Whats happened to my valver

[KENTHFC]

Alright people, I need a bit of advice on whats up with my G reg 16v GTi. 172,000 miles.
I ve had a few problems with it since I bought it a year ago, recon gear box, new suspension ,exhaust ,cv joint + more little things. But now its f****d. I was on my way back from GSF and it just made this clonking noise (aparently con rods) and every thing stopped. I put my foot on the gas and nothing no revs nothing. I don t know what that means apart from I think its a new engine needed. Can anyone help any suggestions please. :-[

[Alexg40]

That could be anything mate, it's really not the kind of thing you could diagnose from afar. 

You may have thrown a rod, or the engine could have fallen out, could be anything 

[Gambit]

from what your describing it sounds as if the timing belt has snapped. if you prise back the belt cover a bit u should be able to see if your timing belt is still there or not!

[KENTHFC]

I m not gonna have the car back til the week end so I ll look at the belt then. Were about is this belt in the engine? I m only just learning about mk II, but it seems to be the hard way (expensive way!). I was told last night that its a new engine job, but I don t know how well hes looked, and he works for vauxhall.
 If I do need a new engine I ll most likely want to make it more powerful, what ways would anyone suggest. I ve got a new clutch and gearbox on it so I can reuse them. I ve also heard that you can put an Audi TT engine in them, I bet that will make it f*****g quick, but it probably don t come cheap. And obviously the cheaper the better. Can anyone tell me what I can and can t do please. It would be much appreciated thanks. Oh yeh and to top it all off my football team are doing really sh*t aswell.

[Alexg40]

Ok, if it is the timing belt you could be looking at a very varied picture, unless your guy has seen a piston hanging out of the block I would imagine that the head will need to be removed to establish the extent of the damage.

The timing belt is on the left hand side of the engine as you look at it from the front and is inside a cover. It is a toothed belt that runs around a pulley at the top of the engine at the bit you can see. If the belt aint there or is there but in bits then that will be the problem.

The thing with timing belts is this: It is the point at which they snap that is crucial, you could get away with just a new belt (I've known it happen) OR you could be looking at 4 new pistons, 16 new valves and maybe a new head. Or somewhere inbetween.

As far as replacement engines go you have a MASSIVE choice almost every VAG engine ever will fit in a MK2 it seems. Common choices are:

1.8 20v Turbo from Either VW, Seat or Audi (including the TT and S3)
2.8 and 2.9 VR6 engines
2.0 16v
2.0 8v

Prices vary alot but a top whack 1.8t seems to be costing somewhere around ?7000 at the mo, but prices are all over the shop.

[KENTHFC]

Cheers Alexg40 thanks for the advise. I won t be spending 7000grand though. What do you think I d be looking at getting it fixed, parts, labour etc. What should I be, being charged. What could I do to the engine if I did it this way.

[Alexg40]

Assuming the worst has happened you could be looking at a very large bill and a 'new' engine could be the more sensible option.  I supposed if you wanted to keep the original engine and repair it whilst incorporating some modifications, you could have the capacity increased and the head gas flowed while you were at it. New cams and a four branch would also make sense if they were mods you were planning on anyway seeing as though it all has to come out/off.  It would make for a blinding engine but would still be pricey, I reckon you could get a VR6 stuck in for the same sort of money as all that. Especially seeing as though they are less sought after now with the popularity of the 1.8T engines.