Need Old Diesel help!

[audi90sportQ]

Just picked up an 81' Caddy...1.5D .. cherry

But owner said he was drivin' er down the highway and it quit...buncha white smoke..parked it..says it cranks over well.. so low compression. There is no coolant in the res.

He suspects head gasket as do I! What is your input?

And if it is the head gasket, does anyone know of a good DIY? Or could type a quick one, as he couldn't find the trucks repair manual!

[hamradio]

where are you located?

I could swing by and give you a hand with it, if you'd like.

[audi90sportQ]

Im down in mankato. You exactly the guy I need help from! The gurrruuuu lol

I def. need help with this.

[Digital K]

these really aren't that hard to work on. If I were you, I'd get a manual and dive into it. the hardest part is getting the timing correct once its back together. if you want to start learning mechanical skills, that engine is a good place to start. do you have basic hand tools?

since you are far away, we can try to help via the forum, and photos if you go after it.

[audi90sportQ]

I can easily rip it apart! I just don't know where to start first...from the 3 seconds of looking under the hood, this is my first VW with the original timing belt cover..that looks like you have to remove just about everything to get that off!

But then couldn't you in theory zip tie the timing belt to the I.P, Crank, and Cam gears, release the tension on the belt and remove the cam gear from the head. Then just put it back together, pretty impossible to screw the timing up then maybe?

[hamradio]

But then couldn't you in theory zip tie the timing belt to the I.P, Crank, and Cam gears, release the tension on the belt and remove the cam gear from the head. Then just put it back together, pretty impossible to screw the timing up then maybe?

That will not work, because the cam gear is not keyed.

buy the bentley manual for the car. should be ~$40. that will outline the proper procedure for timing belt and head removal. you can get away with using a deep socket (something around 11mm) for the injection pump lock pin, and a piece of flat steel for the cam bar.

[audi90sportQ]

Hmm ok, still wouldnt mind some help!

[hamradio]

if I had my bentley with me here in st. paul, I'd scan the tbelt/head removal pages for you. lemme see if I can scrounge something up.

[audi90sportQ]

My man!!

I want to get the head off ASAP so I know which gasket to buy!

[Digital K]

the gasket should have holes on it that you can see from looking at it. this should designate what gasket to buy.

[hamradio]

You should be able to see how many notches the gasket has, from the front, with the head on.

[audi90sportQ]

Sounds good. Going to clean her up tomm. take some interior bits out..needs cleaned bad..and needs a floor patch on the driver side.

Probably tear the motor down a bit, hopefully I can snag those pages HAM!

[Digital K]

would really be good to grab a bentley manual either way.

[audi90sportQ]

Ok I got the interior out today carpet and all. Shits musty and moldy, floors look solid except one easy patch on the driver side.

This whole head gasket notch thing is tiking me off, I still don't know what I need?? I just want to order the head gasket kit off BFI, but it says for all 1.5,1.6,1.7 8v. Bblaahh

[sprstu]

Diesel head gaskets are not the same as gas head gaskets.

On the Diesle HG there is a little tab thst sticks out the front, just by the water neck in the center. On this tab you will see some nothces, or dimples, or dots (It depends on who made the gasket). These marks represent thickness, 1 2 or 3. 3 is the thickest. The thickness is important for valve and piston clearance. If you are 100% unsure of what to buy get a 3 notch.

Why do you think the Head gasket is the issue? Usually its the injector pump that needs a new seal or two. A bad seal will cause a running engine to sputter to a stop for seemingly no reason. A bad head Gasket would not.

if you are unfamiliar with the procedure for replacing a diesel Timing Belt then you should not be undertaking this head gasket switch until you have read up. There is almost 0 room for error here. You will be more frustrated by your non-running engine or you will ruin the head if you do not follow the timing precisely as it says. Its not hard, it is however very important to do it correctly.

Vincewaldon.com has the best walk-through on the timing, you wont find one with better pictures or better explanation.