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VW hydraulic tappets in S2

robdimond

robdimond

PCGB Member
Member
Hi all! Hope everyone is well!

One of my lockdown jobs has been to get my spare cylinder head rebuilt. Got it done for a reasonable price at my local place (Ivor Searle) which Oli and Tom both used a few years ago with success.
Since my current head has the occasional stuck tappet and loud tapping noise I'm contemplating replacing all 16 with new VW ones, which apparently have been used with success, are significantly cheaper than the new genuine Porsche ones and some have claimed more reliable.

Does anyone have any success stories with the VW tappets?

Anything else I should do 'while in there'. Obviously belts. Water pump + cam chain/pads was done 4yrs ago and all front seals 8yrs ago (but not many miles). I'm thinking oil cooler seals... anything else?

 
944 tappets are pretty simple things, rarely need replacing but do gunge up if left standing a while. They have a pretty hard life having the csm profile wacking hard on the flat top. There may be a good reason why VW are so much cheaper, are they up to the same abuse?
I would strip the old ones down, soak them in cleaner to remove the varnish build up which is what stops them from working properly. There are videos on YouTube which show how to service them. I would also take note of which hole they came from as they may have different levels of wear.

I appreciate the work involved, IIRC the videos will show how the tappets should feel/work before rebuilding the engine.

Pete

 
the tappets porsche sell are made by INA, the same INA tappets that are in the VW box, for the amount of work involved in changing them on an S2 i would just buy new VW ones, attempted repair that does not work, have to do it twice..........................


034109309AD
050109309J
INA 420002210
 
Thankyou both! I appreciate two different perspectives. The trouble with the youtube videos is I'm not sure who to trust! Ivor Searle also have a tappet rebuild service I could send them back for (I forgot to ask for it originally).

One thing I have noticed with the VW tappets, as others have also observed, is that they have a groove around the perimeter where the hole is, whereas the original tappets just have a hole.

I will be using the cams from the original head, if that has any bearing on the advice. I have three options: new tappets, rebuild tappets from old head (that have worn to the cams I will be using), rebuild tappets from new head (that have worn to the head I will be using).

 
i respect both Martins and Petes opinion and both give great advice. Personally though if you asked me i would say , best to stay with the original porsche one , even if you bought some second hand in the end,.....but me personally i would keep the original ones in the order they came out and i would rebuikd them myself , and if your not confident , find someone capable and pay them to do so.

in my opinion things like this just ain’t worth the risk of thinking maybe it’s those VW lifters i put in it few years back???

just ain’t worth it if you care enough about the engine , do it right first time then sleep at night ??

 
I have been running the VAG tappets for 6 months without any issues. The groove has no detrimental effect. They are cheaper and lighter than the orignal tappets, a no brainer really.
 
Hi all just picked up on this thread as sourcing 944S hydraulic lifters/tappets for my rebuild, all though this thread 4 years old yet its poised me another issue sourcing "available" originals Porsche fitment as there NLA/back order just 4 years on !

Also, those that do stock original are becoming greedy B@starts wanting £110 each verses Porsche at £55+VAT each, so confronted with this I've been forced into what alternatives options are out there verses what could be a £1800 bill just for lifters. So verses alternatives for the for the VW fitment at only £8 a piece so 16 at £130 so yes it would be nice to have originals but at what price you would pay!

Future proofing rebuilds on a running classic say 10 years from now becoming restricted when refurbishing used unknown stochk just isn't an option.

So, these threads will be so important when like minded guys owning 944's and other classic have other options in the future as it will be a need as only guys like me who have "putting their non standard toe in the water" who have installed what is non new standard parts from other vehicles also importance too us giving updates over time too on how they're doing.

So, alternative known to fit the 16v 944 being the 944S and 944S2 are:
Iv'e fitted from Ford Cosworth fitment this information obtained from Roland & Alsop.
Motive Components
HL 66C at around 10-20 quid each as of March 2024

VW some have tried these from a Corrado VR6 at 8 quid each
034109309AD
050109309J
INA 420002210
 
It would be interesting for the future to know of any possible 8v replacements if anyone has info?

Pete
 
Hi Pete for a bit of future proofing 8V'S it may be worth calling Roland and Alsop Steve he's been there decades and has a wealth of knowledge reaching back to the 90's, or John at Serdi, Uxbridge too although the machine workshop is no more it's probably asking now before this information is lost for ever.
 
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I hadn't thought of asking John...do you know if he uses the same Serdi UK number...he did the machining on my engine and supplied the IASA race pistons...I agree he's a very knowledgeable chap.

Pete
 
Yep, we take a lot of this information for granted but these guys are getting older and retiring and ......, through the main Serdi 01895 232215
John
 
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