[Vwdiesel] [Audi-VW-Diesels] Head Bolts and more

[Dave Cook]

I am guessing that the 11mm stretch bolts are the same between the gas and diesel engines.  (Like I said, my diesel rabbit bentley refers to both, and it mentions that they gradually switched over sometime in 1981.  

While I was ordering the stuff from Carquest (through their world impex line, not the carquest line...) it showed no stock on the diesel bolts but did show gasser 11mm bolts, which I ordered.  I bet the catalog only listed the non-stretch bolts for the diesel.  

As far as the rod bolts, I looked at them last night only because I had been having a conversation about rod bolts with someone last night and noticed it while looking around on Adirondack Auto Part's website.

Since the head is off now and all, I am really thinking I'll go ahead and stick the bearings in along with the rings and honing the cylinders.  That way it'll be good to go if I decide to drive it long term, and will make it more appealing to a buyer when I sell the car.  And I will finally have the experience of getting an engine I rebuilt running, something I've never done but have wanted to do.  Because I haven't tried rebuilding one, not because I tried and it didn't run!  :)  

I think the only question I have with this is, is there any reason besides "it might not be necessary" to consider *NOT* replacing the bearings?  

I am also excited to install all the fresh seals and such, and having a leak-free engine.  That might well be a first!  Since I will be having the block stripped down, I will likely power wash it and I might give it a fresh coat of paint while I'm at it.  That'll make it more pleasant to work on in the future.

Dave Cook


--- On Mon, 2/7/11, LBaird119 at aol.com <LBaird119 at aol.com> wrote:

> From: LBaird119 at aol.com <LBaird119 at aol.com>
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] [Audi-VW-Diesels] Head Bolts and more
> To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> Date: Monday, February 7, 2011, 6:03 AM
> In a message dated 2/6/2011 9:09:15
> PM Pacific Standard Time, 
> davevw at yahoo.com
> writes:
> 
> > Hmm, so do I use the reuseable bolts, or do I use the
> stretch bolts that 
> > are presumably on the way?  My inclination is
> that VW thought the stretch 
> > ones were better and that is why they went that way.
> 
>   I've heard of using the gas stretch bolts for
> supposedly better 
> head gasket retention than the non stretch bolts but never
> had 
> anybody really be able to verify they're better.  I
> usually just add 
> 5 lbs to the torque, be sure you chased the holes, cleaned
> the 
> threads and put a couple drops of oil on them and the
> washer 
> to head contact as well.
> 
> > 
> > Also, I just noticed that the rod bolts are stretch
> bolts.  Wish I would 
> > have realized that when I put in the big order
> including bearings. 
> > 
> > 
>   Actually the 1.5, 1.6 rod bolts aren't
> stretch.  Some references 
> say it is, some don't comment (implying they aren't). 
> I finally got 
> someone that knew (forget who now) that stopped for a
> second 
> and thought about it then said the gassers are but the
> diesels 
> aren't.  I've never replaced one, have redlined mine
> quite often 
> and have never had a problem with a rod, ever.
>   Just like one machinist told me to throw away the
> 914 exhaust 
> valves and replace them.  Standard practice when
> rebuilding an 
> air cooled VW engine.  I protested, asking if he knew
> what those 
> things cost!  I said they were about $70 each (as I
> recall).  He 
> said bah! and said I still have to.  I asked why and
> it turns out it 
> has to do with the way they're put together and the heads
> can 
> drop off.  I then pointed out they were sodium
> filled...  He paused, 
> and said "oh, that's right!  Ok, you can grind them
> then, forget what 
> I said."
>     Loren
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