[Vwdiesel] Help - messed in the head...

[Hayden Chasteen]

Since we are talking about heads, I just picked mine up today from the shop.
The "swirl marks" are there and barely scratches.  I cannot catch a
fingernail in them so I would consider that OK.  They did a full blown
rebuild for me,  vatted and cleaned, 4 exhaust valves (has anybody seen what
happens to valves that are too tight?? Yaow!), 8 valve guides (you could
actually wiggle the valves in the guides!), grind/surface valves and valve
guides, 4 prechamber inserts, polished the cam, clean up/resurface head,
pressure tested, and adjusted the valves.  With labor and all parts,
including an upper gasket set, plus a German 3 notch head gasket, I was out
the door for $472.  Head looks great and they didn't spray any cheesy paint
on it!!!!
While I am at it, some other updates:  My 98 Jetta TDI just turned over
128000 miles and is currently burning through its first tank of commercially
produced soy biodiesel from the guys in Ft. Worth.  It just doesn't have
that Chinese food smell though of my homemade stuff.  Two weeks ago, I got
new 15" wheels and Khumo tires for the Jetta and the 14" wheels and tires
moved to the Caddy and boy does it handle a lot better.  The bed of the
Caddy has been coated with bed protector and I have begun the process of
finishing the bed cap to go on in a month or two.  I just bought a hood with
a metal scoop frenched in that will allow me to get air to my intercooler
when it is installed.  Now if I can just find time to actually do anything.
Most of my weekends are already filled (my son graduates from Navy boot camp
on April 29 so I will be in Chicago that weekend) and I leave to take my
students on their summer field course on May 19th.  So, looks like most
things will have to wait awhile.  Hayden
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <LBaird119 at aol.com>
To: <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 9:51 AM
Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Help - messed in the head...


>
> > I'm worried that a cutting wheel arc leading right across the head is a
> > recipe for early
> > head gasket failure - even if I can't catch a nail on it, the grooves
still
> > worry me.
> >
>
>
>   I wouldn't be too worried if you can't catch a nail on it.  The gasket
is
> will conform to something that minor and that's what Val is talking about.
>   Head gaskets  get slid against by the block and the head especially.
> A slightly rough surface will help the head "bite" into the gasket and
slide
> less/leak less.
>      Loren
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