1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by Mocki »

What I should have said on my last reply .......Good on ya for taking the time and effort to go look at it , top man ! 
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by maxstu »

Mocki wrote: 27 Apr 2021, 17:52 What I should have said on my last reply .......Good on ya for taking the time and effort to go look at it , top man ! 

Cheers pal.
Just trying to put something back in the "pot' after all these year of taking out.
:ok
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by Stesaw »

maxstu wrote: 27 Apr 2021, 17:39
Stesaw wrote: 27 Apr 2021, 17:21 Wouldn't it just make sense to clean the threads and retorque the head? Supposing the studs are all OK.

That is an odd carb setup I guess could it be like a solex ripoff?

If camper was sitting on my driveway it is what l would do. Owners' are newbies with very limited tools...if they dont mind me saying :lol:
That is fair enough, I am sure the experience will warrant a good set of tools and a book or two  :lol:
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by maxstu »

Stesaw wrote: 27 Apr 2021, 18:50
maxstu wrote: 27 Apr 2021, 17:39
Stesaw wrote: 27 Apr 2021, 17:21 Wouldn't it just make sense to clean the threads and retorque the head? Supposing the studs are all OK.

That is an odd carb setup I guess could it be like a solex ripoff?

If camper was sitting on my driveway it is what l would do. Owners' are newbies with very limited tools...if they dont mind me saying :lol:
That is fair enough, I am sure the experience will warrant a good set of tools and a book or two  :lol:

They have two Haynes manuals. And zero spanners
:D
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

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Well, it's a start  :lol: 

 
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by ajsimmo »

Thanks Mocki. How did you know I'd be along soon?
That engine has been hot, and I mean really hot, like driven with no coolant in it hot, and the give away is the loose head nuts. It gets so hot that the ally case expands beyond the elastic limit of the steel studs, and they're also red hot, so they get stretched and tempered at the new length. Then it all cools down leaving the studs longer than they were, hence loose nuts. I bet if you take the heads off you'll probably find the combustion chambers eaten away, vapourised around the valve seats, and maybe melted piston tops too. That engine will almost certainly be (burnt) toast.
Soz to give bad news .

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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

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rip
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by maxstu »

I'll reply on behalf of BB3 as l suspect they are pretty pi$$ed off with the dubious seller at the moment, who is not answering their phone call enquiries anymore.

Ajsimmo's mechanical prognosis is spot on. And l will add a few more details to support his reply.

When with BB3 l called a nearby MOT station l frequently used while living nearby a few years ago. The tester (he owns an imported vanagon) suggested stretched headbolts/engine studs from excessive heat too.

All four spark plugs have melted their rubber insulation inside the spark plug caps and insulated oil switch wiring glued/melted to rocker cover on left bank.

Finally, the starter battery needs recharging. It did spin engine slowly (BB3 on the key and me looking at engine). But l noticed the turnover was similar to a washing machine slow cycle and without that lumpiness showing compression. Just a smooth whirling noise.

Ending on a positive note. The bodywork looks in good order. As l said to BB3 at the time...l have bought worse knowing a lot more! :oops:

So BB3 has a sound starting point. With a reliable recon inserted (and a willing cheque book) the camper will return many years of fun.

Regards
Stuart
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by BB3 »

Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions. It was so lovely of you to pop down MaxStu and have a look - the lovely camper is in a garage now with a friend of a friend who knows his way around a VW (hopefully he won't stick a screwdriver where it shouldn't go!!) and I will keep you all updated. Going now to order some spanners and read both of the Haynes manuals :lol: !! 
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by Stesaw »

 Certainly not a good start to ownership. Either way good luck with it.
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by 300CE »

Nice one for going over there Stu - sorry to see that it does look like a replacement engine maybe required.

Just to confirm that carb is a Weber - the 32/36 replaced the 34 DAT:

https://www.dellorto.co.uk/shop/vw-carb ... r-kit-wbx/ 

Don't worry BB3, we've all been there at some point or another and there's plenty of advice/assistance on here to get you through it.  
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by maxstu »

300CE wrote: 28 Apr 2021, 08:44 Nice one for going over there Stu - sorry to see that it does look like a replacement engine maybe required.

Just to confirm that carb is a Weber - the 32/36 replaced the 34 DAT:

https://www.dellorto.co.uk/shop/vw-carb ... r-kit-wbx/ 

Don't worry BB3, we've all been there at some point or another and there's plenty of advice/assistance on here to get you through it.  

Hello J, and thanks for the info. Yes, that's fits the description.

I noticed the air filter has slightly (compare photos) collapsed. As if the engine lid had squash it. And not a lot of air able to pass through...compared to standard filter set up, that is.

What's the feedback using this alternative carb and filter? If me, l would be looking to go back to standard.

Regards
Stuart
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by maxstu »

Mocki wrote: 27 Apr 2021, 17:25 Does it look like it’s a recent water jacket replacemnt ? 


Not recent replacements by the looks of them.
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by R0B »

Looking on the bright side, it's a lot better having a van with a knacked engine than a van with a good engine and knacked bodywork. Good luck with it.
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by 300CE »

maxstu wrote: 28 Apr 2021, 09:07
300CE wrote: 28 Apr 2021, 08:44 Nice one for going over there Stu - sorry to see that it does look like a replacement engine maybe required.

Just to confirm that carb is a Weber - the 32/36 replaced the 34 DAT:

https://www.dellorto.co.uk/shop/vw-carb ... r-kit-wbx/ 

Don't worry BB3, we've all been there at some point or another and there's plenty of advice/assistance on here to get you through it.  

Hello J, and thanks for the info. Yes, that's fits the description.

I noticed the air filter has slightly (compare photos) collapsed. As if the engine lid had squash it. And not a lot of air able to pass through...compared to standard filter set up, that is.

What's the feedback using this alternative carb and filter? If me, l would be looking to go back to standard.

Regards
Stuart

I certainly reckon that the lid is squashing it - i'm not overly keen on that type of filter and reckon it is definitely restricted (twin carbs are fine with that set up as there's room either side) and prefer the 34DAT as it fits all the existing ancillaries, filter etc.

I'm a Weber lover, but as you can't get a DAT anymore and unless the OP wants to go twin carb Weber/Dellorto i'd be inclined to probably go back to an existing Pierburg (but go for an original refurbed one).


 
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