16v head on 8v carby

[Rotazuk]

In my quest to solve my engine choice , is it possible to swap the 8v carb head for the 16v and the efi setup etc ?
this would save me pulling the current 8v engine which is ok and putting in the 16v which may have a suspect block , as it poped the head etc . Take all the efi off it , another head on 8v block

Cheers
Chris

[Podge]

It would be good to know what engine you are talking about for starters, I would assume that you are referring to either a G13 or G16 but realistically, NO. Just for starters, all engines with 16 valve heads have 4 indentations in each piston which allows room for each valve when open. The carby G13A/BA and G16A engines have only 2 indentations in each piston. You could look to change pistons but by the time you set it all up you may as well have started with a complete 16v engine in the first place.

This is just for starters.

[Luigi Malone]

I run the reverse,that is an 8V head on a Gti block. So the pistons have reliefs for four valves per cyl. and there are only two valves per cyl. This makes it an interference head. I have no trouble at all. BUT if I ever break a cam belt it's all over. So it can be done if you keep a watch on the cam belt, and ensure the sprockets match each other as well as the cam belt.
LM.
PS I have an adjustable cam sprocket too, so I have the cam timing advanced up to about 4 or 5 degrees with no contact.

[PJ.zook]

How strong are the G13A heads? Can they take a fair beating, as in low psi turbo?

[Gutless]

How strong are the G13A heads? Can they take a fair beating, as in low psi turbo?

Usually the bottom end fails before the heads on a turbo G13 setup.