Dylan8's Vento

[Water Boy]

Are you planning to reco the head once its back in Melbourne?

[dylan8]

oh these are what the car already had replaced by previous owner

Engine has new new thermostat housing with metal crackpipe and new water pump about 10k ago
2.5kg Fidanza Flywheel with replacable steel friction plate
Sachs HD clutch (~40k old)
New Drivers Side Driveshaft (full assembly) ~15k old
New Fuel Pump ~10k ago

[dylan8]

Are you planning to reco the head once its back in Melbourne?

yep. hopefully your sorting a contact for me still?

[Ben J]

Not sure what headgasket that kit comes with but if you get a mk4 metal headgasket instead of the standard mk3 one it bumps up compression a little bit and is one of the easiest ways to make a little more power out of the motor if you have the head off anyway. Something to keep in mind. Have you read through this thread before VWVortex.com - How to build a relatively inexpensive, reliable, powerful Vr6.. ? Heaps of good info in there

[Water Boy]

yep. hopefully your sorting a contact for me still?

Yeah no probs. You get yourself a VRS kit (head gasket, valve stem guides etc) we pull head off and take to bakers to reco and mild p&p.

[Jarred]

No point in taking the head off at this stage IMO, unless something needed repairing.

The engine works, and we want to keep it working until you get the car up and running rego'd etc.

then later down the track, sureu

[Water Boy]

I thought it pumped out heaps of oil smoke indicating leaking valve stem seals.

[GoLfMan]

No point in taking the head off at this stage IMO, unless something needed repairing.

The engine works, and we want to keep it working until you get the car up and running rego'd etc.

then later down the track, sureu

why later down the track? The engines out, its got high km's and all you have to do is whip the head off whilst its there.

Taking the head off down the track seems like needless work, especially when it's all apart for the chains anyway.

Reco the head, get a complete seal kit for the bottom end, and enjoy another 200,000km's of happy motoring.

[Jarred]

if it does need valve stem seals, then may as well do it whilst its apart (even though you can do them without removing the head)
, otherwise I see no reason in pulling apart a running engine (I mean he's not chucking forgies in it)

[thestu]

Depends of how coin you have Dyl.
Spend the $ at Bakers and get the seals done now. Then do your chains and gaskets. And because you have it all in bits do rings. And bearings!

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[dylan8]

Not sure what headgasket that kit comes with but if you get a mk4 metal headgasket instead of the standard mk3 one it bumps up compression a little bit and is one of the easiest ways to make a little more power out of the motor if you have the head off anyway. Something to keep in mind. Have you read through this thread before VWVortex.com - How to build a relatively inexpensive, reliable, powerful Vr6.. ? Heaps of good info in there

yeah have had a look through there. great thread.
I was under the impression the metal gasket alone wouldnt achieve much... needed the better cams etc to get any use from it?

I thought it pumped out heaps of oil smoke indicating leaking valve stem seals.

does it? i havnt been behind it before?
it leaks oil out the seals but i thought it only blew some smoke once when i pushed it along not long after i got it

[dylan8]

Depends of how coin you have Dyl.
Spend the $ at Bakers and get the seals done now. Then do your chains and gaskets. And because you have it all in bits do rings. And bearings!

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

well not much, hence why i cut back on my shopping list.
if its must have and engine items that should be done while its out and apart ill borrow some money from the rents to do it, no point in doing stuff twice.

[GoLfMan]

Depends of how coin you have Dyl.
Spend the $ at Bakers and get the seals done now. Then do your chains and gaskets. And because you have it all in bits do rings. And bearings!

the bottom end on the VR is pretty bulletproof, so I dare say the bottom end wouldn't need doing for a long time. Where as the head gasket is more likely to die in the next 100k

[GoLfMan]

if it does need valve stem seals, then may as well do it whilst its apart (even though you can do them without removing the head)
, otherwise I see no reason in pulling apart a running engine (I mean he's not chucking forgies in it)

All I'm saying is, it's high km's, and a few hundred dollars now could save some headaches in the near future.

[Tim]

If the car is still running do a leak down compression test to see whats going on. Most VRs ive seen start getting a little smokey by this sort of mileage and its usually valve stem seals. Silly not to do them whilst the engine is out.
The head gaskets are also usually weeping as well. Do everything now and you can have another 200k of happy motoring. Dont do anything now and the engine will be out again in less than 50k.


Also in regards to the mk4 head gasket. Im not a fan. Yes it can bump up the compression a little bit but ive heard of quite a few cars pinging after doing it both locally and in the US. Chasing NA power in one of these engines is not really worth the hassle beyond a bit of tickling here and there. Not unless youre willing to put thousands into it.