[Vwdiesel] Re: New member-block question and aviation

[H.Hagar]

Chuck   -- I am not ignoring your friend Justin.  And yes I have seen my fill
of broken blocks --- not mine (thank you lord) .   I have seen a lot of heads and blocks
successfully repaired.       BUT in this case I go along with Gary Orlando.     It is cheaper
to find a new block than to repair or retap an old one.

I know of a Hillbilly fixer here who will install an improper head on a VW diesel
and make it work. Forget which way but it was a head from a 1.5 to a 1.6 or
the other way around. And it worked.

Due to the high quality of VW block castings ---- IMHO  yes they can be brazed or welded.
I have an old 1.5L block here (1980)  and I still beat it up with hammers and grind and
solder and braze it just to get the FEEL of it.   Like what does it take to strip the thread
in the block ?    ---hands on does count.

Some bolts are so strong these days --- that it may take 100 foot pounds to
strip a 1/4 inch bolt.  Take two hex wrenches  one from Snap-Off and one from 
Woolworth -----  the difference is incredible.  Same goes for bolts and castings.

Personally when I repair castings ---I use silver solder.   If you use the right kind
man does it work.  Brazing is fine ----But I never had much luck with NI-Rod. welding.

For non structural repairs I use EPOXY.

And for Val Christian  my small torch is a Smith  AW-1.  and yes very pricey. But a good
buy?  bet your ass.   Like if you need a small screwdriver ?  jewelers only will do RIGHT?
Right.

AW-1 ?   Airline welding # 1. (Smallest) love that torch. ---- nuff said.

Hagar.

PS:   Justin sorry for calling you Chelly.--- English is my second language --LOL.