[Vwdiesel] spun bearing - crank regrind? new rings?

[Gary Bangs]

Will,
Without knowing most history of the low mileage rebuilt, it would be
hard to say if new rings would be needed. Usually if there is good
compression and it doesn't burn oil, I wouldn't touch them. But...

If you have to pull the crank for machining, if it were me, I would pull
the crank out of that 91 parts Jetta, measure the crank, have the
journals polished, and put that in.

A good machinist can measure the bores with the pistons still in place,
but the crank will need to be rotated 'cause he will need to measure
halfway down the bore. New rings can always go in, but you would need to
break the glaze on the cylinder walls with a hone.

If you plan on reusing that suspect rod that spun its bearing, it will
need to be measured for straightness. Better yet, grab one out of your
parts Jetta and put your old piston on it.


Just my $0.02

-Gary

Will Taygan wrote:
> So..  I picked up another '82 diesel Westy, this one "just needed a head
> gasket."  Yeah, right.  After 2 years of coolant in the cylinders, you
> can guess how the rings stuck to the cylinder walls.  Nice body and
> interior, though!
>
> Anyway, I've got a relatively? low-mile factory reman short block that
> spent some time in the other '82 Westy - inherited from the PO, who
> didn't have his oil light hooked up. (nor his speedometer nor blower
> motor - and a crack in the head next to a prechamber)
>
> Before tearing it out, I got that short block "running," but it had a
> terrible low end knock.  Ended up being a spun #1? rod bearing.
>
> I'm trying to get this new Westy up and running for camping this summer,
> and am *hoping* the bores are still good on that old short block.  If
> so, I assume I should put new rings on and hone the cylinder.  I wonder
> if the machine shop needs the pistons pulled to measure the bore, heck
> the rings *might* still be good?  Any harm in putting new ones on??
>
> Should I assume the crank needs to be reground?  Is the #1 rod likely to
> be bent/damaged?
>
> I've got another blown engine (oil in cylinders, bubbles in coolant) in
> the 91 parts Jetta, I could pull that crank..
>
> Just trying to rebuild a solid engine, but use up the parts I already
> have.  My last experience with a machine shop didn't go so well, and
> I've only done this once before.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Thanks, Will in Alaska.
>
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