blown piston ring is there an alternative cure?

hiya guys,

a few months ago i bought a mk1 gti cabriolet paid an arm an a leg for it and 3 weeks after having it, a piston ring blows  :cry: .

all the garages say is easyest thing to do is put another engine into it coz the price of a complete rebuild is more than the cars worth. but coz i live in the arse end of know where and im now without transport, i cant find a engine anywhere an cant get out to pick one up if i did find one…..  

so was just wondering are there any alternatives? does the mk2 bottom end fit the mk1? any other bottom ends fit? i really dont wanna scrap her coz she's in mint condition but cant shell out for a rebuild/TSR engine this side of xmas…….. need help!!!!! big time

are you sure it's a ring that's gone, or has a piston failed? A broken ring isn't usually a catastrophic failure…

Piston rings can be changed with the engine in place if the bores aren't scratched - I changed mine to cure an oil burning problem -sump off, bigends off, cylinder head off and out they come!
Cost about thirty quid for the rings, plus about another fifty quid for gaskets and new cylinder head bolts.

Some dealers will courier a second hand engine for forty quid or so, or there amy be somebody on this site who lives somewhere near and would give you a lift with an engine… keep asking - there are quite a few Mk1 nutters in south Wales

i kind of run with the 'good second hand is better than new' rule. finding a low mileage dx is going to be hard. i have one but that is there for just in case reasons. so it's a tricky choice. oldfart is right, but it depends on wether you are going to do your own work or pay a mechanic/garage to do it. i'd not be keen on doing one piston ring. if i were to go to that trouble, than i would look at a rebuild. it's a pays your money and take your choice job.

well i think its the piston ring heres what happend……….

was driving bout 30mph in fourth, then had to nearly stop for the car in front to turn off, dropped down into 2nd….. and as i pulled off tons and tons of black smoke filled the whole street behind me and the engine was making a metal on metal tinking sort of sound.

i pulled over turn the engine off, looked on the floor and loads of water was coming out coz i blown a water pipe too.

started the car 5 mins later and no smoke and no horrible sound, but 5 mins after that all the smoke and noise again…..

got it towed home….. put a new pipe on, started her up fine then 5 mins later the noise and smoke again

and i'd be getting a garage to do the work coz of my 12 hour shifts 6 days a week  :cry:

Sounds bad, the piston ring or rings must have failed completely - worn pistons rings can go on for thousands of miles and often just increase oil consumption at first. If you can source a good 2nd engine from a breaker they will probably be able to arrange for it to be couried direct (at a cost) to the garage doing work.

Cheers

thats the thing see i cant find an engine !!!

some one must have tried alternatives? can get my hands on lots of mk2 engines but the price of converting it might as well rebuild mine.

thats why im wondering does any other bottom ends fit, have been told a 2.0 ltr passat bottom end goes straight on but no ones answered yet lol!

slickmcrick said

thats the thing see i cant find an engine !!!

some one must have tried alternatives? can get my hands on lots of mk2 engines but the price of converting it might as well rebuild mine.

thats why im wondering does any other bottom ends fit, have been told a 2.0 ltr passat bottom end goes straight on but no ones answered yet lol!

Keep looking for a Mk1 or early Mk2 engine, they're not rare, in fact I'm sure there's several for sale on this site.

Yes should be able to find one on a VW forum or ebay. Also try these people http://www.247spares.co.uk/ - says engines delivered from ?150. Did try them once for a price on a mk1 GTI gearbox, had a breaker offer me a box for ?75 with 6 month warranty + ?30 for courier.

Cheers