Help i need head swap

I have been having misfire problems on my, (just back on the road after 6 years) Mk 1 1500 golf. It turns out No3 plug thread is leaking, i have heard helicoil is not a good idea so i am considering swapping my 1500 head for a 1600 head off an engine i have spare on the garage floor. Can i do this without too many problems?

Hi , not sure about the 1.6 head but if its otherwise fine i'd get it helicoiled . Cheaper and you dont need to take the head off , a good garage should be able to do the job with the engine complete . Then if you do have probs later you can look into fitting
 the 1.6 head , nothing lost . If you really want to fit the 1.6 head then post a query under modifications , someone on here is bound to have either done it or tried it . Hope that helps .

I have a 1.5 head if you need one

geezer said

Hi , not sure about the 1.6 head but if its otherwise fine i'd get it helicoiled . Cheaper and you dont need to take the head off , a good garage should be able to do the job with the engine complete . Then if you do have probs later you can look into fitting
 the 1.6 head , nothing lost . If you really want to fit the 1.6 head then post a query under modifications , someone on here is bound to have either done it or tried it . Hope that helps .

Thanks for that, but i think that it may have been helicoiled in a past life, i will ask around for a good price and i will no doubt be back on with some other probs….cheers

What's wrong with chucking a Helicoil down the hole?  That's what I'd do…

hi if it is a jb engine code the 1.6 head should fit the waterways will be in the same location its the 1.8 head that will not fit as im sure the waterways are in a different place

I have a JB engine with a 1,6 head fitted, back in 1984 we had the head skimmed due to a leaking head gasket and got a 1,6 head back.
This has been on the car ever since.


greetz yal