[Vwdiesel] More Dasher?

[William J Toensing]

Thought I would share an update although I don't have my Dasher engine back together yet. The two studs on my headless Rabbit diesel which I salvaged are quite interesting.I took them to a mechanic I trust & to one of my autoparts source.  The bottom or block side of the studs have 12mm 1.75 threads but surprise! The top threads are 7/16" fine or machine threads. My 7/16" grade 8 nut screwed on so nicely  I thought it was loose but this time both my mechanic & parts shop confirmed the top threads were 7/16" fine threads & not metric. The import parts source just assumed the top was metric because the bottom was. Now I wonder, where could such studs be sourced? It certainly is easier to source 7/16" nuts in the USA than 11mm nuts. In this search, I was also told that 11mm nuts, bolts, & studs are oddball & hard to find. Perhaps this is why VW switched from 11mm to 12mm bolts. Wonder why VW used 11mm bolts in the first place? Could they be slightly cheaper in the huge manufacturing volume the factory is engaged in? Or would there be a design reason?