Got an AAZ out of a '93 Golf sitting on the floor, going to put it into a cherry gas '92 jetta. Plans include a T3, 2.5" straightpipe, 16V clutch, boost and pyro gauges, and all the fuel and boost it will handle.
Engine has about 420,000 kms as far as I can tell. Car would start and run okay when I pulled it out this summer. Just did a compression test, ranges from about 385 pounds to about 410 across 4 holes.
Will this thing start when it's 25c below?? Or do I bite the bullet and pull the whole thing apart now?
Compression sounds pretty good...
If it were me though, and I was planning on putting any kind of mileage on the beast, I'd probably do the rings/bearings before dropping it in the car. Otherwise I'd be constantly kicking my own butt going "why didn't I just DO that before I put the engine in?"
Last one I checked (which I'm driving) went about 480 lbs. I'm leaning towards agreeing with you....... And my wife is telling me why do half a job? do it right the first time. I just dread the thought of having to bore it and buy pistons. Don't think they're cheap.
If your compression is that good currently then you probably don't need to bore or replace pistons...
lucky...
mine did 22bar(319)24,28 and 30...
on cold starts usually i have to auxiliate with a spare batery...
soon going to pull the engine apart,do you think i would need to bore and buy pistons?
only has 225.000km(but run on low oil for a time with the other owner,due to a bad reanding of oil level..)
I once pulled apart a 1.6, best reading was 275 lbs. Engine had over 500,000 km, with poor maintenance. would have needed to be bored and have oversize pistons, bad wear in the cylinders.
soon going to pull the engine apart,do you think i would need to bore and buy pistons? only has 225.000km(but run on low oil for a time with the other owner,due to a bad reanding of oil level..)
I think you would. I'm rebuilding a 1.6 that had about 200,000km on it with unknown maintenance. I had to bore .5mm over to get rid of the ridge at the top of the cylinder. If yours has been run low on oil it could have quite a bit of scuffing on the cylinder walls and especially the piston skirts.
That being said, you won't know for sure until you pull it out and inspect.