Hi, new here, my search-foo is weak because I'm sure someone must have asked this before but I couldn't find anything...and my shop manual is written by and for people who already know what they're doing.

Equipment: 1992 Golf GTI 8-valve

Had the head rebuilt and am in the process of reassembling things and installing a new timing belt. I'm a bit confused about how to line up the crank pulley, cam pulley/gear and the distributor gear. I've got a shop manual so I think I'm right, but I've never had to deal with a distributor controlled by the timing belt before (let me know if you ever need help with your Toyota ) :

Cam pulley/gear (on the head): one of the teeth has a dimple that lines up with a mark on a piece of the upper timing belt cover -- Yes?

Distributor pulley/gear: This one is giving me fits. One of the teeth has a dimple that lines up with the line/mark on the crank pulley, and you can only do this with the lower timing belt cover removed. You can see them line up if you peep through the right front wheel well -- Yes? The way I have it positioned has the rotor pointing more or less right at the engine block.

Crank pulley: the vibration damper pulley assembly has a line/mark that lines up with an arrow on the lower timing belt cover -- Yes? This puts piston #1 & #4 at TDC.

Now, my past experience with timing belts on other vehicles makes me pretty sure I'm getting the head and pistons situated so that I'm not going to smash valves on startup--it's always "line up the dimple on the belt cogs with some obvious mark on the block and head." But does it sound like I have the distributor lined up right?

 

Welcome to the forum.

Until I know the exact engine code you talking about.

On a Golf 1.8 1991-97 AAM engine code there should be a OT mark on the camshaft sprocket that aligns with a OT mark on the cover at 12 o'clock.

There should be a V on the cranshaft pulley that aligns with a notch on the auxiliary sprocket (distributor drive shaft) when the notch on the auxiliary sprocket is at 9 o'clock. The distributor rotor arm should be pointing to No.1 cylinder or align with a mark the the distrubutor housing.

Providing the crankshaft pulley will turn over 2 complete revolutions in a clockwise direction then the valve timing must be correct and the valves won't hit the pistons.

I really need the engine code so we are tlaking about the same engine.

https://volkswagenforum.com/forum/ne...gnature-34185/

 

Engine code...how would I find that?

It's become important now I suppose. Stuck it all back together, lined everything up like the book (and you) said and how I described above. And it not only doesn't start, it doesn't "chug", suggesting it was not in fact lined up properly by the time I closed it up. Basically, it sounds like there is no compression.

So, in addition to, "How do I determine the engine code" I need to ask...are these typically interference engines, and do I now own a large red brick?

 

You need to read the link I posted. https://volkswagenforum.com/forum/ne...gnature-34185/

 

Sorry, didn't recognize that as a link.

From the service book:
92GolfGTIHead_zpsadef28e8.jpg Photo by 1967gearhead | Photobucket

From the spare tire:
92GolfGTIHead_zpsadef28e8.jpg Photo by 1967gearhead | Photobucket


So...at least we know what color it is.
From the head (I think all this tells me is that the head was made in Mexico--also, it says so on the hard-to-see-firewall side ):
92GolfGTIHead_zpsadef28e8.jpg Photo by 1967gearhead | Photobucket

From the block:
http://s1339.photobucket.com/user/19...20287126240171

Not trying to be obtuse here. Did they do things differently for exports to the US? The window sticker calls it a 105 hp (78.3 kw) motor if that helps.

 

Oh, and in answer to one of my questions in post #3: Brick. I can now turn the engine over by hand (well, breaker bar on the crank nut, technically) with no difficulty at all--with the plugs in and the head bolted down. Can only be a valve tantrum, eh?

 

It appears you have a US model 1992 1.8L L4 SOHC 8V MFR model code 1G1GT2 with an LY3D paint code built in Puebla Mexico.

The options codes lower down tell us:

X9A;C0U;G0C;H06;J0J;K8G;M0Z;U0L;VOA;0A1;0NH;1AF;1G 6;1H1;1MB;2JE;3AM;3BW;0DC;3D2;3L3;3Q0;3YM;8BG;8D7; B0D;1N1;3FB;8AA;8L3;9AB;

X9A = National sales program USA
C0U = Alloy wheels 7.5J x 17
G0C = 5-speed manual transmission
H06 = All-weather tires 185/65 R14 86T (polymer coating)
J0J = Battery 300 A (63 Ah)
K8G = Hatchback
M0Z = 4-cylinder gasoline engine 1.8 L/79 kW DIGIFANT, closed-loop US cat. converter base engine is T3E
U0L = Instrument insert with tachometer clock and mph speedometer
V0A = Tires w/o specification of tire brand
0A1 = 2 doors
0NH = Nameplate set "GTI"
1AF = Power brake
1G6 = Space-saving spare wheel
1H1 = Load-sensitive proportioning valve
1MB = Sports steering wheel (hollow rim)
2JE = Partially painted bumpers
3AM = Right exterior mirror: adjustable from inside, convex, with US print
3BW = Left exterior mirror: adjustable from inside, with special mirror surface (chromium instead of silver)
0DC = Installation differentiation for build status of vehicle class A2 (VW Golf/ Jetta), unit components
3D2 = Center console
3L3 = Manual height adjustment for front seats
3Q0 = Without rear headrests
3YM = Door pockets, front, for radio system 2
8BG = Twin-headlight for driving on the right,with integrated high beam
8D7 = 6 speakers (passive)
B0D = Component parts set, complying with vehicle type for USA (without California), various parts
1N1 = Power steering
3FB = Spoiler roof
8AA = Without radio
8L3 = Roof antenna
9AB = Manually controlled air conditioning

 

There is Volkswage engine code definition which is old if thats any use to you.

 

NM...