my car wont start

car wont start, no compression on 1 and 4 low on 2 and 3. valves ok head skimmed, new gasket, been told proberly bottom end. any ideas on rebuild or new engine?

Are you sure timing is correct? My car had no compression turned out timing belt wasn't on correctly


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Gotta love gassers, as they can be 180, 270, 0r 45 degrees out of time, and you would never know it…

My Daughter called, said dad the car won't start, and it made a popping noise…..



Yes that is a Snapped belt… well a few teeth stripped…

thanks for your advise, i have spoken to graham at rawspeed plymouth and he said he will have a look at it for me but hes always busy so he said it maybe a few weeks before he can look at it. tempted to just put a 1.8 dx in but its a original 1.6 turbo technics. i spoke to turbo technics and they have a record of a 1.6 being done by themself in 1984,  they have the turbo details which match mine so i think ive got the only 1.6 ever done. it would be nice to keep original engine???

Absolutely keep the original engine, you'll only regret it! I've been through so many to go back original. Turbo Technics, special one too

Even if its a strip down and rebuild, I'd levy its still cheaper than a conversion, often the conversion engine will need the same care after so long… and well, even the cheapest conversions aren't all that…

As also said, if theres been work recently, id have the basics checked… timing etc

i have only had 1 quote to recon my engine and it was £1300. i dont know if thats about right or not as ive never had one done before, i have a lead on a 1.6 engine for sale so if its ok i may just buy it to keep as a spare. im in no rush to put it on the road as my 3.0 essex capri is my baby at mo but everytime i look at the golf i get a little buzz from it

Hard to say, but I'd expect it to be that ballpark depending what needs doing.

I paid £1600 ish for mine doing, new bearings/ rings/ gaskets/ seals etc

Head refurbished, new guides and what not. Everything given a once over, and refreshed accordingly basically.

I did also have my gearbox sorted in that price, needed a few bearings and planet gears… but wont they all…. I was just being a tart and didn't want to hear any dodgy noises I couldn't explain  

But if its a project/ toy and you do want to keep it, I'd do it in stages… value will only go up most likely, and that engine is special. Dispel any engine swap ideas …  

I'm unsure on Turbo Technics engines specifically, but I know my Janspeed turbo stuff doesn't use any special pistons etc, It might be you could get away with a  refurbed or new to you standard 1.6 engine and bolt your turbo bits to it….

Either way, keep us updated in the projects area on how you get on  

thanks for your advice, ive been thinking too much of different ideas, im going to tax my capri on the ist april and my escort and xr4i are already on the road so i think i should just enjoy the season and do the golf in stages and get it done correctly, i have a xr2 mk2 that is a show car and it just sits in the garage doing nothing, may think of selling that and use the money to sort the golf ,but they are going up in price, think i just save and see what happens,  (see i told you i think to much)

Same here, been and had the same dilemmas regarding my golf.

And had the same conclusions as you, enjoy what you have… do it in stages at your own pace. These things are only going one way in price… so just stick with it and you wont go far wrong

Most parts are cheap, and used over decades of Golf/Jetta/Passat/Transporter platforms .. you'll find the 8v, albeit updated all the way up to the 90's… so most bits are plentiful.

Bit like fords I guess …

after having the car sat in the back of the garage waiting to save up to rebuild my engine, i had a bit of luck i think. the bloke in the yard next to me had his head done on his transit twice and still had problems ,then another bloke turned up and fixed it, i got talking and he said he would look at the golf , he buys problem cars mostly cambelts snapped ect and i had had bmw in need of alot of work, he said he will rebuild my head in exchange for the car.  head came off yesterday and he noticed a small crack and said someones changed the head gasket and not skimmed the head and used same bolts. he said the bottem looked all good,   i had another head when i bought the car and that went to  engine shop today, they are going to have it back for monday. fingers crossed he can get it going, if not at least i know the heads done and just save to get bottom done,  i will update monday with some pics

Sounding positive Shaun, will make for a nice gti when done.

Looking forward to updates

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im getting more excited now, i asked the bloke doing it to take pics as he going, he said he would so i will update them later, he rang me today and said the valve guides and valve seats  have to be done aswel. he also doing oil pump for me . if he gets it running he said he cant see it failing mot on much as its solid. i lke my fords but im thinking of selling my xr2 as i never drive it and use the money to detail the golf, anyway im off to simply ford this weekend with my 3.0 essex capri so i will have a look at a few engine bays and think of the golf