Think ive done a bad thing!!!!

[bud]

Hi all,

i have just snapped one of the head bolts on my 1.9dg engine!

My question is this but i think i know the answer. The bolt that has snapped is the number 1 one, the number 3 one is fairly close, does anyone know if it would be ok to just torque all the other bolts up leaving number 1? If not then what do i do, is it an engine out job? If it's a right pain then is it easier to just buy another engine as ive seen a couple fairly cheap and if i need to take the engine out anyway it seems a lot easier to just swap it for a running one.

Thanks for reading, kind regards,
Paul.

[kevtherev]

say goodbye to it... it's done for

plenty 1.9's about..cheap too

[bud]

Is it really that bad Surely the studs can be replaced whether its hard or not?

[ghost123uk]

Oh dear Oh dear

Sorry your 2nd post on here has bad news in it.

At least you are now amongst friends with a wealth of invaluable information.

I could not recommend leaving it as is at all

Take GREAT care buying a used motor, they don't come cheap and OFTEN have problems waiting just around the corner that will make you wish you hadn't bothered (ask me how I know )

If you are going to buy a used motor and you are at all unsure what to look for, post back on here.

Personally, and if you are going to keep the van, I would go for an "Elite" recon unit.
I am far from rich (read, I am poor) but knowing what I do know, when mine failed last year, I should have bitten the bullet and maxed the plastic out on an Elite engine.

.

[kevtherev]

Is it really that bad Surely the studs can be replaced whether its hard or not?

oh yeah they can ... but getting them out is the thing.
you have nothing to lose, so try it!

[ghost123uk]

Is it really that bad Surely the studs can be replaced whether its hard or not?

Read this (long) post re rebuilding DG's

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52374" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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[bud]

Oh man this isn't the news i wanted to hear!! So where can i get hold of an Elite engine and at what cost? I think i saw someone on here selling a good condition 1.9df engine fairly cheap, then if i swap my heads etc over it becomes a dg? Is it possible to get hold of just the part of engine i need and bolt on all my ancilleries?

Thanks for the replies!!!

[KarlT]

As said, How long do you plan to keep van?
Bolt changing is a whole load of work, with no guarantees of success. If you are keeping & can afford it get a re-con.

[KarlT]

Re-cons are 'short' engines. You will have to swap everything over.
First job get van up on ramps & get that engine out, You are going to have to do that what-ever your plans.

[ghost123uk]

Oh man this isn't the news i wanted to hear!! So where can i get hold of an Elite engine and at what cost? I think i saw someone on here selling a good condition 1.9df engine fairly cheap, then if i swap my heads etc over it becomes a dg? Is it possible to get hold of just the part of engine i need and bolt on all my ancilleries?

Thanks for the replies!!!

Sorry for the bad news.

I would not even consider mixing and matching the major bits of the engine.
Taking these to bits that far is a very different kettle of fish to working on a more conventional engine and is fraught with problems (read that post I linked to above).

Elite = http://www.elitevw.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

IF the DF is in REALLY good nick they are only a bit down on power from a DG and the outside bits will swap over. Personally I would not buy a used VW flat 4 engine again, ever. I have heard too many tales of woe and wastes of time and money by doing it. That's not to say it's not impossible to get a good one ( I did, on my 4th attempt )

[bud]

I have no plans to get rid of the van at all, it is my daily car so really could do with it working, what sort of prices are recon engines as i dont have much money to spend on it at all? If changing the bolts really is that bad then i guess another engine is the way forwards.

[bud]

Thanks for link, at £900 that will clear me out plus a bit more!! Thats more than the van cost me As nice as it would be i think i'll have to take my chances with a 2nd hand one

[kevtherev]

why were you removing the heads?

[bud]

I needed to replace my exhaust as mine had basically broken into 3 seperate pieces. Like everyting else on the van all the nuts and studs were really tough to get off, 2 of the studs snapped off in the process so had to take the head off to get at the broken studs. It has turned into one of those jobs you wish you never started!!

[kevtherev]

pity you never asked here first before starting.

oh well it's not the end of the world, I had a 1.9 for sale as I fitted a 2.1 (straight swap) but sold it for £200 just a month ago.
best to get one you can hear running
failing that if your going to keep the van.. it'll pay to get a re-con.

is it an early DG? or post 86