VW 2.0 8v block (2003 Beetle) can I use it under a diesel head?

[Christ]

Where can I figure out the compression numbers, etc?

I've got the block, the head will fit, and the stock manifold from the 2.0 fits the 1.6D head and can bolt on a K03 turbo (not sure it'll fit where I need it to, but it opens up options anyway).

Just wondering if the 2.0 block will work. Hopefully it'll see a modest compression boost and more low-end torque than the anemic 1.6D had originally, and I've got to rebuild the 1.6D engine no matter what. This block has 40k on it and blew a head gasket, so 2 and 3 pistons are scored with water damage along the edges, but parts are cheap, and the pistons look like good dishes.

[mwebb]

if the original hone marks can not be seen
and there are

score marks on the cylinder bores
that would
indicate the need to bore to next oversize ,

at the very least .

the engine was overheated
it may be a boat anchor

remove the pistons to see before making any plans for that block

[Christ]

I spun it over by hand, there are still OE cross hatch marks in the cylinders and no scoring. It wasn't overheated, but water got into the cylinder at high RPM and "pinged" the piston crowns at the edges. The pistons are actually still usable, but I'm not THAT cheap.

[Christ]

No damage to the head at all, still have that, too. Deck is straight on the block, no other damage. It's actually really clean, still has the factory black paint on the block and no oil staining inside.

[mwebb]

those engines do not just up and pop head gaskets at 40k
unless
they were overheated

in fact those engine rarely pop head gaskets for any reason
they are very robust - so
there is a surprise lurking , that you have not found , look close around the water jackets of the cyl head , when zeros add the wrong coolant , or the pressure cap fails
they get cavitation erosion which eats into the aluminum head and under cuts the head gasket -

that would be your best failure scenario , otherwise
it was overheated when the plastic impeller broke off of the water pump shaft and the driver did not understand what was happening

Originally Posted by Christ

No damage to the head at all, still have that, too. Deck is straight on the block, no other damage. It's actually really clean, still has the factory black paint on the block and no oil staining inside.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by mwebb

those engines do not just up and pop head gaskets at 40k
unless
they were overheated

in fact those engine rarely pop head gaskets for any reason
they are very robust - so
there is a surprise lurking , that you have not found , look close around the water jackets of the cyl head , when zeros add the wrong coolant , or the pressure cap fails
they get cavitation erosion which eats into the aluminum head and under cuts the head gasket -

that would be your best failure scenario , otherwise
it was overheated when the plastic impeller broke off of the water pump shaft and the driver did not understand what was happening

Betcha it'd pop a head gasket at over 20PSI of boost (stupid cheap wastegate) without damaging anything else... and since I'm the driver, I'm sure I understood what happened immediately and pulled the car over, shut the engine down and had it towed to the shop where I pulled the engine and replaced it with a new 2.0 crate engine with ARP studs and a water cut copper head gasket so it didn't happen to the owner, too.

[Christ]

Back to the point of the thread, though...