What the h3ll kind of block do I have???

[type85]

The facts: "Eurospec" 2.6L rally shortblock 82.5x 95.5
I verified the bore and stroke before installing.

Looking at my old 2.3 NF block side by side there are many difffernces:
subtle increase in strengthening ribs on both sides
looks like the lower half of the block is wider (like a VW bubble block), to clear the 95.5 crank
passenger side of the block has "channels" cast to add clearance for the crank throws, you can see them on the outside as raised sections under the strengthening ribs.

I can't remember the deck height, I might be able to measure it in the car.
Deck height is taller because I can barely fit the timing belt with the water pump adjusted all the way out.
It clearly DOES NOT have "2.5L" stamped on the side like the eurovan blocks have...
Pics for reference (black is 2.6, blue is 2.3):

[Noisy Cricket]

If the deck height is higher, it is not significantly so, because besides the fact that you were able to get the water pump on in the first place, the distances from the various visual cues all look the same.

What size are the head bolt threads? I wonder if it's a 2.4 diesel block, those had 95.5 cranks. And apparently 222mm deck heights. A quick look on WIkipedia for engine codes and a search for AAB found this thread:

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/archive/in ... 72559.html

[type85]

If the deck height is higher, it is not significantly so, because besides the fact that you were able to get the water pump on in the first place, the distances from the various visual cues all look the same.

What size are the head bolt threads? I wonder if it's a 2.4 diesel block, those had 95.5 cranks. And apparently 222mm deck heights. A quick look on WIkipedia for engine codes and a search for AAB found this thread:

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/archive/in ... 72559.html

The head bolts were the same as for the 2.3 11mm? I think....

I measured the bottom of the block to the deck, is was about 11.25" or 286mm??????

It looks like from the pics on the S2 forum, I may have the same block as that guy.

[Noisy Cricket]

You don't measure to the bottom of the block, you measure to the crank centerline / main cap parting line. A deep skirted block will be way off measurement if you go to the oil pan rail So will short skirted blocks too, since there is generally a main cap register of maybe ,100-.200". On an assembled engine it's probably easiest to measure to the top (or bottom) of the flywheel flange then add/subtract half the flange diameter.

[type85]

Block is in the car and has been in use since 2011.... I have no way of making those measurements....

[ChrisAudi80]

Your deck height is probably 236mm. The blocks that came with the 95.5mm crank were used in the T4 van. Petrol was 2.5L (AAT). There are a bunch of AATs over here.
However, your block is most likely a VW 2.4L diesel block because it came with oil squirters. The petrol versions did not have oil squirters. They can be machined in, but that can be expensive.
You could always ask Eurospec.

[type85]

Your deck height is probably 236mm. The blocks that came with the 95.5mm crank were used in the T4 van. Petrol was 2.5L (AAT). There are a bunch of AATs over here.
However, your block is most likely a VW 2.4L diesel block because it came with oil squirters. The petrol versions did not have oil squirters. They can be machined in, but that can be expensive.
You could always ask Eurospec.

I've seen diesel blocks and this isn't one of them, diesel's have the skirts almost touch the main caps, there is a ton more material on the bottom of the block. Years ago, a guy on Motorgeek posted side by side pics of a 2.3 and the diesel block, you could clearly see the difference!
My block has oil squirters because Eurospec installed them, they also bored it out to 82.5mm, as far as I know, no "2.5L" blocks came stock w/ a 82.5mm bore, they were either 81 or 79.5 (diesel).

I found a pic, 1st is a diesel, the others are my Eurospec block.
I'm also trying to figure out if these are stock VW pistons, or are custom made....

[Noisy Cricket]

I am thinking that you have that South African 222mm deck height block mentioned in the s2forum link. If it was 236mm deck height then you would NOT have been able to put a 220mm deck height timing belt on. And I can't think of any other way VW would have made a "bubble block" to clear a 95.5mm crank.

Measuring oil pan rail to deck is not an appropriate measurement but it may get us in the ballpark. My morphodite 2.3l is still on an engine stand at work, I'll get a rail to deck measurement tomorrow. I don't know how much it has been decked but it can't be more than .5mm or so...

[type85]

I look forward to your measurements!

[ChrisAudi80]

If it's not a diesel block, then it might be a special version of the petrol block. You said Eurospec installed the squirters. The bulges are puzzling. Your pistons might be 9As.

BTW, I fucked up. Petrol 2.5L engine is AAF (later ACU). Not AAT.

Some pics I have of petrol 2.5L.

EDIT: found this: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.p ... viewfull=1

[PRY4SNO]

AAT

[Noisy Cricket]

I measured the bottom of the block to the deck, is was about 11.25" or 286mm??????

I measured from the bottom of the rear main seal housing to the top of the deck and got right on about 280mm, with an actual gen-u-ine metric tape measure. I do reiterate that I have no idea how much this block has been decked, other than it HAS been decked (mmm, MLS-friendly gasket surface) and the custom-build JE pistons are flush, and 80% of those rods/pistons used to be in Jonathan's Fox's 2.0l bubble block (220mm deck)from before the car got "upgrades".

Actually I started at 100mm and measured to 380mm, because I have a pathological distrust of the "zero" on any tape measure...

[type85]

I measured the bottom of the block to the deck, is was about 11.25" or 286mm??????

I measured from the bottom of the rear main seal housing to the top of the deck and got right on about 280mm, with an actual gen-u-ine metric tape measure. I do reiterate that I have no idea how much this block has been decked, other than it HAS been decked (mmm, MLS-friendly gasket surface) and the custom-build JE pistons are flush, and 80% of those rods/pistons used to be in Jonathan's Fox's 2.0l bubble block (220mm deck)from before the car got "upgrades".

Actually I started at 100mm and measured to 380mm, because I have a pathological distrust of the "zero" on any tape measure...

So what block do you have??
It sounds like we have the same dimensions.........

[Noisy Cricket]

It's an MC block.

The point is, given that and the fact that you were able to use a standard timing belt, we can 100% rule out that it's a 236mm block. A 236mm block would be roughly 5/8" taller.

[type85]

It's an MC block.

The point is, given that and the fact that you were able to use a standard timing belt, we can 100% rule out that it's a 236mm block. A 236mm block would be roughly 5/8" taller.

OK, gotcha.

I'm trying to get the part # from the side of the block. The serial number "pad" is blank or has been ground off, so that's no help.. I guess I could try Euospec again.. I called years ago and never got an answer... they didn't know and the guy who "did" was out.....

[PRY4SNO]

For what it's worth, I've heard that the MC1 and MC2 blocks were among the strongest.

[type85]

For what it's worth, I've heard that the MC1 and MC2 blocks were among the strongest.

This isn't an MC block or an NG/NF (see pics for comparison), the casting is very different, it has clearance cast into the skirts for the larger crank throws and the reinforcing ribs are different/larger....

[Noisy Cricket]

Yeah it's weird, it's like the five cylinder equivalent of the bubble block. Made to take the long stroke, but short deck height.