[Vwdiesel] Loctite, rods and pistons

[Shawn Wright]

On 2 May 2005 at 23:19, Libbybapa at wmconnect.com <Libbybapa at wmconnect.com> wrote:

> I didn't use loctite on the rod nuts on my van.  I torqued it to spec, and RB
> didn't mention loctite, but now I'm wondering.  Should I have?

I didn't when I swapped bearings several years ago and it didn't come apart...
 
> Are the NA and the TD pistons the same other than the squirter cutout?  Can one
> grind the cutout out?  Brave and nasty thought, eh?  I imagine the balance would
> be completely thrown, but hmmm. Andrew

Jim over on DV just got TD pistons from busdepot for his. Some discussion came up 
about modifying NA pistons, and it has been done I think, but they are definitely 
different. The TDs have the cutouts cast in, so the casting is thicker there, and the 
area around the wrist pins is also thicker I think. I compared my OE TD pistons with a 
set of Cofap NA pistons, and there were several other subtle differences, but some 
of those could be just due to different brands. (the busdepot ones are Kolbenschmidt 
apparently).

Shawn Wright
http://zuiko.sls.bc.ca/~swright
'85 Jetta D 
'88 Westy 2.1L, soon to be 1.6TD 5 speed
 (see progress at http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels)
'82 Diesel Westy