The Octavia we bought a month ago slipped its timing belt on the motorway at 70mph, worse still I didnt know it had done it and tried to start the engine after it stopped.

Needless to say there is pretty bad head damage

got hold of a replacement engine cheap enough, but the problem I have is our car is an automatic with the ALH engine

the replacement engine is ALH but with a clutch!

I need to know how to swap the engines over, ie what I need to do differently than if both were manuals

Obviously I'm keeping the auto gearbox as its a beautiful box to use

I know there's a torque convertor on the dead engine, do I have to drain the oil from this before I swap it? do I need new seals or anything for it? is the oil in it part of the auto gearbox oil?

is there specific oil for it? if so how much and how do I fill it?

Sorry for so many question but I'm getting a mechanic to swap the engines over, but I need to find out as much info for myself BEFORE he starts to make sure he knows what's what, and to double check his work

(bad experience with mechanics twice before) and no way can I afford garage prices.

Hopefully someone will know the answers.

I've already looked up and know how to change the oil in the box, its a pain in the neck to do, but do-able. (also darn expensive)

How much damage has been done? could you not just replace the bent valves & re fit old cylinder head with new gasket set & new cambelt & water pump etc?

I honestly dont know, I've taken the rocker cover off and was going to take the head off but I cant do it on my own (not able to bend over for long, or lift heavy things)

I took some pics of the inside I'll put them below

There were tons of metal shards all over the inside of the rocker cover, all over the camshaft and under it.

I dont know if the water pump has gone also till I can get it out, if it has then it may have been overheating without me knowing (happened to a friend and his bottom half is shot also)

I got the replacement engine for £350, I'm kinda tempted at this stage to just swap over the heads, it seems like a lot less work and just pray there is no bottom end damage

if there is then its definately an engine out job.

and swap them.

Out of interest (never swapped a head before) if I went for swapping the heads - should be ok its the same engine (ALH) apart from a new head gasket what else would I need? new rocker cover and inlet and exhaust manifold gaskets? or does this come as part of a head gasket kit?

The "dowels" I hear people talking about when doing the gasket, do they come as part of the kit?

I'm assuming the mechanic will know all this anyway and if he doesn't he aint going near the car, but I'd like to know in advance so I can buy all the bits needed.

I've already got a timing belt kit along with metal impeller water pump tensioner and other bits that go with the belt, and new serpentine belt.

Got the injectors out and soaking them in biodiesel to clean, was going to replace the nozzles but being the auto box, its the smaller nozzle that isnt popular or common and darn expensive (DSLA 150P672)

Anyone see any problems with swapping the head? what other bits will I need to buy to do this?

assuming there is no obvious bottom half damage of course, and subject to a compression test once its swapped.

If the bottom is damaged the engine will definately need swapping, and in that case the original questions stand so looking for answers to both possibilities please

I'm a bit worried by what looks like RUST on the camshaft and inside the injector holes

Pics:

Inside Injector Holes

Camshaft - shown in sections so you can see what I mean better

Injectors

Edited 21 July, 201015 yr by Lew247