Top end tick

[gavin.starr]

I seem to have developed a top end tick. I have been to nottingham and back this weekend 250 mile round trip.

I only noticed it when we slowed down and got back on the 30mph roads and no wind noise. Its definatley top end by the sounds of it. I Have been after refurbing the head since i got the engine anyway. I have noticed that it has been loosing a bit of acceleration over about 2-3 weeks which leads me to the charger as i think that need a refurb too. But one at a time.

Has any one got a link or a walk through for removing the head and replacing valves etc... I have never done one before but im up for giving it a go. I have only ever touched the bottom ends on engines before so top ends are a bit new to me.

Also where would the best place to get all new components to do the refurb from? And does any one have an exploded diagram of ther head with part numbers so i know what bits i need to get.

Any help would be great.

Cheers

Gav

[hayesey]

you need a haynes manual, it's all in there.  Look at yellow pages for local engine builders, they should be able to supply all the parts.  Failing that then the usual places such as VW or GSF or ECP.

[PeteG40]

the tick could just be your tappets though

[cheys03]

How's your oil level? From experience I've noticed just a top up can make all the difference

[hayesey]

could be high oil temp too, I've had it on track days after a spirited session.

[randombadger69]

All you really need for a head re-build is:

Patience
Dohc type valve spring compressor
Sucker on a stick - pence from a good motor factors
valve grinding compound
Torque wrench
An array of spanners and a haynes manual
Machine shop for a skim if needed

[gavin.starr]

My oil levels are fine,

could be high oil temp too, I've had it on track days after a spirited session.

going off what you said the tap wasnt as bad this morning as what it was when i pulled off the motorway last night. So it could be oil tems as you suggested.

just out of curiosity how much is it likley to cost to re build the head?. The intercooler pipes seem to have quite alot of oil in them so the charger is in need of a refurb. Ill keep check on the tapping noise over the next few days and see how it is then, And then if it seems ok ill do the charger instead.

[randombadger69]

A skim if it needs is anywhere between £20-40.
A gasket kit and head bolts are prob £40-50
And a set of INA Buckets from RS engine supplies were £60 inc the dreaded.

[hayesey]

could be high oil temp too, I've had it on track days after a spirited session.

going off what you said the tap wasnt as bad this morning as what it was when i pulled off the motorway last night. So it could be oil tems as you suggested.

well I'd suggest it's not just the oil temp then as it'd have stopped doing it once the oil had cooled down.  Could just be a sticking tappet.

A head rebuild is a good idea though.  Add £15 for a haynes manual to that list of parts above. 

[gavin.starr]

Ive got the manual allready, mI just never thought to look in it for som reason, ive got so used to help from owners clubs that the haynes manuals have take a back burner.

Cheers for you help guys

[g40mark]

Seen this before with wrong oil.
What grade engine oil are you using?

[gavin.starr]

Definatly something to do with the oil temp, the car was running fine from work all the way home (around 8 miles). I had to go and visit my nan in hospital later on so it was a 12 mile trip down the motor way, when i came off the motorway the ticking started again.

Is this something to do with the oil thinning out when it gets too hot. i dont really go on the motorways much as a whole, so is it really worth me bothering buying an oil cooler kit?

Think im still going to do the top end rebuild though just to re-asure myself.

Gav

[PeteG40]

you find this happens when the tappets are full of sh1t.  i cleaned mine out and didnt happen as much as it used to.  However couple years later and happening again.  I'm going to fit a new set.  But an oil cooler will deffo help

[gavin.starr]

Can any one supply me with a picture of an exploded diagram of all the components in the cylinder head, I have just tried signing up on vagcat but the security question they have wont display on my computer at work so it wont let me sign up.

Its just so i know exactly what it is im going to need to order with part numbers etc... I dont want to get half way through and find i have missed something.

Cheers

Gav

[ereeiz]

www.vagcats.info doesn't ask for any security stuff, I jsut had a quick peek, but couldn't figure it out :/