[Vwdiesel] Banana Rabbit--Bad news...

[mikitka]

I can attest for taking it to a shop that is familiar with VW heads.  The
shop that worked on my 91 Eco head didn't have a clue and when I got it home
it would not start, only to find out that the valves didn't close all the
way and so I didn't have any compression.  Needless to say they fixed it
with the help of the Bentley manual I loaned them. 

Nick


I would suggest that you take the head to a machine shop, that is 
familiar with that head.  In my town I have used several shops, but
the one that does work for the VW dealerships seems to best understand
what they can and cannot do with the VW heads.

I always spend the bucks for a pressure test, when there is overheat or
sudden stoppage.  Ditto a dye crack detection test, if appropriate.

Most shops will tell you what they can do.  

As my familiarity increased, I would sometimes cut corners.  If I had a 
rust bucket I wanted to nurse through just one more winter, I might 
do just the seals myself.

It is entirely possible you'll be pulling one or two pistons...
so the sooner you can pop the head, the sooner the uncertainty is out of
the way.

Finally, my experience with machine shops has been very good.  I've
never felt they did a poor job, or didn't inform me, or whatever.
I go in and ask their recommendation, and then try to understand 
why.