Former VWDieselParts.com Forum

Mostly it was the 1.5L engines, but with repeated overheating the blocks can crack by the oil passage from the block to the head; it's near the #3 cylinder. Head removed: clean the block top surface off very well, finishing with brake cleaner or carb cleaner. Let it dry, then heat up the area around...

As indicated above, an intermittent ground can allow voltage surges that are problematic to certain devices within the electrical system. The headlight switch can become intermittent, then totally dysfunctional due to a shorted lead, higher-powered bulbs (BTDT!), or just wearing out/becoming sloppy ...

When all else is right, the main bearings in these diesels often have a crazy long life. IMO a more likely suspect is the rear bearing on the intermediate shaft. Some people put so much tension on the timing belt that it yanks the IM shaft sideways enough to wear out its rear bearing, thus bleeding ...

Yes, the parts are all 'swappable'. Obviously the crank-rods-pistons need to match specs, either all for 1.5L or all for 1.6L. To build a 1.6 in a 1.5 block (many would ask "WHY?"), you'll need to do some really minor grinding in a few spots on the block to give clearance for the crank &am...

Yes, that's an "AMC" head; guessing that last character is intended to be a somewhat stylized "C" (note the inward 'lean' on the "A" also). AFAIK their castings are usually fairly good, although they are known (especially on the later air cooled VW gasser heads) to chea...

Is a the "AML" possibly a poorly cast "AMC" lettering, a non-VW-factory aftermarket head made in Spain?

The real overall front-to-rear proportioning job is done up front, on-or-near the master cylinder. That rear "proportioning valve" (don't recall VW's actual name for it right now) is more of a fine tuning type of device to allow more or less pressure to the rear brakes according to the hea...

The VW ETKA I have shows 2 different master cylinders for '92 Jetta, but does not list them as engine-specific. The first listed is p/n 191 611 019, for vehicles #1G-L-028 210 and before. The other m.c. is p/n 357 611 019, for vehicles #1G-L-028 211 and later. Judging by the catalog on the site of (...

... I wonder if the rebuilt one that's going in there is OEM or a rebuilt aftermarket one... . Or, maybe just another 'junk yard survivor' that's been steam-cleaned, rattle-can painted, labeled & boxed? :shock: Could be difficult to spot the difference sometimes, but that type of 'supply chain'...

"... I've assumed the '85s have hydraulic heads, and ... " Only the gassers got hydraulic valve followers in 1985. The diesels still used mechanicals until 1986, and even then (according to a VW dealership mechanic who was moonlighting part-time for me back then), it was mid-year before m...

Westmoreland, PA, USA Rabbits were assembled with whatever parts were sent & available, and some sources have mentioned that those parts varied from time to time. Sorry, can't remember if our own '77 (German) & '80 (Westmoreland) Rabbits had the same speedo connectors in back of the cluster,...

Some speedos use a pinch-to-release clip rather than a threaded collar to hold the cable & housing in place at the back of the cluster.

The "middle" is always a nice goal, but sometimes hard to achieve. A bit 'too loose' would theoretically reduce - not increase a valve's maximum opening - so no added danger of a valve kissing a piston. 'Too tight'... avoid this by using honest measurements and obtaining the right shim; it...

Most '80-'84 Rabbits sold in the U.S. & Canada were manufactured/assembled in Westmoreland County, PA (probably a venture Volkswagen AG would prefer to forget!), while most pre-'80 Rabbits, especially those with non-opening front vent windows, i.e. "The Bronze Edition", were AFAIK manu...

x2 for the 'rattle box' comment by 82vdub ! OTOH, seeing that Jack (owner of this site) doesn't seem to list/carry alternator parts, you might note that (competitor's name removed by moderator) (located in Madison, WI ?) sells the entire voltage regulator (including new brushes!) for the Bosch alter...