[Vwdiesel] Loctite, rods and pistons

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

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 never have and never heard of Loctiting the rod caps.  I sure wouldn't 
worry about them. :-)

> 
> 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.
> 

  Suppose you could.  Just bring the balance to equal for all the 
pistons.  Might not be perfect for the rotational balance but then 
how many of us do that when we change pistons anyway.  My 
former machinist (left for another job) :-(  said don't waste money 
on balancing small import engines.  They're close enough that it's 
not worth it.  He said it IS worth making sure the pistons and rods 
match eachother, even do a flywheel if you really want but he 
was always amazed at how close the cranks usually were.  
  I'd seen something about one of the turbo rings being a different 
thickness but they don't seem to be.
     Loren