Mexico heads question

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by Dave Goddard, Jun 25, 2022.

  1. Hi guys, hope one of the better informed amongst you good people can answer a question for me. A number of months ago I bought a replacement engine 1776 for my van. The spec was listed as having new heads, not reconditioned. The engine I sent in had heads with Mexico stamped on the inner casting. I am suspicious that the heads on the new engine are the same ones I sent in as they have Mexico stamped on them with identical looking rocker gear. The question is :- is it possible to buy new heads with Mexico stamped on the casting or are new heads all from a different casting.
     

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  2. It`s still possible to source NOS genuine VW heads so i wouldn`t have thought MEXICO stamped heads are at all rare , they were , after all , manufacturing complete 1600 vans until a few years ago ....

    What`s the problem ??

    :hattip:
     
  3. I just want to be sure that the supplier has supplied everything they were obliged to their spec. I have concerns as they supplied an engine build video with it which showed the heads being milled out to take the 1776 barrells and the video shows the ports as black which to me implies they are not new i.e. shiney metal unused.
     
  4. Who did the engine build?
     
  5. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    How many miles have you done on your new engine. The staining on that head looks very old to me, that doesn't happen in a couple of months.
    Also those heads more than likely have smaller than stock valves. Unless you're a thrasher, this is quite possibly a good thing for a bus and might even be better than the "new" heads they were supposed to supply.
    There is some discussion here after Paradox found himself in the same position. Read Alstrup's replies.
    https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9368168#9368168
    But yes to the question, it looks like your old heads were used. What Cam?
     
  6. Thanks Zed for your reply. The cam is what they describe as a fast road cam. A pic of the spec sheet is below for the cam. The problem I have with the supplier is that they are not honouring a warranty claim on a crack on the oil pump cover (maxi 3) and so this has given me worries about the build and what's in the engine supplied which I should raise with them now rather than time muddy the waters. The van runs well on the engine after some tuning was done, so performance wise it's good by the way.
     

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    Lasty likes this.
  7. Good point . If they specified shiny new heads that what it should have . Is the rebuild video specific to your engine or just a general `Here`s what we do ` vid ??

    :hattip:
     
  8. The implication is that it is specific. What I did was send them a complete engine with everything on it including tinware alternator, exhaust, carbs... basically the lot, and asked them to supply back a 1776 ready to go in the van to their new 1776 spec. The video and pics definitely shows my engine as there are bits on it specific to it. I guess they could try to say the head milling video is a generic video to show the process, hence why I ask whether the heads with Mexico in the casting are available to buy new. I thought not, but I am no expert.
     
  9. Incidentally zed, they were supposed to call me before they started the build so I could go through the build with them as I actually wanted a stock cam for a bus but needless to say they just went ahead and built it with the fast road cam and then called to say its done which was not great from the start.
     
  10. The worries I have on the heads are whether the old head valve guides were changed, valves changed etc- if they are not honest about one thing then it questions the whole build of the engine.
     
    paradox and Lasty like this.
  11. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    I cracked my maxi3 cover overdoing the tightening of the tapered hose connectors. Managed to dremel out the crack from the threaded side and fill the crack from the pressure side with JB weld.. about 80k miles back.
    ( I do have an intact Maxi 3 cover and pump I bought a replacement then decided the lashup was working..)
    It could be that unfortunately they cannot get what they consider good new heads and as your old Genuine VW heads were so good and little used, had not cracked after testing (use) e.g. , they decided to machine them rather than give you something less good but new...
    Unless you were invoiced for new heads and there is a line item for them..

    Like my new engine from a couple of years back has EMPI branded heads.. made by Autolinea.
     
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2022
  12. Hi Mike, good to hear from you and hope you are well.
    The warranty claim on the engine was for an oil leak on the pump which at first was thought to be the seal. There was nothing to notice from initial use but the leak slowly got more and when I noticed it I advised them straight away. A garage took the pulley off and discovered the cover was cracked where the barb goes in. Presumably it was over tightened and started with a hairline that slowly opened up. The engine supplier is saying they won't pay the garage for the work to sort as the pump cover was off the exchange engine that I supplied. The point is however that in my mind they are obliged to warranty the whole engine supplied. It is for them as the rebuild specialist to decide whether the parts are suitable, not just fit and hope so the assertion by them the cover was faulty as supplied has no bearing in my mind. Since they also removed and refitted the barbed connectors it is not contestable that they over tightened and cracked the cover as there was no oil leak from the cover on the engine I sent them. Do you think I have a strong case to argue here.
     
