78 2-Door Build Thread

[dubmc]

so run into a bit of trouble with the mk1...unfortunately it looks as though the oil pump has failed very suddenly on me causing the engine to stop...had no signs of this happening and it litterally just stopped dead outside my house.

i will be checking the the extent of the damage on the weekend. i think the first step will be to check the head/cam - see if the engine rotates with the cam removed, if that's damanged then onto the bottom end, will take bearing caps off and check the crank etc...fingers crossed it's just the head at this stage! real shame because the engine was running so well and i was about to go to the drags tomorrow night to see how it went incomparison to my old 1.8...the joys!

hopefully it's just the head because i have a sth african head which is already ported and decked ready to go...if not then the worst case will be having to purchase a 16v and put the delortto's on ahah but will wait and see.

[Preen59]

Well that sucks, dude.

Sing out if you need any bits- I might have what you need lying around.

[dubmc]

hmm looks like a dropped or bent valve...so much for a reco'd head!

[abreut]

hmm looks like a dropped or bent valve...so much for a reco'd head!

Ouch! Time to rip the head off and check the extent of the damage. If you need to borrow the head bolt tool let me know.

[dubmc]

Ouch! Time to rip the head off and check the extent of the damage. If you need to borrow the head bolt tool let me know.

cheers arno! pretty confused at this point! everything looks ok and the bottom end rotates now without the head on! I'm no expert so I'm not sure how to check is a valve is broken/damaged? I mean just looking at them they seem ok, but is there something specifically I should be checking? hoping I haven't pulled the head off only to find it is some sort of timing issue...advice appreciated!

[abreut]

So the motor wouldn't turn over with the head on, but its turning over fine with the head off? Does the intermediate shaft turn ok?

[dubmc]

So the motor wouldn't turn over with the head on, but its turning over fine with the head off? Does the intermediate shaft turn ok?

yeah pretty much...Intermediate shaft spins fine...bottom end is rotating easily with just a ratchet on the crank bolt...confused ha! unless it slipped a tooth or head is shat itself internally!

[abreut]

That is strange. Unless the head seized? Maybe take the cam out, inspect the caps and make sure all the valves seat.

[gldgti]

That is strange. Unless the head seized? Maybe take the cam out, inspect the caps and make sure all the valves seat.

Yah. First thing take off the cam, inspect all the journals for scoring. Low oil pressure will usually result in scoring in the can journals. If it got bad, the cam may have siezed. In my experience this would be the first to go with low/no oil pressure. Generally you will have trouble killing a golf bottom end without oil pressure before you start to really muck up the head. The alloy can journals get bad fast.

[dubmc]

found the problem...spun a bearing - must of have an oil issue a some point.

lots of 8V parts coming up for sale keep an eye out in the for sale thread (heat wrapped headers, 270 cam, adjustable cam gear, fully reco'd big valve head

upgrade to come