[Vwdiesel] prepping block for head gasket tips

[Bryan Belman]

Thanks James for taking the time to write such a simple but Very helpful response for us all.
I will be keeping the link to these for when I need them next and you proceedures.
Good luck Will with the 91 Ecodiesel.
I got that lower compression nut off for the oil return line from turbo somehow without removing the oil pan, but it was tight.  Do you have a lift in this friends heated garage?  I did not, so that makes things much tougher.
 Bryan Belman, Pt. Pleasant, NJ
04 Jetta Wagon TDI PD, 100hp, 5sp -- running :)
82 Diesel Westy 1.9NA -- running :)
92 Jetta 1.6 Eco-Turbo Diesel -- running :)
70 Type 1 stock Beetle -- Not running :( 




________________________________
From: James Hansen <jhsg at sasktel.net>
To: Will Taygan <william at taygan.com>
Cc: "vwdiesel at vwfans.com" <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009 1:01:31 AM
Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] prepping block for head gasket tips

Will, I use these on every gasket surface, especially when using MLM or 
steel shim head gaskets on my race car motors.

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/3m7528.html

I just googled 3M roloc bristle disc, so you could see  a picture, no 
recommendation whatsoever for these guys, but the price seems good.
You'll prep maybe 5 blocks with one disc, so try to find one from a 
supplier such as acklands that breaks up cases and sells them individually.
They are EXTREMELY good surface prep, use with a die grinder (best is a 
90 degree one) and a roloc backing pad to match.
You want the white (v.fine) pad, it makes a very good gasket mating 
surface for most aanything, is very slow to cut on steel, mostly 
polishes, and is designed to surface prep aluminum, so it cuts very slow 
on steel.

Turn the crank so all the pistons are down a bit, stuff an oil saturated 
rag in each hole to catch cooties, and keep them from going past the 
piston crown to the top ring.  After polishing, clean clean clean.
run a tap down the head bolt holes, vacuum the holes out, blow them out, 
such them out with a soda straw, ANYTHING to get them completely 
perfectly clean or you can crack the block when the bolt encounters some 
foreign material.  Ounce of prevention saves a pound of "Oh shit!"
-james



Will Taygan wrote:
> first of all my shift key and caps lock aren't working atm, sorry for
> the punctuation...
> 
> 94 frankenjetta 1.6td - 85 or 86 engine - had 500 compression, blew a
> hose, lost coolant, overheated, now blows lots of bubbles into the
> coolant.
> 
> i tried retorquing, no luck.
> 
> i'm trying my 2nd ever head gasket - the first one was an utter failure,
> i think because i didn't prep the block well..  i was nervous about
> scratching it.
> 
> i'm pulling the head today, ordering parts and putting it back together
> next weekend.
> 
> any suggestions/specific products to use to prep the block
> 
> i'm bringing the head into the shop - 350 bucks high end estimate..
> we'll see...
> 
> are there any other repairs i should do while i'm in there
> 
> i'm in a buddy's garage, so i've got a heated space, but don't want to
> take too much time, especially since things were great - other than the
> standard oil drips - before the hose blew.
> 
> thanks,
> 
> will in alaska.
> 
> 
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