The Project Pad

ShavedQuattro wrote:how many miles on this motor? Man, I admire your cheapness!!

Probably could get away with it swapping them out one by one. I give it a 70% chance of success

It's hardly cheapness... I have no problem spending money, trust me. I do however like contradicting popular belief with evidence (maybe luck). Most would have said that my engine would have popped by this point, or within days, months or even a year. Now over two years with a turbo that is way "too big" for a stock block and it's running perfect. I DO NOT baby it either, as you all know.

It's hard to say for sure, the original cluster in the car says 240,xxx however the previous owner had a different cluster in it for some period of time. He also mentioned that the original cluster didn't register mileage properly (until I re-soldered every connection, lol). Now it works perfect. I safely assume it has over 300k on it.

That being said, I figure I swap these out with some ARP's because I believe my coolant system was pressurized a bit recently as there is coolant residue around the reservoir. Can't hurt to swap them in.

Do I have a spare long block that I intend to build, yes :-)

loxxrider wrote:As long as it is one at a time, there is no need for a pattern My roommate did this with good results on his turbo E30. Been at least a year like this so far with no problems making decent power.

Hank, I don't see how this method shouldn't be reasonable. I cant figure any reason from a mech. engineering standpoint that it would be a problem. The clamping force is still going to be even enough with 11 (or whatever the number is) studs remaining that nothing will become warped including the head gasket in my opinion. Seems to work in practice.

I've heard others having great success with swapping them out one at a time and that's what I am planning. Thanks for the response Chris.

Very interesting idea... I'd give it a shot!

HEll, I was meaning it as a complement! I would do the same thing for the record! Old headgaskets are just frail pieces, and if it hasn't ever been changed, it is a paper one to boot! Whats the worse that can happen? Leak water into the cylinder and break a ring?? (hehe, btdt last motor)

Haha, my bad Hank. Took it the wrong way I suppose. Hoping it's not paper!!

I have swapped them one-by-one on an AAN before... followed the factory head bolt pattern

The pattern really doesn't matter if everything else is tight

loxxrider wrote:The pattern really doesn't matter if everything else is tight

I would agree with that for the most part, but we chose to use the sequence anyways. The idea being that if the ARP studs are providing additional clamping force (more so than the tired old stretch bolts), then it is best to apply the additional force in the specified pattern.

Ah, good point. Are they providing more clamping force though? I.E. is there really more squish on the head gasket or is it just the increase in tensile strength to resist head lift? I forget what stock torque specs are, but even if they are the same, it doesn't account for stretch or creep over time of the stock ones. Your point would be validated then, but the difference is probably marginal still. Even so, it can't hurt to go with the stock sequence!

loxxrider wrote:is there really more squish on the head gasket or is it just the increase in tensile strength to resist head lift?

Certainly more tensile strength, and I'd like to think there is more static pressure on the gasket as well - maybe not. Being unsure, I went with the sequence.

Never seen stock head bolts crush in the head by the washer... ARPS do.. That leads me to believe there is more clamp!

There has been an ongoing slight annoyance with the clutch petal's enguagement level would change. Last week, I finally got around to replacing the clutch master cylinder and clutch slave cylinder. This wasn't the most fun job I've ever done, lol.

Now everything works as it should and believe it or not, the clutch doesn't slip anymore!!! Seems as though I had a lazy hydraulic system. That explains why the clutch would be slipping then randomly grab after.

Only one problem, now the transmission grinds into 5th gear if I move it in quickly :(! If I go slow and "ride the syncro" for a moment it goes in without a problem. I think it might just be a horrible coincidence but this makes me angry. I never slam into 5th gear so I have no idea how the syncro would even go bad for that gear. All others work fine, WTF! I may change the fluid for the hell of it tomorrow.

did you end up selling those springs??

and holy crap i want my wagon to launch like that...

bahaha NICE. So nasty.

I am afraid to launch my car like that.

arc1013 wrote:did you end up selling those springs??

and holy crap i want my wagon to launch like that...

Still have them . And it's easy to get it to launch like that! Clutch, VEMS and turbo!

EDIGREG wrote:bahaha NICE. So nasty.

I am afraid to launch my car like that.

Come on Ed! Go for it!

need any PCB lighting gear? fresh outta cash right now, but wouldn't mind trading some lesser used gear for the springs.

if you're at all interested, we can hash it out via PM. i've got enough stuff i don't use right now.

Dude, you are in-SANE. I pulled the head off a 156k 3b recently and the gasket was mush.

stock freakin 3b FTW. So awesome.
Come on ed, its easy, activate launch control, hold skinny pedal to floor, sidestep pedal that is the farthest to the left. Sit back and enjoy!

haha that is so effing badass man, good work!

Also, LOL I have even launched my car on stock clutch Ed. Come on, DO IT!

Holy crap... that was pure awesomeness! I really haven't spent much time in your tread and I must say... pure sexiness going on here!!!

Awesome! So much win

loxxrider wrote:Also, LOL I have even launched my car on stock clutch Ed. Come on, DO IT!

Yeah, yeah. My car is heavy as fiddle sticks, torsen rear diff, makes a ton of power, and has some sticky 255's. I just KNOW something is going to explode. At least I'll have it on video when it happens, lol.

God damn that sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing

He...heheheh...Heehahaha yesss

Help me has moar boost? Almost 500mi on the new motor...

AudiSport4000 wrote:God damn that sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing

:stupid:

What makes up your exhaust?