Golf GTI Mk1 head gasket
Golf GTI Mk1 head gasket
Author
Discussion

Tant

Original Poster:

509 posts

222 months

Monday 29th April 2013
quotequote all
Hello all

A friend of a friend has a MK1 golf GTI cabriolet with a suspected duff head gasket (water visible at the gasket and losing water). He says it is a 1.8 or a 1.9, but being unfamiliar with these cars, thought they only did these in a 1.6.

He's asked me to replace the head gasket for him, but despite having done many other cars head gaskets, and rebuilt a few engines, I'm just looking out for any pitfalls with this job.

I intend to remove the valves and grind them in if they seem generally OK. I've not seen the car and am not sure if it is an alloy head, and if new head bolts will be required, and also the torque and tightening sequence.

I'm presuming it will be Bosch K jetronic, so nothing too complicated with that part of the job.

He says the car is LHD and purchased in italy so I'm not sure if this will have any bearing on the engine type.

Any tips appreciated
Thanks
Anthony

steveo3002

11,211 posts

204 months

Monday 29th April 2013
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is an alloy head , bolt sequence will be on the head gasket packet usualy

think some of the later ones might be digifant inj early cars will be solid tappets and later ones hydraulic

should be as straightforward as any other head gasket job , fit a new cam belt and tensioner while your at it

Vince70

1,944 posts

224 months

Monday 29th April 2013
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It will be a 1.8 Gti I think the injection systems changed over in about 1988 at around the same time as the when the car gained bigger bumpers.

Mikey G

4,893 posts

270 months

Monday 29th April 2013
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The stupid 'C' clips on the downpipe can be a pain, we made a wedge to force them apart to get them over the edge. Underneath using a bar force the downpipe over one way to fit the wedge, this opens the 'C' clip up. Then push the downpipe towards the other side of the car and lift off the clip, repeat for other clip.

steveo3002

11,211 posts

204 months

Tuesday 30th April 2013
quotequote all
depending on its age..it might be a 6 bolt flange on the down pipe

shoehorn

686 posts

173 months

Tuesday 30th April 2013
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Mikey G said:
The stupid 'C' clips on the downpipe can be a pain, we made a wedge to force them apart to get them over the edge. Underneath using a bar force the downpipe over one way to fit the wedge, this opens the 'C' clip up. Then push the downpipe towards the other side of the car and lift off the clip, repeat for other clip.
Horrible bd things!