'69 1.9 head ID . . .

[tekenaar]

Busy taking my Kadett 1.9 engine accessories off to remove engine to investigate #1 cylinder "knock" further.

Let me first give PB Blaster some more kudos. I had "prepped" the exhaust manifold/head pipe bolts several months ago for my eventual "sprint" intake/exhaust installation documented in another post.

By "prepped" I mean, that for three weeks or so, every time I used my Kadett, I'd thoroughly spray those exhaust bolts with PB Blaster when I returned home . . . engine heat cycles and PB Blaster application immediately afterward absolutely rocks!

It's the original manifold and exhaust pipe and those bolts came out like they were just put in there yesterday, not almost 40 years ago!! Whatever other "rusty bolt remover" product you're using, TOSS IT!!

OK, now a quick question for all you engine identity guru's out there. It's the original 19S engine, but, even though I'd replaced a head gasket to cure a "10-bolt" head leak at the timing cover, I didn't pay attention to the head type.

First, the head has vertical ribs next to the front cam cover on the driver side. Second, a first for me, the pad in front of and next to the square cam cover on the side has "Δ19" stamped on it. Anyone else ever seen this on a 1.9 head?

BTW, one of the indentifiers of the Special head used on the Rekord C "sprint" 19HL engine are also these vertical "ribs" next to the front cam cover . . . curiouser and curiouser!

[opelspyder]

I believe there was some posting on this not too long ago...isn't this the so called "Delta Head" It has the triangle to determine it. Supposedly larger cam bearing lobe diameters??? Thats all I know. Oh, decided I will stick to the 10 bolt hydraulic head instead of standard lifter head on the Sprint project
Keith

[jeff denton]

The engine recently donated to the cause has the triangle marking on its head, too. First Delta head I've seen.
The cast-in "raised stripes" beside the cam cover differ from head to head in my collection. Don't know what they mean.

[opelspyder]

I got to thinking about the 69 Kadett Rallye I parted out. I recently relocated it from the shed to the garage. I just went out to look at its head and it is a Delta head as well. I got to thinking some more . A couple years ago I got a bunch of engines and transmissions from a gentleman that passed in VA. I remember that a lot of the heads I got were early, and I thought 69 models...so I went to check them. Turns out I have three more of the Delta heads in the shed, all cast 69 inside head!!! And then a 1971 head which I planned on running as I really like that particular year's head. Anyways maybe I will keep to the Delta and just run a hydraulic cam...anyways Otto, continue.

Anyone have real specs on Otto's 69 cylinder head...Operation Delta???
Keith

[tomking]

I have at least one delta head and maybe two.

[GTJIM]

Yeeep - that wee mark indicates that the OD of the cam bearings is oversize and you need a set of special cam bearings (OP3) to suit - the stock ones fall out!
Seems the factory regularly 'saved' heads that had been bored too big in production by making a standard oversize here. I guess they did them in re-work production batches - so there is probably quite a number of these 'Delta' heads about.

Be aware that this is not the only difference with camshafts as there were also production under-size cam journals on the camshaft itself. Opel list 0.1mm (0.004") and 0.5mm (0.020") undersizes here as well. So it is possible to have quite a number of differences ... all requiring specific cam bearings - or having bearings that need to be bored ('unfinished' as it is called).

Using a cam with undersize journals in standard bore cam bearings would leave 0.1mm or 0.5mm too much clearance ... and result in low oil pressure because of the BIG leak!

Cams with 0.1mm U/S bearings are marked with a violet paint dot between the 4th and 5th can lobes as are the heads they are used in - that paint dot id at the first camshaft bearing. So my Torana 1900cc Engine Service Manual says ...

With Opels ... you gotta measure everything to be sure as the paint marks put on the cams with these smaller bearings discolours (or even comes off!) over the years.

[tekenaar]

Since this pertains to the same engine with which I started this thread, is there only one type of "10-bolt" head gasket used . . . extra cork layer at the bottom of the gasket front that seals the head to the timing chain cover?

Evidently the early "10-bolt/3-cam bearing" engines came with timing covers that were slightly lower than deck. So, were all "10-bolt" engines built this way? . . . and, were all "10-bolt" heads "3-cam bearing" types as well?

[Anonymous D]

Engine head and cam bearing clearance variations, including the "Delta" head and cam journal specifications, are addressed in the Sept/Oct 2007 and March/April 2008 issues of the OMC Blitz.

[opelgtworld]

1.6 Head --> square cam cover stamp 16 --> no vertical "ribs"

1.6S Head --> square cam cover stamp 16 --> three vertical "ribs"

1,9S Head --> square cam cover stamp 19 --> two vertical "ribs"

The first two valve oversizes can be build-in ex factory and were marked 1 or 2 beside the spark plug thread. The third valve oversizing occurs only at engine revisions ("A" marking).

A "delta" marking ("Δ19") points afaik on a head with three cam bearings.

[opelgtworld]

cam bearings

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by tekenaar ...is there only one type of "10-bolt" head gasket used . . . extra cork layer at the bottom of the gasket front that seals the head to the timing chain cover?

Yes, AFAIK the 12 bolt head was the first time the timing chain case was flush with the block deck

Originally Posted by tekenaar ...were all "10-bolt" engines built this way? . . .

Yes AFAIK

Originally Posted by tekenaar ...were all "10-bolt" heads "3-cam bearing" types as well?

No, just the solid lifter heads. When the hydraulic lifters came out in mid 1970, they were 4 bearing heads, but w/ 10 bolts until late 1973

[jeff denton]

Originally Posted by tekenaar . . . extra cork layer at the bottom of the gasket front that seals the head to the timing chain cover? Evidently the early "10-bolt/3-cam bearing" engines came with timing covers that were slightly lower than deck.

I taught myself to disregard all this fuss, especially with a (very) decked block. And eliminate any possible leak, which this area seems to be noted for.
I cut that entire area off the head gasket and use a bead of Right Stuff there.
Gaskets are so old fashioned. Everything is Right Stuff now. No leaks.

[opelwasp]

LOL I'm with you Jeff. Gaskets and leaks are so yesterday.