cambelt snapped (ABF)

[Martz]

I am next door to T4 more or less Raylee.

[raylee25]

Hey Martz, is your mate willing to take on another engine rebuild?

[garfayliu]

Hey Garf, I'm based in London, not far from Heathrow.

Vw want £1200 +vat for a complete head and the mech will fit it at home for £300. If I do go ahead with the job, will there be a drop in performance, and should I get the pistons replaced as well? or is that a bit too much?

Doubt the pistons would need to be done, but it all depends on the damage. My mate who sorted mine out is based in West London, Hillingdon I think. I could drop him an email to see if he's willing to help out if you want. If he can source a head, then it won't cost as much as VW.

[raylee25]

Cheers mate, any help is always welcome.
Just found a website www.vege.nl.
They can supply a manufactured engine for any car with 1 year unlimited milage. I need to find out the cost.
Has anyone heard of them before?

[garfayliu]

Not heard of the website, but its based in Netherlands which isn't ideal, i.e. for delivery, support if necessary.

[raylee25]

They also have an office in the UK

[monzablue16v]

I've heard good things about Vege but they are quite expensive, you could get a 2nd hand ABF and rebuild it for the price of a new one or just get a good running one and swap it over shouldn't be worth writing it off.

[tommk3cab]

1200 £ for a head, thats absolutley ridiculous, they obviously dont want peoples money, or they think they are the only ones selling them!

[raylee25]

I've found a guy who works at VW who is willing to sort my car out for £300. But I'm providing the bits. Is it a bargin?  Is there anything else I can change while the engine is almost stripped down?

[EvilScotsman]

replacing the head and changing valves or just a second hand head and gasket & belt etc shouldnt be £300 in labour! Thats 6 hours at £50 an hour or 12 hours at £25 an hour!

Christ I got a scooby clutch done and the rear oil seal done, (i bought the parts myself) and a local garage took £100 for 4 hours labour. and they are a subaru & 4x4 specialist (CR Gordon, Cults, near Cupar, Fife.

Another place I use that are a rallycross specialist and performance garage (Falkland Performance in Glenrothes, Fife), wanted £35 per hour but only 3 hours labour. Now I know a clutch isnt a huge job in some cars but the scooby is AWD and the engine and box and driveshafts have to come off so it is a b!tch.

I'd say 8 hours max at £25 would be fair and probably the price at a small garage. Thats £200 for labour. It could be done in 4 hours though with the proper tools or a secondhand head.

Anyone else agree?