Head gasket - which way?

[82vdub]

Fatmobile (or anyone else), will the head and exhaust manifold fit over the installed studs without hitting the cowl, or will the manifold hit if I try to install with the studs already in the engine? This is for my 82 Rabbit.

[the man 53]

It is somewhat tricky but in the mk2 I got it to go over the studs with the tubo bolted onto the head.

[Fatmobile]

I'm pretty sure you have to remove the intake/exhaust,
I'm trying to remember which Rabbit I learned that on,..??..

[82vdub]

Wrapped up my head gasket replacement over the weekend. Thought I'd post some pics.

I was able to install the studs and install the head and exhaust manifold without having to remove the manifold from the head. that's nice.

As I've mentioned before, I mark the sprockets and belt and translate those marks to the new belt to make sure there is zero questions on which cog the belt it supposed to go.

Cracks between the valves were small enough for me to not worry about them. This head has about 100,000 miles on it.

Check out the close up of the top of the cylinder. There's a very slight ridge at the top, but it's very minor. How's it look for 383,000 miles? Thanks Frantz filter!

[bbob203]

How do you loosen your cam sprocket i tried one of those jaw pullers autozone rental pieces of trash had it cranked on tight didn't budge cranked it a tad more and the puller flew off.

[coke]

Loosen the bolt a couple threads and whack the back end of it with a soft rubber mallet.

[82vdub]

I do what Coke says. On my old winter Jetta, I had the cam sprocket stuck on there really good. I took a piece of wood and put that up against the back of the sprocket and hit it with a mallet. I still couldn't get that one to budge. Ended up leaving it as it was and the car ran fine the way the Tbelt lined up and was timed.

[82vdub]

What's the thought on doing a 1000 mile retorque when using head studs? Is this necessary with the studs, or only with the bolts?

[Fatmobile]

I retorque studs too.
Back them off a little and bring ARPs back up to 80.
You should see them move a little farther.

[Quantum-man]

I retorque studs too.
Back them off a little and bring ARPs back up to 80.
You should see them move a little farther.

Exactly.

Remember folks 1000km and not 1000miles!

Bentley; bible it aint!

[VanBoy]

I retorque studs too.
Back them off a little and bring ARPs back up to 80.
You should see them move a little farther.

Exactly.

Remember folks 1000km and not 1000miles!

Bentley; bible it aint!

Good thing I found this....my project has ARP studs on them. 1000km is about 620miles.

So, one loosens and tightens it in the same sequence that one tightens the head then....(friend did the work for me). So that would be about two tanks of fuel...LOL.

[82vdub]

When I retorqued my ARP studs, I didn't back them off. I originally torqued to 80 ft/lbs, and on the retorque, I just went to 82 ft/lbs. I was surprised at how much more turn there was that was not likely from the extra 2 ft/lbs. Not sure if my logic is right or not, but I don't like the idea of backing off bolts before going for a retorque. I believe that it could provide just the little extra needed to make a weak area start to leak again, or something along those lines. This is based on my idea, not any mechanical training or experience.