[Vwdiesel] About to rebuild a 1.6

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

  Depending on what he did, the starting fluid could have damaged things 
and then again it may not have done a thing.  Blowby generally isn't an 
ether cause issue unless pistons are broken or such, which isn't common 
on these.  
  As James said, check your pistons and head for damage in case he 
really did overdo the starting fluid.  Check the head for warpage, they 
usually "grow" right on the outside rim, outside the water jacket.
  You'll likely need exhaust valves (check the stems for wear) new 
guides (intake and exhaust) rings or a rebore (wear limit is something 
like .0024 inch piston to cylinder wall clearance).  If oil's been kept up 
with the main and rod bearings are usually fine.  Intermediate shaft 
bearings are a MUST and there's a thin o-ring on the back lip of the 
intermediate shaft seal holder you don't want to miss replacing too.
  Oil pumps are usually fine unless there's been oil neglect or some 
bearing failure, same with the cam.
  Setting the cam and pump back without special tools is EASY but 
it's really worth having the proper adapters (holder and pin extension) 
and a dial gauge for setting the pump timing optimally.  You can put 
it back and have it run easily enough but you don't know if it's right.  

  A friend managed to do it two different times and when I checked it 
his timing was spot on, but then I'd originally set it correctly so we 
knew it SHOULD be right on.  Get it back on the right teeth, set the 
belt tension correct and it'll be right back where it started.  :-)  Of 
course you'll be putting on a new belt too so that changes things 
a tad also.  
  Oh, you'll have to measure the piston projection with a calipier or 
depth gauge, stack of feeler gauges or such, and order the head 
gasket according to what you come up with.  If you just re-ring 
then CLEAN OUT THE RING GROOVES!
     Loren

In a message dated 4/10/2006 9:48:35 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
merkurfan at yahoo.com writes:

> Getting ready to rebuild the diesel in my rabbit. The previous owner
> substituted starting fluid for glow plugs for to long. Blow by galore
> and of course, it won't start with out a push. Anyways, anything I
> should be looking for as I take it apart? Any tips to rebuilding it.
> Tricks so I don't have to buy the special tools to set the pump and cam
> are always welcome too ;)
>