Wreck to Race.

[Golf Loon]

You could always get a bit of porting done on the head whilst its apart.
Make it all the more worthwhile.

Good to see you getting out there, looks like you had a blast.

[Jarred]

shame to hear about the head gasket Pete.

Sounds like you had a blast, which is most important!

I'm with Matt on this one, Get a bit of work done to the head while it's off, providing it's still ok. and bit of porting and perhaps shaving to bring up the comp with help net a few stray horses.

But then again. Do you spend money on this engine, or just get if fixed and save up for a 16V? Age old predicament. well it's probably not that old, I mean, I'm sure Noah never had to ask that question. But you catch my drift.

and LOL and coolant in the bores. How did you manage that?

[GoLfMan]

X3 for getting it ported while its off, maybe even big valves?

its a bit of a bugger but looks like you had a great time!

[Peter Jones]

Of all the things I could have broken on the track, this one is fairly insignifigant at least and fairly simple to fix. The cost isn't so much of an issue it's just the time it takes to fix it.

I have known John from Bondi Engines for many years, he does all my head and engine machining work, I'll see what he suggests once the head is apart. John was a quality control engineer on the engine production line at the Clayton VW plant. We exchange favours rather than cash and I think he owes me a few at the moment.

Bigger valves are not out of the question, at a bare minimum I'd tank and blast the manifold and head, re-seat the valves, do the guides if needed as well as skimming the block.

I'll see if I can't cc the piston tops, measure the deck height and cc the chambers and work out a compression ratio. Might have to bump it up a little on the mill.

John's does mainly heads only these days so he's well tooled up. I seem to remember re-wiring his valve seat cutter once upon a time so I gues that means I'm entitled to bigger seats!

I've always had my doubts about the head gasket on this car, I think it was probably on the way out anyway, this just pushed the issue.

Pete

[Peter Jones]

Here it is back from the shop.

In the end I decided that saving my money to do the 2.0L would be a better idea.

So here it is , basically reconditioned. K-lines, seats and valves cut, stem seals, all the usual stuff. The new techtonics springs are in there too.

Also picked up new head bolts, lifters, and an elring gasket set.

I got the manifold sandblasted to clean it out. Any thoughts on painting it?





I should order some new injector insulators for it too, the old ones are a bit sad.


Pete

[Peter Jones]

Slowly coming together now.

I spent a lot of time replacing hoses while the head was off. Those ones through the fire wall were a challenge.

All new hoses and quality clamps throughout now.

Here's the head with the cam and new lifters installed.



Pete

[Peter Jones]

I went down to the metal yard yesterday to dispose of the remains of the Vento clip, I got $85 for the steel and anothe $40 for the catalytic convertor.

My pockets freshly full of cash I popped in next door to pick a part and scored these.



It turns out my throttle body IS already this size 52/35 Doh. Oh well now I have a spare or one to trade.

The fuel dizzy is off a 2.3L 240 Volvo. Wasn't too hard to get out and looks to be a drop in replacement for the golf one. I grabbed the injectors, lines, and warm up reg all in one piece as well as wthe fuel filter just so i know where all the lines go.

I'll get the car up and running again before I try this out.


Pete

[Spyda]

Looking good mate, realy admiaring what your doing.

Do you have a background in engineering or anything or are you just self taught?

[Peter Jones]

Looking good mate, realy admiaring what your doing.

Do you have a background in engineering or anything or are you just self taught?

Thanks for the support.

I do have an engineering background, although its in an unrelated area, many of the principles and methodologies apply.

I am currently employed as an Electronic Engineer, my title is Senior Technologist. I do not have an engineering degree so I don't like referring to myself as an engineer. I do have an associate diploma in Electronic Engineering though. I am regarded as an engineer due to my experience and ability, I have effectively "come up through the ranks".

I build big national video networks. Really big, really fast ,very high quality and extremely reliable video networks.

If you've watched TV in Australia , that picture has been through our networks. If you've watched TV in Vic/Tas/WA it's being carried on cables that I personally plugged in.

Having said that though I don't actually watch TV at all. It's all carp!

Pete

[Preen59]

Looking great pete!

Clear lacquer the manifold. Use POR lacquer in the pressure pack, you can get special POR lacquer to go straight onto metal. It looks fantastic.

[Jarred]

Looks the biz Pete. Can't wait too see how this combo performs!

[Peter Jones]

We've been a bit busy the last few weeks looking after a friend whos going through a seperation so I haven't had much time to play with the Mk1.

Here's where it's up to at the moment.

Made up a new vacuum connection for the airshrouds on the injectors. I'm waiting on a delivery with the new insulators, should be here next week.



Here's why I never could figure out the timing, see I'm not going crazy!

When the mark is here,


The pistons are here !!



I guess whoever bolted up the clutch / flywheel didn't know what they were doing!

As it sits now,

Head back on, exhaust bolted up hoses re-attached. Still need to pop some assembly lube on the new cam and lifters before firing it up, its drenched in light machine oil at the moment.



Hopefully I'll get some work done this week and be ready for when my parcel arrives.

Pete

[Jarred]

can't wait. when's the next track event?

[Preen59]

Looking good Pete, keep up the no BS approach. I'm lovin it.

PS, just set the ignition by feel.. If it rattles, back it off a smidge..

[Peter Jones]

PS, just set the ignition by feel.. If it rattles, back it off a smidge..

That's exactly how I do it! I've never owned a timing light! Never could see the point!

I normally set the timing statically and then advance it 'till it pings and back it off a bit!

It was more the cam timing that was confusing me with the markers all out of whack. When I got it the intrmediate shaft was out of phase too which wasn't making things any clearer.

It's all good now though.

Pete