What is this engine sitting in my basement??
Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:18 am
Several years back, I picked up a spare short block to have around. Plan was to eventually rebuild it then have it ready to drop in if my '81 Rabbit's motor ever started getting weak. Well, plans change. I sold the Rabbit last month, with its motor still rock solid since I re-ringed it 20k ago. Now I have this spare sitting in my basement that I need to get rid of.
Here's the thing. When I bought it, the guy said it was from an '84 Rabbit, so I assumed it was a 12mm block. A guy who was interested in it asked me to confirm for sure by running a 12mm headbolt down a bolt hole. Well, sure enough, it's NOT a 12mm motor.... the bolt did not fit. Now the question is: what IS it?
It clearly has 11mm headbolt holes, but it has 1 6 D stamped on the back of the block. From that I can only assume it is one of the early 1.6L motors from the first part of '81, that still used 11mm bolts. Is that safe to assume, or did 1.5L motors have that stamped in the back too? Is there any way to know for sure -- from the serial number, etc?
Of course, the next question is: does anyone in the Seattle area want the dang thing? I know the 11mm 1.6 blocks are often thought of as something to avoid, but they are also hard to find, so maybe there is someone who needs one. I have heard they are fine if you convert em to head studs. Will this block fit under a 1.5L head? I assumed so, but it would be worth knowing for sure...
Thanks in advance for any help! Sorry to be leaving the VW diesel fold... but I'm not really leaving it, moving onward and upward to Volvo diesels, which are really just a VW diesel's big brother at heart.
Here's the thing. When I bought it, the guy said it was from an '84 Rabbit, so I assumed it was a 12mm block. A guy who was interested in it asked me to confirm for sure by running a 12mm headbolt down a bolt hole. Well, sure enough, it's NOT a 12mm motor.... the bolt did not fit. Now the question is: what IS it?
It clearly has 11mm headbolt holes, but it has 1 6 D stamped on the back of the block. From that I can only assume it is one of the early 1.6L motors from the first part of '81, that still used 11mm bolts. Is that safe to assume, or did 1.5L motors have that stamped in the back too? Is there any way to know for sure -- from the serial number, etc?
Of course, the next question is: does anyone in the Seattle area want the dang thing? I know the 11mm 1.6 blocks are often thought of as something to avoid, but they are also hard to find, so maybe there is someone who needs one. I have heard they are fine if you convert em to head studs. Will this block fit under a 1.5L head? I assumed so, but it would be worth knowing for sure...
Thanks in advance for any help! Sorry to be leaving the VW diesel fold... but I'm not really leaving it, moving onward and upward to Volvo diesels, which are really just a VW diesel's big brother at heart.