20vt B3 (The Bandit)

[AngryTaco]

Bleed it!! Happens all the time if you dont!

[DE80q]

I will try that again. I have bled it a few times now, but who knows, maybe there is another pocket of air in there.

[AngryTaco]

On some similar VWs, you actually need to raise the front of the car while bleeding. These style motors and era cars are an ABSOLUTE P I T A to bleed

Thats why I like my Dodge. It's a self-bleeding system as long as you put the correct amount of fluid in the reservoir

[DE80q]

I checked out the tank and cap, nothing seems to be wrong. I also tried to bleed the system again, and no air. I did the back yard check to see if the system was pressureizing befor heat up, and I was getting pressure in the system with the engine still quite cold. I only ran it for less than 5 min, and it still delevloped pressure in the tank, evident by the pressure releasing when I opened the cap.

I guess I waited too long to re-torque the head studs. Maybe it was a good thing I picked up the MLS head gasket from Tim when I did. Maybe I should just send my hybrid out for balancing and install that when I go to do this. its a factory K26 center section, so at lest I wont have to worry about making new lines...

[AngryTaco]

If you arent getting bubbles then you dont have a bad head gasket!

[DE80q]

I didnt notice any bubbles, but when I did it a second time with the engine a little warm from the first time, you would have thought the tank was going to jump out of the car. I think it was possible a large air bubble came out that time.

[jretal]

with cap off reservoir and car cold, start car and put hand over reservoir. If you remove your hand and have pressure release, the HG is gone. Doesn't have to make bubbles, BTDT.

[DE80q]

with cap off reservoir and car cold, start car and put hand over reservoir. If you remove your hand and have pressure release, the HG is gone. Doesn't have to make bubbles, BTDT.

Thanks, I am pretty much to that point. All leads point to the head gasket needing replaced. I have an MLS one for it, just didnt expect to need it so soon. Im in the process now of getting a couple other gasketsand things that I need for when I do the head.

Can ane recomend a good MLS gasket prep spray? I know the local parts store carries somthing for it, I just dont know the brand.

[AngryTaco]

Ive used copper spray in the past.

Have you done a compression or leak down test yet?

[DE80q]

No I havent. I have done every "back yard" test on the planet though. I do not have access to a leak down tester, and my compression gauge is MIA.

As for the spray, thats what I was thinking, but didnt know if there was a better product.

[DE80q]

So I drove her to the local VW shop to get coolant Sat morn so I could change the head gasket, and low and behold, nothing happened... well nothing bad. Not really sure what is going on right now, so I figure I will just keep an eye on it for a little and see if anything bad happens again. If it does, then I will go about swapping out the HG.

While looking around under the hood, I noticed the PS return line seems to be leaking. I checked to make sure the clamp was tight, and it was. So I guess I need to replace that. I found a couple part #s for it, but not really sure what the differance is.

You will see the #21 circled in red. For LHD modles, there are 2 differeant part#s for the NG setup. They are 893422891C and 893422891S. I have no idea what the difference is, but both seem to be NLA, so what are my options? Go to a hydro shop and have them make me a line?

[AngryTaco]

Just have the lines rebuilt. Thats what Ill be doing

[DE80q]

I had a Package show up yesterday, that the wife was none too happy that she had to bring in I said, "come on... it only weighs 40LBS!" If you are married, or living with a female, you know the look I got.




I got these from a member on MG, they are a DIY setup with QA1 parts and Eiback springs. They were done pretty well too I might add. I will be blasting, rewelding the rings(not the greatest) and epoxi painting them. The only problem I have is with the spring rates the PO(or his brother) was running


They are a little WAY to stiff for a daily driver here in PA. I am looking to pick up this combe F350/R375. I think that should give me a descent ride, but still be able to handle well.

Now I just need to make a choice of which inserts I want to get for these. The obvious(and most expensive choice) is KONI, but not sure what I will go with.

[mr_aj_johnson]

Yeah... 700lb/in 800lb/in sounds a little painful... Talk about no body roll tho.

[DE80q]

I wouldnt hav to worry about body roll, with the roads around here I think it would fall apart with these springs rates one...

[DE80q]

I came across a set of these localy.


If all 4 of them are in this condition I think I might get them. I have seen these called 80 competition wheels, and they seem to be kind of rare here in the states, only comeing on the cabby for a short time. I like the look of the wheel, and I really like the fact that they are OEM audi wheels that are 16" 4 lug.

Anyone ever have a set of these? Are they worth picking up?

[themagellan]

They look like an awesome find - If you are looking for something cool and trendy check out the ESM - 001 wheels.

[DE80q]

Spent most of the day on Sat at my parents house with rs4tech working on my mom's A4. On the way home, I came up to a pretty good long hill, so decided to see what this 20vt had. At the bottom of the hill, I put it in 3rd, at about 2k RPM, and got on it and held at about 10psi, I'm still tuning, so didn't want to hold at max PSI. She did great! pulled hard up the hill, and A/F ratios weren't way off. I hit about 5600 RPM, which is the highest I have had it yet, and seemed fine. Then I shifted... I think my throw out bearing took a shit on me. When ever the clutch is engaged, even sitting in neutral, you can hear a pretty nasty grinding sound coming from the trans. I tried to capture it on video, but the background noise from the engine washes it out. It sounds horrible, and to be honest, I was just glad I made it home without it blowing up.

Looks like the trans will need to come out anyway. I guess I will just swap out the torsen, and the TOB at the same time. I was really hoping to be able to do more driving than this before I had to do major surgery again.

[DE80q]

Well, add another problem to the list. I went to update the firmware on the MS, and my computer died while in process. Looks like I will be pulling it out, and sending it back to Mr. elaw to have the CPU reflashed. I dont have a setup to work with the MS out of the car, so no way to keep the laptop pluged in while resetting everything. This has been a rough couple days for the Bandit...

[PRY4SNO]

eesh

Keep plugging away.

[DE80q]

eesh

Keep plugging away.

Thats the plan. I just need to get some parts on order so I can drop the trans, and and get a few other things taken care of.

[chaloux]

Dang! Bad luck. Patience... Patience

[mr_aj_johnson]

I mounted an inverter similar to this http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod ... 0794501410

on the vertical section of wall in front of the rear passenger foot area. Simple install is to just run the wires to the pos and neg of the battery you put in the trunk. Or go find switched power somewhere.

[DE80q]

Dang! Bad luck. Patience... Patience

Yeah, thats pretty much all I have been having lately. Now I am going to be ordering more parts and fluids so I can drop the trans.

I mounted an inverter similar to this http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod ... 0794501410

on the vertical section of wall in front of the rear passenger foot area. Simple install is to just run the wires to the pos and neg of the battery you put in the trunk. Or go find switched power somewhere.

Thats a pretty nift idea. I think I just might have to do that.

[DE80q]

I have more parts to order that I care to list right now. I will be ordering the TOB and more Motul Mytle gear here shortly. This way when I get my MS back from Elaw, havent even shipped it yet, I will be able to take the car back to my parents, and drop the trans.

Im hoping that when I get the MS back, there will be a fun little new feature in there too! should make for some fun noises!

Oh.. Im also picku up the 80 comp wheels saturday evening. Sould be a nice little addition to my little 80q.