043 heads

Hi can anyone tell me if there is a way of knowing if i have 043 heads without taking them off my engine.Is there numbers cast on them or something.thanks

if you take off the valve covers then you should be able to see a number cast into the head underneath the rocker shaft. if the first 3 numbers are 043 then they are 043 heads.

it could be cast in where the rockers are.

aint 043 just 1600 fuel injected heads???

So you should be able to see where the O2 sensor goes or something??

thanks for the help.does that apply to 040 etc.

Yes. 040 heads and 044/043 are stamped under the rockers. 043 heads are not specifically injected heads.They were the "performance" heads before the 044's,and more subject to cracking around the valves than the 044's.

which heads would be the best to get some port work done on.

Mick H wrote:Yes. 040 heads and 044/043 are stamped under the rockers. 043 heads are not specifically injected heads.They were the "performance" heads before the 044's,and more subject to cracking around the valves than the 044's.

Dont you mean 041's??

My readings tell me 043's are the new Mexican fuel injected heads
They came 35/30 instead of 35/32

What heads are best??

I guess 044's are best out of the box.
Original good 040's are good as well. All heads can be reworked though

here are some links on 043's

http://www.shoptalkforums.com/search.php?search_id=1256895674&start=0

ooops... heh heh heh forgot the link
nn[ Edited on 10-7-2005 by Bizarre ]

The mexi 043's are used by some top porters in the US, they have less volume, and a better designed, inlet port than the 044s.

CB have done the hell marketing job on the 044s.

AdrianH wrote:CB have done the hell marketing job on the 044s.

Adrian - you dont like them??

I have never used 044's but several people i know have. Mainly USofA'ians
One person i talk to regularly has a set of AJ Sims / AC.net 044's on a 1916 and is seems to pull awsome power. He seems to have had a bit of seat trouble with them and a few other things (rebuilt at least twice in as many years)

But the general consensus i got was the standard 044 was a good base to go from??

I thought 043's were just like 040's but with the smaller exhaust valve, I like the 040's and the 044's with the long reach plug.

I had a set of early 044's, they were great, Had them on a 1776 turbo engine, and ran them hard, never cracked. ran cool. Unlike the 041's, they crack just looking at them!!, I have never seen a set of used 041's with out cracks in every cylinder, including the set I bought off this forum a few weeks back that were checked by a mechanic and said to be crack free!!!. they didn't even remove the plugs to check them, but thats another story.

Nothing wrong with 044's. Im using them.
nn[ Edited on 10-7-2005 by AdrianH ]

read this, nice banter and some good info. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=123409

thanks for the info.interesting read.have to look for another set of 043 or similar.have a mate up here in NQ that does heads for drag racers ozzy wide,cars and bikes.can get some really good numbers out of his work.done the heads on a few national record holders.very switch on fellow.