pd2444

Hi, Some of you may (or may not) remember a post I made under "Sickly VR6 options?" a month or so ago. Well, in the end I decided the only way I'd find out what was going on was to pull the engine apart and have a look. It looks as if a ring had got stuck but the bores, head and engine in general look in basically very good condition so I'm going to put it all back together again. I've got most of the parts together but I'm having a bit of trouble locating the correct part number for the piston rings. The local VW dealer thinks it is 021 198 155 but they are unsure. The list price is £37.17 per set. Is this correct and does anyone know of any better sources than VW (most part factors do not do them)? Thanks.

Many thanks to everyone who replied. Much food for thought. I will get the engine properly tested. The reason I suspect that it is the bottom end is that I've had enough cars in the past that you get to know the depressing signs. We're not talking a bit of oil burn on the over run here - the car is struggling to run on 4 or 5 cylinders and is producing Exxon Valdize levels even at idle. It just has every indication of an engine about to die. The annoying thing is how suddenly it happened. One day it was perfect, the next time it was started someting major had gone bang. Assuming it is the bottom end the options seem to be: 1) Recon engine at about £2.5k + fitted. According to the Vege website they haven't got stock at the moment but I will call them to verify the situation. 2) A new bottom end out of another 2.8 VR6 car. I assume, if the Corrado top end and electric are carried over, any VR6 model will do - be it Golf, Sharan etc.? I've seen Sharan VR6's running OK go through auctions for £400 or less so it may be an option. I have got access to a friendly mechanic who may be able to do the swap for me. Is it really as simple as swapping the blocks and then putting the Corrado head on the 2.8? 3) Get someone to take to bits and rebuild the current engine. However, the parts alone would probably be £500 plus all the time and labour. Sods law being sods law only 500 miles before it went pop I'd had it to bits to put a new clutch in!

After a few suggestions on a 1995 VR6 which looks as if its on the way out. The car ran fine last year and was last run in December 07. It's been laid up since then but on re-starting last week to go and get an MOT it was smoking badly all of a sudden. It looks as if a ring has suddenly failed - plugs on cylinders 1 & 6 look as if they are oiling up and there is a lot of oil smoke coming out the back. I'm reluctant to write it off and sell it for spares as it is one of the last made (not a Storm) and has a full VW history with just one owner prior to myself. It's done about 120k. I've also had Corrado's before and this one felt by far the tightest and smoothest so it's a nice one. The options would appear to be a full re-build or a new engine. I really haven't the time to do it all myself so would have to get it done. I've had a good search through the site and there seem a number options. Would anyone recommend anyone who knows their way around a VR6 to contact to rebuild it? I don't want it supercharged, bored out or anything - just re-built back to original spec. Most of the firms mentioned on the site seem to be related to improving over the original. I'm happy with bog standard - just would prefer to use somebody who has taken a VR6 to bits before. On the replacement engine options 2.9's seem to be very thin on the ground. There seem to be a much larger number (and cheaper) 2.8's about. Will a 2.8 from a Golf VR6 or similar slot in or is it a no-go? Anyone want to recommend a good supplier who may have an engine available? Thanks for any help.