James Dean's MK4 1.8T Jetta

[James Dean]

The engine was completed almost 2 weeks ago now.
It runs nicely except for the stripped powersteering pump pressure switch.
Also have the issue of a wheel coming loose every so often, need to figure that out.

So I low mounted my Recaro into the car. **** it sits low.

To all those commenting on the ride height. I know, it needs to be lowered. Once my camber shims and relocation plates arrive the back should go down another inch. Then all I need is a 215 and a 20mm spacer.

[kapowww]

Also have the issue of a wheel coming loose every so often, need to figure that out.

To all those commenting on the ride height. I know, it needs to be lowered. Once my camber shims and relocation plates arrive the back should go down another inch. Then all I need is a 215 and a 20mm spacer.

Front wheel? Did you get longer bolts?

I reckon the ride height is good. I prefer when you see guard/tyre/wheel instead of guard/80% wheel..

[James Dean]

Front wheel? Did you get longer bolts?

I reckon the ride height is good. I prefer when you see guard/tyre/wheel instead of guard/80% wheel..

I'm running an 8mm spacer with a 15mm extended lug bolt. So theatrically it should take more effort to get the wheel off. I'm thinking the hubs thread has been stripped.

[kapowww]

I'm running an 8mm spacer with a 15mm extended lug bolt. So theatrically it should take more effort to get the wheel off. I'm thinking the hubs thread has been stripped.

Yeah probably. Just make sure the wheel's not buckled. Ages ago I didn't know I had a buckled wheel from going sideways into a gutter (good old drifting days) till I realised one day the wheel ripped off 3 out of the 4 studs. The wheel was slightly buckled for a few months and slowly loosened up and stripped the threads..

[BI65ND]

Nice work man. I should really check back on this site more often! Good to see you've got the engine done. Come a long way since I spoke to you last. Was about to send you a message and see how you were going with it and wow... it's like this now! Still got the same plans for the front end or going a different way now?

[trickysimon]

Oh Lordy, that's cool!

[gringo_54_oval]

dammmmm that bora looks amazing,the wheels look insane.

my favourite bora so far.

[James Dean]

Not much has happened lately.
Car isn't sitting low enough so i'm hopefully dropping the front an inch or so and raising the rear 1/3 of an inch.
Engine is still going strong, I've deleted the power steering pressure switch because volkswagen spare parts are raging morons.
Going to put a post controller on and get a touch more pick up out of the engine without making it obvious I have a gti engine.

[James Dean]

Update?

Well I was heading home from work. Down a 1 way hill each side road when out of no where a bessa-block is sitting there with my radiator and sumps name on it. Under it went.
Cracked the radiator good, so I did a repair and went on my way, because it was a busy period I couldn't just stop and do the proper repair. It was working fine until the car over heated.

Something didn't seem right so I was being cautious when bam **** went downhill.

Towed that ****** home.



Pulled the sump off.
Along with it came shards of metal and a sprocket.



Why? Where did this come from? The oil pump. The oil pickup was jammed.



What appears to have happened is the plastic that covers the cams has melted down gone to the bottom of the engine, got itself stuck in the oil pump/pickup causing it to jam and smash.

This explains it sounding like a diesel, the drive chain was loose so it would have been going all over the place. It also explains why it was dry up top with sufficient oil in the sump.

I did a compression test on cyl1 and all I could hear was hissing air getting pushed out of the cylinders. So I believe the rings are gone.

GAME ON!

[h100vw]

Holy cow. First time I have seen anything like that happen. I don't reckon that's a cam cover more likely to stop oil surging in the sump. Didn't think they were made of plasticine though!

I have an A3T radiator on it's way up from Adelaide next week if you want it.

Gavin

[James Dean]

Holy cow. First time I have seen anything like that happen. I don't reckon that's a cam cover more likely to stop oil surging in the sump. Didn't think they were made of plasticine though!

I have an A3T radiator on it's way up from Adelaide next week if you want it.

Gavin

Turns out it is called the "windage tray" according to the lads over at vwvortex.
I was thinking it would be a bit of a mission for the cam covers to get themselves all the way down there.

I am thinking of buying myself a Aluminium radiator, might as well do the upgrade now.

[h100vw]

Windage was the word I was looking for. The std rad was looking after 165Kw on my A3, so not sure you need to upgrade performance maybe you can prevent failure by having an all aluminium one?. You can have it for $50 if you don't go for an upgrade.

Gavin

[James Dean]

Windage was the word I was looking for. The std rad was looking after 165Kw on my A3, so not sure you need to upgrade performance maybe you can prevent failure by having an all aluminium one?. You can have it for $50 if you don't go for an upgrade.

Gavin

The reason I was going for the Aluminium because it doesn't use plastic on the end of the rows (can't remember what that part is called) where as the standard one does.

Do you know if there is a Windage made from some sort of metal? Not keen on running another plastic one.

[grtuned]

Love the attitude mate all positive, S&%# happens but now's the time to rebuild if you had some ideas!!!!!

Update?

Well I was heading home from work. Down a 1 way hill each side road when out of no where a bessa-block is sitting there with my radiator and sumps name on it. Under it went.
Cracked the radiator good, so I did a repair and went on my way, because it was a busy period I couldn't just stop and do the proper repair. It was working fine until the car over heated.

Something didn't seem right so I was being cautious when bam **** went downhill.

Towed that ****** home.



Pulled the sump off.
Along with it came shards of metal and a sprocket.



Why? Where did this come from? The oil pump. The oil pickup was jammed.



What appears to have happened is the plastic that covers the cams has melted down gone to the bottom of the engine, got itself stuck in the oil pump/pickup causing it to jam and smash.

This explains it sounding like a diesel, the drive chain was loose so it would have been going all over the place. It also explains why it was dry up top with sufficient oil in the sump.

I did a compression test on cyl1 and all I could hear was hissing air getting pushed out of the cylinders. So I believe the rings are gone.

GAME ON!

[h100vw]

In the olden days we used to fit these..... Oil Windage tray - VW TUNING, BAR-TEK Motorsport, Glader, Polo, Golf, Corrado, Motortuning, G60, G40,

A firm called Autocavan, long gone unfortunately, used to make a steel sump that had spring loaded doors in 2 vertical plates. This prevent the oil from running away from the pickup during cornering.

I had one of these in a quick 2 litre mk1 that I had. Water-Cooled VW Performance Handbook ... - Greg Raven, Chad Erickson - Google Books

I bet there's a 1.8T one somewhere. Never looked for one though.

Gavin