T-belt broke!
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: Mark(The Miser)UK on October 01, 2011, 12:52:38 pm
I've done the blown head gasket thing after loosing all the coolant.  If that's what happened to the other one and that's why the head gasket is blown you will be needing a new head.  If it was just oil leaking into the coolant or vise versa, you can usually just take the head off,new head bolts and gasket; throw it back together and you're as good as gold.

If lost all the coolant and new head at minimum.  If it were me, usually the rings are toasted as well.  I'd be starting from scratch will a full teardown... 

If it were me I'd look at how bad the one you're buying is first.
How can you be spewing all this doom and gloom.  :o
Death of head unlikely unless loss of coolant was not noticed for a significant time, or new coolant added to a piping hot engine. Why are rings likely gone?
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: vdubspeed on October 01, 2011, 01:19:11 pm
I didn't listen to the brimstone and hellfire. I have replaced PLENTY of 20V heads after the t-belts snapped. And for the record...the belt snapped in 2nd gear while going around a corner on a dirt road. No more than 2K RPMs. I will pull the head tomorrow of the snapped t-belt. If it looks good...valve swap and it's back on the motor!
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: Mark(The Miser)UK on October 01, 2011, 03:14:52 pm
 ;)
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: maxfax on October 01, 2011, 07:49:05 pm
If I read the post right, I think Rod's hell and brimstone forecast was referring to the the engine with the blown HG..  Which I agree with what he is saying..  Unless you were along for the ride when it blew, it's hard to tell how hot it got..  Amazing the people that thing red lights (or the red part of the gauge) means "stop driving when you get where you are going..  :-\

I'd also say, pop the head on the t-belt engine, replace some valves and be on your way...If it's hyrdro lifter, check them out good too....
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: vdubspeed on October 03, 2011, 11:43:28 am
holy ***! Both engines apart!

First off..the t-belt snap. Well scratch that head! The piston pushed the valve up and snapped the cam in three places PLUS broke the bearing caps off. Bottom end looked great though!

Next up was the blown headgasket engine. Got that apart. F-me...one of the cylinders had an exhaust valve that was missing 15% of it's foot and the piston had shrapnel all in it. Worst of all it ruined the piston walls. To add insult to injury, it had a broken injector boss too from a prior repair. Crazy enough...this motor RAN...not well mind you but it ran and sounded like it a misfire(LOL).

SO....I'm going to use my last mech 1.6 head I had lying around with an unknown history. All I know is that it's a turbo head. Then I'm going to seal the ole oil return on the hydro block and get them together. I plan to use the 12mm bolt but cut off the washer and use 11mm washers. Tomorrow I'll ream out the 11mm head for the 12mm studs and then it's off to be rebuilt by my local head guy(he does great head work :-X)

I'll let ya'll know how it turns out.
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: vdubspeed on October 03, 2011, 11:51:26 am
pics for clarity. This first picture is what I thought was a blown headgasket car. It missed and had a gurgling sound...now I know why!
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/vdubspeed16vT/DSC_0101-1.jpg?t=1317667743)

And here's what's left of the snapped t-belt head:
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/vdubspeed16vT/DSC_0102-1.jpg?t=1317667780)
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: ORCoaster on October 03, 2011, 12:15:20 pm
Never seen a dual overhead cam like that in a VW.  Crapped to pieces.
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: burn_your_money on October 03, 2011, 12:39:58 pm
brimstone and hellfire indeed!
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: vdubspeed on October 03, 2011, 01:30:04 pm
WTB: 1.6L head please. preferably 11mm or 12mm.
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: Mark(The Miser)UK on October 03, 2011, 04:54:05 pm
Doom and gloom  1, Optimists 0

Burnt valve must surely be lack of valve 'shim' gap.
No cracks between valves either :'(
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: burn_your_money on October 03, 2011, 06:16:49 pm
WTB: 1.6L head please. preferably 11mm or 12mm.

IM sent. BTW, I don't think you have any options other than 11mm or 12mm :P
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: vdubspeed on October 03, 2011, 06:36:00 pm
true point. Guess I meant to say that 11mm or 12mm doesn't matter.

Good news is...I have a 12mm mech turbo head that MAY BE usable. Bad news is...the jounal caps are 1 hr away. Tomorrow I'm going to drive and get them and run the head by the shop. It has small cracks between the valves but that's it.

Mark - so I am correct in assuming that your reply is based on the fact the valves were not adjusted properly? I'm trying to figure out how this happened. I know for a FACT that the previous owner of the rabbit (redneck) was using gas and ether to get it started(bad glowplugs!). Could that have done it?
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: ORCoaster on October 03, 2011, 09:11:40 pm
I say a big OH YEAH.  Probably sprayed ether in the snokel for a good 15 seconds then hit the key.  Rather than having another turn the key and mist the outside of the snorkel.  That stuff is a killer in a can for our engines, maybe not so for a cat engine but ours, oh yeah.
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: RadoTD on October 03, 2011, 09:25:16 pm
I was going to say that you should use the cam shaft from the blown head gasket engine, but it appears the camshaft was damaged obviously enough that wouldn't be a question! :P
Title: Re: snapped timing belt and blown headgasket.
Post by: maxfax on October 03, 2011, 09:30:02 pm
Darn, too bad on the broken injector boss on the burned valve head..  That one does look nice otherise..  I'd almost bet that the GP blew apart (from ether use) and was some of the shrapnel that killed the valve and piston....