Topic: Woes of 1.8t mk1 ownership (Read 527 times)

rotundapig · « **on:** March 23, 2011, 05:29:53 PM »

So, I've been dropping a 1.8t + super 60 turbo and o2j into my rabbit in Greg's shop for the past month.

I got it running and tuned (to the point of drive-ability) today. I spent about half an hour tooling around and enjoying all the great new noises it made and the way it pulled. It was majestic. I put in a 22mm master cylinder while I was at it, so the brakes were super firm and the o2j shifter was amazing even with a truck shift just resting loosely on top.

Right as I was leaving the shop, the timing belt slipped off. There isn't an emoticon that can express the crushing sense of defeat and misery that followed.

So, if you are reading this and know of an unwanted cylinder head laying around somewhere that would fit a AWP, please let me know. I can't take not being able to drive this car, now that I've had a taste i need it to live.

101stvet · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2011, 06:43:41 PM »

OK , DICKHEAD MOVE COMING BUT I LAUGHED OUT LOUD WHEN I READ THIS.....

BUT SORRY TO HERE I WAS BASICALLY IN THIS BOAT A FEW MONTHS AGO...

Smokestack · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2011, 06:57:59 PM »

Seriously? This isn't an early april fools joke is it? My jaw just dropped to the floor! After tracking down and fixing all of the other monkey shit the PO did to that poor engine we now find out it wasn't all in just the SEM. How fast was the engine turning when it went? You might get lucky and be able to replace a couple of valves, or even luckier and have nothing bent.

sparmy2004 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2011, 07:05:29 PM »

I want to see this thing! I've got a stock intake tube to the tb if you want it. I can't tell what you have on it now.

Smokestack · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2011, 07:15:46 PM »

ECS seems to have some decent prices on valves. $10 for intake and $20 for exhaust plus $0.50 for valvestem seals. http://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen-Golf_IV--1.8T/Engine/Mechanical/Cylinder_Head/. At the worst I'd guess that you have one set of intake and one set of exhaust valves bent, so ~$70ish.

greggearhead · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2011, 07:21:57 PM »

It was low rpms. But crushing all the same.

rotundapig · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2011, 08:37:50 PM »

good call on the ECS valves. That is way cheaper than all the others I've found. I'm really hoping nothing is bent, but it seems unlikely. I'd like to check the pistons with a borescope before I pull the head, but I doubt advance or oreilly's loans those out.

I'm going to work on it in the lot (probably all weekend). I'm hoping to ID bent valves tomorrow, order them with some quick shipping and have it running again monday. I really can't live without that car now that I've seen what it will be like.

rotundapig · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2011, 08:39:59 PM »

Oh, as far as the stock intake tube goes, holler at me when I get it running again. Got other priorities at the moment.

sparmy2004 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 23, 2011, 08:44:17 PM »

Oh I understand I'll go to my storage unit and get it. You can have it! My belt broke acouple teeth. Bent all the valves and knicked all the pistons. I wasn't driving just jumped in to go to lunch. Got all my stuff from ecs too.

rotundapig · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2011, 08:48:37 PM »

Damn. I really hope I don't have to replace them all. That would really interfere with rent. I can live with nicked pistons. Scars build character, right?

sparmy2004 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2011, 09:43:58 PM »

All I did was replace the valves. They were bent bad. Pistons just got cleaned up they weren't horrible. Still have really good compression. Priorities come first! Bet that car was fun to drive for awhile though!

The Asshole · « **Reply #11 on:** March 24, 2011, 05:17:46 AM »

Quote from: Smokestack on March 23, 2011, 06:57:59 PM

Seriously? This isn't an early april fools joke is it? My jaw just dropped to the floor! After tracking down and fixing all of the other monkey shit the PO did to that poor engine we now find out it wasn't all in just the SEM. How fast was the engine turning when it went? You might get lucky and be able to replace a couple of valves, or even luckier and have nothing bent.

from experience with this happening: (mine snapped at idle in a drive-thru)
1) you have bent valves
2) if your valves are bent your valve guides are bad.

i bought the parts from ECS and burts machine shop rebuilt the head. they did an awesome job.

rotundapig · « **Reply #12 on:** March 24, 2011, 06:16:39 AM »

Quote from: sparmy2004 on March 23, 2011, 09:43:58 PM

All I did was replace the valves. They were bent bad. Pistons just got cleaned up they weren't horrible. Still have really good compression. Priorities come first! Bet that car was fun to drive for awhile though!

