A friend gave us a VW 1.8L 8V GTI engine a couple years ago as a core. We redid the head last year, but just this afternoon tore down the bottom end to get it rebuilt, and found some interesting wear.

The #3 bearing is ground almost completely away on one side. The sides of the #3 bearing that go on each side of the journal and one side is ground down pretty badly, there is also some wear on the crank and on the block/cap on that side. The really strange thig is this is the only place that shows this wear, all of the others look fine.

I am a little confused as to the cause of this, and I don't understand how the wear is only in one spot, on the #3 bearing. I would think if the crank could move enough to do this, it would have done similar damage in other places.

I was planning on taking this block and crank to the machine shop next week to get prepped for a rebuild, but am thinking at this point that it is probably junk. Anyone know anything about these?


#3 Bearing:


Crank:



and on the block and cap:



Thanks,

Tom