Mikester - '96 8v

[Mikester]

Getting more and more convinced that i should build the engine up before i stick it.

Uprated rods and pistons, maybe a rebuilt head and then put it in charged.

Im also straying from the S/C route to the turbo route.

This thread makes some good reading:

http://www.vr6oc.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?231150.0

[Mikester]

Dropped off rocker cover and some other bits to powder coaters.

At the end of the week plan to order:

New Chains, tensioners and guides
Head Gasket Spacer + standard item as well
ARP Head Bolts

Next week im off work, so plan to strip the engine down, inspect the pistons and head, and all being well rebuild with head gasket spacer in, being held together with the arp bolts.

[Mikester]

So today the job was to do the chains, guides tensioners, inspect the pistons and head and fit a spacer gasket to lower the compression for the turbo.

I have bought a 8.5:1 Spacer gasket made by C2 Motorsport UK and they also supplied me with a 3 part Mk4 VR head gasket to sandwich it in for good measure.

Also i got a metal rocker cover and had it powder coated the same colour as my wheels by Wheelworx.





I also then got from Euros all the chains, tensioners guides etc.

So with the use of a crane moved the engine about in the garage and cracked the gearbox of it and dumped that on the floor, as dont need to do anything with that yet......... lsd and uprated clutch anyone?




Then pulled the rocker cover off and then got the side cover off to expose the top chains.




To get to the bottom chains have to pull the clutch and fly wheel off, which is no big deal as i need a lightened fly wheel and uprated clutch..... So that all got pulled off.

[Mikester]

So with that we removed the top chain tensioner to allow the top chain to come off, pulled off the themostat housing and took the top chains off. Slacked off the head bolts and removed the head. I am going to use the standard headbolts to rebuild the engine as i havnt got any ARP ones at the moment, but i can change them one by one with the rocker cover off at a later job. So its not big deal right now as they will be fitted before it is started.




Heres some pics of the famous top guides that get worn and break and rip the chains off. The 2 tensioners were fairly worn but the other bits were fine really, but replaced them anyway! Just for fun.





Then it was for the spacer head gasket. Split the 3 peice head gasket and sandwiched it onto the block. Look at how thick it is! This combined with the turbo and a plow will move 20v's out of my way  :lol:





This is all that was done for today as it was a learning curve for me and aaron, jobs for tomo are to get it all timed up and the chains back on. Once its all timed up it will be degrease and paint time.

Big thanks to Aaron (Aaronmk2) and mark for today, hopefully will get onto it tomo and get it finished for the week.

[Mikester]

Few more pics:

[Mikester]

So today aaron came over, and we finished things off. Sealed and tightened everything up except the rocker, as waiting on Matt LMR to get me some shiny bolts

Then tightened up all of the sump that we undone.



Removed the AIRCON!!! This isnt LA, who needs air con! And then refitted tensioner with the non air con belt. This should also help with getting boost piping down the to fmic. This is the badboy, up for sale! lol.



Here is the gearbox.... Looking sad.



So degreased the badboy, and then painted it silver. Now it looks like this:



Happy with that!

And so with that, dumped the VR lump and all the bits and bobs back in the corner of the garage, and let the car come back in the garage, until next time!!



Next steps are:

Possibly get the flywheel lightened a bit (not sure though)
Clutch and put the gearbox back on, starter back on etc.
Uprated spark plugs, leads, injectors.

Then obviously order the turbo mani and keep looking for the right turbo.

Time frame to finish? Dont know, start new job next month so finiances are very unkown, done when its done, but i want it done for the end of spring/summer if possible.

Cheers for reading

[Mikester]

Vr6 conversion is sold awaiting collection this weekend.

And pending buying the new car, the mk3 will be up for sale this month too!

Reason for moving on is career and moving out etc, and also wanting a more refined car.

New car? Im after an Audi S3 on the 01/02 shape. Black