You must be logged in to rate content!
6 minute(s) of a 96 minute read
9-17-2006
Good progress today, very pumped. The motor is all ready to come out, I just ran out of daylight, didn't feel like working with lights, too tired. If all goes real well by this time tomorrow I'll be posting that the car is done and ready to rock. The intake manifold is the crown jewel of this project so far. I never could have guessed that is would turn out this well, utterly shocked.
Took the time to fully delete the a/c.
Now you see it:
Now you don't:
The fan shroud was nasty, I forgot to get a before pic but you can tell from even after I took the wire wheel to it:
A few (half dozen or so) coats of paint later it's acceptable:
The intake is just friggin' sexy. I'm seriously considering a coat or two of clear just to help keep it this way:
I almost forgot. I need the torque specs and order for the cylinder head. I'm gonna prod around on Google tonight and in the morning until I find it. Just figured if someone knew them off hand it's an 8v from a '91 GTI. Also has anyone ever pulled the motor out the top and leave the transmission mounted. I think I can do it, just need more light. Always value the opinion of someone who's been there before.
Motor Swap Day Three
The motor's still not all in yet. We thought we'd take a shortcut and just remove the motor, support the transmission and then drop the GTI short block in. 5 hours later the motor and trans hadn't been separated. GRR. So back to the tried and true method, we pulled the trans too. The GTI short block has been mated to the 4k trans and they are almost ready to be bolted back to the motor. Things are going really well now that I'm over the hump of getting the old motor out. Tomorrow :x: Tomorrow I will be driving this beast. No pictures to post today, mostly just grunt work. I have a lot of busted knuckles and bruises and bumps and scraps but I'm smiling 'cuz I know from here it's all down hill.
9/23/06
It's ALIVE!!! I have a few loose ends to tie up. It seems I need to adjust the clutch pedal and I know I still need to connect the throttle switches but it runs. That's the important part. I also may need to tighten up a the exhaust couplers they sound like they are leaking a little bit, but man what an improvement. I haven't driven it much or very hard yet, it's friggin' pouring after all. When I wash my greasy palm prints off of the car and wash up the motor a little bit I'll take some more pics. I like it, much better than the last time I did this swap.
9/24/06
Well I could swear I posted some before and after pics just this afternoon but perhaps I just thought I did. I haven't been feeling too well. In any case I have a before pic and now a few after ones for kind of a compare and contrast.
A few after:
10/1/06
Took her to Royal Oak and back yesterday. I have to double check the math but it looks like it got nearly 30 mpg WITHOUT an O2 sensor. Also it does about 85 just on the primary butterfly which mean there is no reason to downshift out of 5th to pass on the highway anymore.
Final math on the mileage is as follows:
356 Miles mostly highway NO O2 sensor
11.5 gallons of fuel
30.95 MPG
10/2/06
This weekend's excursions, Saturday out to Royal Oak and our little cruise Sunday really showed me that I need to get on my suspension. The driver's side coil doesn't bind anymore it more or less changes my toe at will. Right now it seems adamant on toeing that side in, a royal pain during right hand turns and switchbacks are almost impossible. From talking with Tom (UBRHASE), who was this car's P.O., all I need to do is bust the weld holding the adjustable camber plates to the top of the strut towers and I'm back to stock. Unfortunately this isn't something I feel comfortable doing alone, I'm not even sure I have the tools to do it. I have a little money but it'd work best for me if this could be a "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" kinda deal. I owe Tom the suspension that is on the car but have a set of billistien hd's and nuespeed coils to put on. I have access to a decent garage with good tools. If anyone thinks they could help, pm me. I'll make it up however I can.