Best half hour ever.

I was planning on rebuilding it myself, but I haven't done head work before. I feel ok about removing the valves myself, but not so much the guides. How much did Burts charge?

sparmy2004 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 24, 2011, 07:39:09 AM »

Burts? All I did was pay for parts I had just gotten it from a dealer and he nicked it up. I do have a buddy down here the could do it I bet.

Smokestack · « **Reply #14 on:** March 24, 2011, 08:00:21 AM »

Valve guides are easy. Use a punch to punch them out and then either use a punch to put the new ones in or fabricate a press with a C-clamp and press them back in.

Last time I had a head rebuilt was back in the late 90's. It was $100 for an old 302 head, and that was just a freashen up (all valves reused). So I'd expect somewhere between $100-$200 if you supply the parts.

Quote from: rotundapig on March 24, 2011, 06:16:39 AM

Quote from: sparmy2004 on March 23, 2011, 09:43:58 PM
...Bet that car was fun to drive for awhile though!
Best half hour ever.

I can vouch for this.

On my drive home I kept expecting my car to boost for some reason. Wishful thinking I think.

rotundapig · « **Reply #15 on:** March 24, 2011, 08:18:10 AM »

Quote from: Smokestack on March 24, 2011, 08:00:21 AM

I can vouch for this. On my drive home I kept expecting my car to boost for some reason. Wishful thinking I think.

I only gave it half throttle, because I didn't want to break anything yet. Guess I look silly now.

rockinveedubs · « **Reply #16 on:** March 24, 2011, 09:18:22 AM »

Ive thought of this swap myself. Do you have a build thread?

rotundapig · « **Reply #17 on:** March 24, 2011, 02:57:32 PM »

yeah, it's here:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5166500-rabbit-1.8t-from-hell

The title of the thread ended up being way too appropriate.

rotundapig · « **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2011, 03:15:08 PM »

anyone know how to get the cam chain off without the special tool to compress the tensioner?

rotundapig · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2011, 06:12:58 PM »

got a tool. here's the carnage:

Smokestack · « **Reply #20 on:** March 24, 2011, 06:46:49 PM »

So the tensioner stud bent and threw the belt? Man that blows. I can't really see how that would happen unless it was a faulty stud. I see 3 bent intake valves, but I can't really make out the exhaust valves. Is it too much to hope that they escaped the carnage?

rotundapig · « **Reply #21 on:** March 24, 2011, 07:05:18 PM »

I know 2 exhaust valves are toast, pretty sure it's at least 4. Can I check if they are bent without removing the valves?

Also, it looks like Advance Auto has intake valves from Beck/Arnley for $15. Between that and the $10 exhaust valves at ECS, this may not be as costly as I was fearing.

Smokestack · « **Reply #22 on:** March 24, 2011, 07:45:30 PM »

The cheapest exhaust valve I saw on ECS was $20. They have intake valves for $10 though.

It's hard to really tell if a valve might be bent with it in the head. Since you have to pull other valves it's not hard to pull the others out. You can try plugging up the known bent valves with clay or some type of non-setting putty (silly putty!) and put water or some other type of liquid in the combustion chamber and see if it leaks. Thinned out paint might work pretty good. It'd leave a trace while it leaked.

sparmy2004 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 24, 2011, 07:58:54 PM »

I guarantee acouple exhaust valves are bent in there!

rotundapig · « **Reply #24 on:** March 24, 2011, 08:05:50 PM »

Damn, you're right about the valves from ECS. I guess it doesn't matter which valve is cheaper, since I think I bent about 6 of each.

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Author Topic: Woes of 1.8t mk1 ownership (Read 527 times)