James_Russell Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 A good friend of mine has a '93 polo 1043cc. It has a SOHC 8v engine with hydraulic tappets. It needs a good service including timimg belt, as well (ideally) a new head gasket because it has the common problem of oil seepage (has just killed an alternator) Is anyone familiar with VW engines of this vintage and would you recommend that I offer to do the work myself? I know how everything works but I have no experience working with engine internals. Is this a good engine to learn on? Q41 ACF Classic Grad #98 Edited by - James_Russell on 27 Aug 2011 10:09:48 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jj48 Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 Don't forget to replace the water pump as they have a habit of failing. Also you may need a cam locking kit to carry out replacement of belt etc. Richard Sussex Swede R400 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 I did Deb's outside the front door. Get the head skimmed - I tried to avoid it and did it again, properly, a week later . . . New head bolts too were recommended to me. And you'll need the correct bit to undo them - not torx, but something of the same idea. A local garage, for a cheaper job, simply makes and fits a shield over the alternator - so you still get the continual oil change system, a driveway that won't go rusty, and the alternator keeps working . . Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_pank Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 I would guess that you can get away without the cam locking tool as it's only a single-cam. Presumably the Haynes manual tells you how to line it all up before you put the belt on. back here because I want to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Russell Posted November 15, 2010 Author Share Posted November 15, 2010 Thanks for the feedback everyone! I was hoping that would be the case charlie. I have time and patience on my side! Bri- is it really necessary to skim the head when the engine hasn't been damaged by overheating? Also, given that this is a £300 banger, should I bother with new head bolts? Q41 ACF Classic Grad #98 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 You'd be surprised what those Polos go for- we had to beat them off with a stick for 2 weeks after sticking it in the auto-trader and selling it to the first one who won the race to get there! Deb's car hadn't ever overheated, just the oil leak. But the ali head must have gone as soon as it came off - must admit it's the first time it's happened to me, but it was also the first ali head I'd done that I'd not skimmed . . . For the few quid a set of head bolts cost (I think the sod din socket to undo them cost more), it was a no-brainer for me - especially as I'd already wasted one evening on it and didn't want waste any more - plus the hassle from Deb's if it had caused her more grief and she had to use my emergency Pug 106 (with a choke - something she simply doesn't get on with). Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 You can re-use the head bolts once. Officially they must be replaced every time the head is off, but ... The job is quite easy. There are aligning marks for the cam on the pulley and on the flywheel. Unfortunately I don't think I still have the Haynes manual. I've had the head off one of those a few times, usually without skimming the head. No problems at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Russell Posted November 15, 2010 Author Share Posted November 15, 2010 Cheers for the advice everyone. Head bolts are 83p+vat each- I'm not quite tight enough to deny it those! Looks like the biggest expense would be skimming the head which I'm hoping to avoid- I'll subject it to a straight edge and feeler blade check. Some people on the veedub forums recommend using a liquid gasket sealer around the particular oil galley that causes the problems Judging by this photo I took when I had the rocker cover off (pretty in there, isn't it?), the head bolts look like female splines- If thats the case I already have the right bits for it Q41 ACF Classic Grad #98 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich N Posted November 17, 2010 Share Posted November 17, 2010 The head bolts are likely to be RIBE bits. I bought a set of RIBE tools from MachineMart for my 1.8T for £20. I have Elsa, the workshop manuals, let me know if you want me to see how far back they go 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich N Posted November 17, 2010 Share Posted November 17, 2010 Ah the second picture is clearer, they're not the ribe bolts as used on the 1.8T I don't think! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Russell Posted August 27, 2011 Author Share Posted August 27, 2011 UPDATE: can anyone suggest a tightening/torquing order for the cam carrier caps? I know they need to be tightened incrementally and in a particular order but I'm not sure what the order is! Torque is 6NM plus 90 degrees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Work out from the centre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECR Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 And a little on each cap keeping the pressure aprroximately equal on each cap as you go (which I now see you have mentioned ....) Edited by - ECR on 27 Aug 2011 14:34:47 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 That is in fact quite important as you otherwise may strip the studs off from the head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Russell Posted August 27, 2011 Author Share Posted August 27, 2011 thanks very much! That info is re-assuring... I bolted the cam down before lunchtime following the same sequence as the head bolts, in very small increments (quarter turns once the caps touched the cam!). Whole job done now- I've successfully replaced my first head gasket, cam belt and water pump! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Russell Posted August 27, 2011 Author Share Posted August 27, 2011 By the way, in case you were wondering, the work was finally prompted by a thermostat housing failure which caused the engine to overheat and cook the head proper. The head has been skimmed by Sutton rebore who I recommend muchly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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