  13. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Fast road cam - we know who that is. It's interesting to see the spec for it, I've never seen that. That's quite a cammy cam if you know what I mean, but with the smaller Mexican head valves probably sort of balances out.
    Maybe you should have dug your heels in when they called. Sounds like forgot they'd agreed to a specific build and just did their usual thing to make a 1776 out of a 1600. If you had previously agreed in writing that they would build with a stock cam that's one thing. If it was arranged during a phone call TBH I'm not surprised that instruction got lost, they are a volume builder not a one-off builder.

    Out of interest, did you pay the price they quote on their site, or a special one-off price based on which parts they could reuse?
     
  14. On the question on the cylinder heads I raised ages ago I got -

    NEW cylinder heads have been fitted to your unit. The cylinder heads are new 1600cc items, but they have to be machined, as did your crankcase, to accept the 1776cc barrels and pistons. As also shown in the video supplied, we bench the unit to make final checks, so yes, the ports will be black!

    The spec. sheet supplied within your information pack shows you all the new parts used for this build.

    He did not answer the question of why the video of the heads being milled to 1776 showed black ports. He says the heads are new. ... but are they!?
     
  15. I paid their listed price for the standard 1776 they do plus a bespoke charge to do the complete build up with my ancillaries and tinware etc the sheet they sent back listed new for all major components Inc heads.
     
  16. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Tricky. Air-cooled.net do sell Mexi heads so they must still be made and with the present worldwide parts shortage I guess he buys in whatever is available/best value. One thing short is stock grind cams (so I've read) + cases + stock cranks but the list quite likely effects a lot of parts.

    So... maybe you did get what you paid for and really only have the pump situation as unsatisfactory. For example is it really worth his time inspecting / crack testing and repairing heads when he can charge his customers for new ones and build more engines?
    On the whole, The Engine Shop appear to be no nonsense and straight, they build far to many engines to fart about saving themselves a few quid here and there.
    Presume that means "bench testing" and he means he runs the complete engine. That would obviously be after the machining as a final check of a finished engine. so... if the ports were black before the machining AND to me they look old and stained in you photo, my final guess would be no, your heads are not new.
    Now, you have to ask yourself is it worth the hassle to pursue this? And if you did, other than feeling better, would the outcome really be any different? It's always going to come down to him denying your accusations and you having great difficulty proving them.
     
    EggBoxes, snotty and Lasty like this.
  17. I guess the definitive proof is whether anyone manufactures new heads which have "mexico" in the casting on the head issue. If they don't then I would want some money off the engine as he has charged for new heads and I have the headache of wondering how long this build will last on parts that may not be as specified.

    I also feel very aggrieved that after charging a lot of money for an engine I have also had to fork out on the oil pump cover another £250 which they should have covered in my mind.

    It's all one way traffic shelling out with no give or acceptance on the other side. A simple OK, we made a mistake and we will be fair would have been OK, but flat denial despite good evidence is like a red rag to a bull with me and makes me want to pursue this to the end.

    It makes me angry as it appears in some cases that companies will take your money and take the pee out of you at the same time.
     
  18. I guess the definitive proof is whether anyone manufactures new heads which have "mexico" in the casting on the head issue. If they don't then I would want some money off the engine as he has charged for new heads and I have the headache of wondering how long this build will last on parts that may not be as specified.

    I also feel very aggrieved that after charging a lot of money for an engine I have also had to fork out on the oil pump cover another £250 which they should have covered in my mind.

    It's all one way traffic shelling out with no give or acceptance on the other side. A simple OK, we made a mistake and we will be fair would have been OK, but flat denial despite good evidence is like a red rag to a bull with me and makes me want to pursue this to the end.

    It makes me angry as it appears in some cases that companies will take your money and take the pee out of you at the s
     
  19. By the way I don't think the aircooled Mexican heads have mexico on the casing from pics I have seen. I think they are the same casting but different in the labelling as far as I know.
     
  20. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Looking again at your photo, maybe what I took as staining is really just the pic colour. The milled surface for covers does look very new. Can't say anything about the casting saying Mexico or not. I does look like a nice casting if that counts for anything. The auto linear ones often look a bit blobby.
    Honestly? I think that is in your imagination, they don't provide £250 pump covers. While I agree that if they broke it they should replace it, unfortunately you won't be able to prove they broke it. I do wonder though why you think they removed and refitted the barbs - why would they risk doing that? Not saying they didn't, just wondering why they would.
     
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