Got the quote for the heads today. My wallet says OUCH! They effectively need all the things so as to not be an oil burner. But they'll effectively be new heads when done.
I have parts coming from many places at the moment. There will be piles of stuff to assemble this winter.... i think i have found some proper bulkhead fittings but i need to get on with wiring before i pull any triggers on that. Baby steps.....
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This is gonna go quiet for a while as i am now at the stage of dropping things off for specialists to deal with. Heads dropped yesterday at a machine shop, giving the cv joints to the propshaft people as they say they need them, and sending the ecu for tweaking today. While all that's happening, wiring fun in the basement....Leave a comment:
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Pulled the heads last night and have preserved the bottom end in plastic. I can't get over the condition of the bores.
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But then this morning i started reading thru the manual in order to get the cams out so i can send the heads for cleaning and new valve seals. They put a tty spec on the cam bearing bolts. Fifty freakin two of them. I think this is about to get very friggin expensive!
Thanks VAG.
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Got the bungs in and pipe modified to clear the floor. No pics cuz it really doesn't look any different. Google says i've done it wrong with the precat o2 though. The was NO room to place them on top of the pipes. Well certainly on the right side, i may have been able to sneak it in on the left. Google says i will kill the o2s due to condensation. I dunno, we'll see if i have to revisit in the future..
Build is gonna go quiet again now for a little bit. I am gonna pull the heads to get them cleaned and checked and i have to move the car out to work on something else for a bit. Work on this will continue but it's dealing with wiribg on a large table in the basement. Not exactly a photogenic process lol. I guess i should send my ecu down to the states for some tweaks now too.Leave a comment:
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Got a few hours this morning to get movin. Unfortunately, last nights efforts didn't work. The elbows after the cats hit the firewall so i had to start again after shortening the cats by about 25mm and angling them down more. But version 1 of the downpipes is done. The drivers side will need some massaging under the floor as it's contacting it now. There's just not a lot of space to work with underneath but i'll figure it out. Welds aren't the nicest but they're strong so i am not gonna sweat it. First time mig welding stainless and it's all chinesium so who knows what the quality is. I need to figure out o2 bungs and support next. I am not going any further downstream than this for the moment. I'll join it up with the existing cac exhaust when i can get it on my lift as i ain't doin stuff on my back on a cold concrete floor in winter anymore lol. As sgt murtagh says, i'm too old for this isht!
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Well, maybe friday night instead?? V1.0 of cat placement. Welded the v bands, but tacked the cats. Will test fit in the car tomorrow before i weld any further. Much heat shielding to be done.
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Got my ss welding set up last night and made a few beads to see how different it would weld than mild steel, i think i should be able to knock out the cats and downpipe this weekend. The main difficulty is due to chinesium of course. The tubing i got is significantly thinner than the oe stuff so i am sure i will have to go a lot slower than i want to avoid blowing thru it...
pics by sunday i hope.Leave a comment:
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Forgot i was going to be away for the weekend so i didn't finish the shift linkage hole in firewall and linkage till last night. Waiting for o2 bungs but i can now FINALLY deal with the cats and exhaust. Also got all the bits for the propshaft so i'll drop that to get shortened this week. Once the exhaust is made, i will be sending the heads out for cleaning and new valve seals.
I need to get into the wiring again asap. I am seriously considering bulkhead connectors. Anyone have suggestions one ones that are dense, with some heavy guage pins, and don't cost a squillion bucks? Deutsch makes some which look pretty good but i've not fully investigated yet.Leave a comment:
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Hmmm, interesting to know. Found a bearing and cv boots for the ends and will bring it to a local shop to get shortened in a couple of weeks. I've not found a replacement u joint. The existing seems in great shape with no play but i guess it is likely it has seen nearly 400,000km. Do i look for a replacement or keep on rollin with it??Leave a comment:
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A disappointingly large hole cut into the firewall to provide clearance for the shifter connection and all kinds of cuts and bends and welds into the shift rod and i can get all gears now. Shift rod contacts the tunnel to get 5/6 but that is due to flex and slop on the bushings/socket. I will have to get that tightened up with new bits.
Need to remove the drivetrain (again!!!) And get on with cleaning up and welding the hole. I think i am going to do 3 layers there. There are 2 in places and i feel i should really beef it up given the irregular shape in such a critical area. I'll take my time on it this week. Once done, FINALLY on to exhaust lol.
Also measured the propshaft ao i can get it shortened. Need to find a bearing tho as of course, the rubber is shot. U joint is in gerat shape though. I think it has been replaced at some point as it has a grease fitting in it, didn't think the factory believed in those?Leave a comment:
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Got the subframe a lot stiffer today. So i tossed it in and went at the shift linkage. The stabilizer rod interferes with the tunnel a bit and i'll hafta bend it to clear, not a huge issue. The shift rod however....
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Because i moved the gearbox back 25-30mm to get space up front, i've got a slight issue with the shaft now.... that's neutral but it still rubs so i can't even select a gate.....only gear i get is 4th i suppose....
So i am gonna hafta clearance there. Not a critical part of the structure AT ALL..... yikes....Leave a comment:
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Finally. Rad support and hood latch sorted.
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Subframe/trans mount this weekend, next week shift linkage?
took 10mins and finalized the fuel pump. Still waiting on exhaust stuff... the goal of finishing fqbrication by the end of november seems....possible???? Biggest question in my mind now is do i try to get it to run and then blow it all apart for paint or just trust i can get it running later.....Leave a comment:
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Rad support/hood release/ safety catch pretty much sorted. The bits look pretty rough tho so much grinding to be done. Everything is gonna come out again tomorrow and i will then finsh weld up the trans mount. maybe by next weekend i will finally be able to say the engine bay is done???? Waiting for a few more bits to get here before i can do the exhaust.Leave a comment:
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got the snub mount done and while i have more work to do on the trans mount to fully stiffen it, i think it's all pretty decent now. now i gotta get back to where i was what, a month ago and finish up the rad support. i somehow have to put a secondary latch into the hood for the safety inspection. i sorta have an idea but who the heck knows if i can make it work. once that is done the engine will come out again and i will deal with the exhaust once and for all. that'll bring me to winter time most likely and i will do what i did last winter... sort the electrical. lets pray i don't change my mind on an engine again lol.Leave a comment:
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