VW Interference/Non-Interference: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

Nov. 27, 2011 9:42 p.m. carzan HalfDork

So, I typically think of older 8V VW engines as being non-interference. I'm currently looking at a '91 with the 1.8 8V. For some reason I started second-guessing myself and decided to check. To check this, I have always used the Gates Corp site as long as it has been available. To my surprise, it listed the engine as interference.

So, I plugged in the info for my '76 Scirocco, '80 Horizon and '93 Miata and ALL THREE of those came back as interference, though I know they're not. WTF

Anyone know of another (reliable) site that lists interference engines?
Nov. 27, 2011 10:26 p.m. Streetwiseguy Dork

The belt sites list everything as interference. The cynic in me says its to sell more belts to worried people, but the lawyer hating side of me says its to avoid liability when somebody bends a valve after Gates says you wouldn't.
Nov. 27, 2011 10:44 p.m. neckromacr Reader

VW 8v motors prior of 1993 were non-interference.
Nov. 28, 2011 5:21 a.m. carzan HalfDork

Thanks!

I also plugged-in the 2.0L Mitsubishi for an '87 Colt Vista that my Mom used to have and it came up non-interference, which is true. So, I'm not sure what is going on, but it sucks to think you have a useful and reliable resource and find out it's crap.