Hey guys,

I have a 1989 1043cc Mk2 Polo. The headgasket was weeping oil onto the alternator so I decided to put a new gasket on because its already killed one alternator.

Before I took the head off I lined up the mark on the cam pully with the mark on the cam cover because I couldn't see the crank pully to line the timing marks up. The bodywork is in the way and the alternator pully AND theres a stupid cover over it too! Once I had lined the cam pully and cam cover marks up I took the head off. Number one and four cylinders were at TDC. I cleaned up the head and made sure that I didn't rotate the cam at all.

I put it all back together tonight and it wouldn't start.

I have a few questions.

How are you supposed to line up the timing marks on the crank pully because I can't even see the crank pully due to the alternator pully and a plastic cover?

Also would it run if the timing was one or two teeth out? Or would it bend valves?

If it turns out the valves are bent, could I just drop a 1.3 lump in it?

Cheers,

Edd

Edited 15 September, 200818 yr by eddbmxdude

The timing marks are on the larger pulley that runs the alternator belt. There should be a little 'nick' across the outer rim of the pulley. It wouldn't damage the engine if you have one or two teeth out, and i'm sure the starter motor would stall if you tried turning it over and valves met pistons. An easy mistake that a lot have made is to get the plug leads mixed up. Try rechecking the static timing first (run your thumbnail around the larger pulley outer edge and you'll feel the timing mark - it could be buried in years of muck).

And, yes you can drop a 1.3 in - the simplest mod is an MH engine, but if you wanted more oomph, you could GT it. Many on here have, with great results.

Edited 13 September, 200818 yr by euro-derby

The timing marks are on the larger pulley that runs the alternator belt. There should be a little 'nick' across the outer rim of the pulley. It wouldn't damage the engine if you have one or two teeth out, and i'm sure the starter motor would stall if you tried turning it over and valves met pistons. An easy mistake that a lot have made is to get the plug leads mixed up. Try rechecking the static timing first (run your thumbnail around the larger pulley outer edge and you'll feel the timing mark - it could be buried in years of muck).

And, yes you can drop a 1.3 in - the simplest mod is an MH engine, but if you wanted more oomph, you could GT it. Many on here have, with great results.

Very helpful, thanks.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Edited 13 September, 200818 yr by eddbmxdude

Right, I found the timing mark on the alternator pully and used that to time it up. Now it starts but as soon as I put my foot on the accelerator it dies. If I let it idle for about 25ish seconds and then slowly give it some it will pick up and rev ok, but when I go to actually pull away it will cough, splutter, then die altogether

Got some pics, is that little point the mark I should be using for timing?

And this is where the mark on the cam pulley is.

Have I timed that up right? Oh, also, how do I rotate the waterpump to tension the belt? I can see two bolts securing it, but when I undo them the pump won't shift at all!

Edited 14 September, 200818 yr by eddbmxdude

The water pump is likely seized,and need removing with a hammer and chisel - and replacing with new.

But i dont think your problem has anything to do with the new cambelt,tension should be fine,more likely you've not bolted something up properly.

Maybe something like the inlet manifold,distributor being put back on at a different degree or plugs on in the wrong order,i dont know from here.

The water pump is likely seized,and need removing with a hammer and chisel - and replacing with new.

But i dont think your problem has anything to do with the new cambelt,tension should be fine,more likely you've not bolted something up properly.

Maybe something like the inlet manifold,distributor being put back on at a different degree or plugs on in the wrong order,i dont know from here.

Hmm, well I didn't touch the plugs and the dizzy cap went on in exactly the same position as it came off. Theres little lugs on it, so you can't really get that wrong.

I was speaking to my old man last night and he was saying something about vacuum advance and retard dizzy caps. He reckons I might have left something unplugged or plugged something in the wrong place.

I could be wrong but I seem to remember there are 3 bolts holding the water pump; the lower one in your cam timing mark picture is possibly holding the pump through the plastic cover? The pump normally needs a fair bit of effort to get it to shift; it will also leak some coolant when it starts to move. When you fit a new cambelt the exact position of the cam is only accurate to 1 tooth. The distributer runs directly off the end of the camshaft and so the timing will always be affected by a few degrees. Mark the existing position so you can get a starting point where it will run and then set exact timing by rotating the distributer.

I could be wrong but I seem to remember there are 3 bolts holding the water pump; the lower one in your cam timing mark picture is possibly holding the pump through the plastic cover? The pump normally needs a fair bit of effort to get it to shift; it will also leak some coolant when it starts to move. When you fit a new cambelt the exact position of the cam is only accurate to 1 tooth. The distributer runs directly off the end of the camshaft and so the timing will always be affected by a few degrees. Mark the existing position so you can get a starting point where it will run and then set exact timing by rotating the distributer.

Nice one, will give that a try, cheers mate. :-)

Edd

I've been doing a bit of reading and to set the exact timing using the distributor I'm guessing I undo the bolt circled in red (I'm assuming theres one on the other side too) and rotate the cap?

Also, on a slightly different note. It looks like I can put a GT engine in a MK2, how easy is it and what is involved? Actually plumbing the engine up is easy, but its the wiring that scares me. Will I have to start replacing looms and stuff?

Cheers,

Edd

Edited 15 September, 200818 yr by eddbmxdude