88' GTX [FECKO]

[T0M]

yeah, i think your right. powder coating is surely the way forward. But i have decided on this one, everything i CAN do myself, i will.. even if its a pain in the bum!

Got on with pulling the cylinder head off today, went smoothly other than one of the bolts holding the water way thingy snapped in the head .
However the burning of oil seems to be down to a stem seal which is a great relief! had i nice little puddle sitting on one of the valves:



The valves and plugs are looking very healthy as you can see



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Quick question. does anyone know how you get the injectors out?

[markh]

Just pull them out Tom, they are only held in with a rubber seal. You may need to lever them with a large screwdriver, just be carefull not to snap them !!!

[T0M]

thanks mark, all came out in one piece!

stripped down the head tonight:


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Went fairly smoothly, cleaned up the valves a little etc. though theres quite alot of stuff floating around in the head. whats the best thing to get all the cr*p out of there?
Also one of the plastic injector housings doesn't look too hot, so i proceeded to wind them out. but one of them seems to be pretty adamant its not moving.



any genius tips to getting him out?
and finally ( got all the questions today... bit of a novice ) is anyone aware of where i might be able to get hold of some more?

Still got that bolt that sheered off in the head to deal with as well

thanks, Tom

[dozzum]

I has trouble getting on of the injector sleeves out on mine except i was trying to do it with the engine still in the car.
Get a small hacksaw blade and poke it down the hole and cut outwards in about 3 places and it should drop out,
I think I only lost some tiny peices into the cylinders (made an awesome rattling sound for about 5 seconds before they were burnt up.)
Should be able to buy them from VW, ive got some left over if not.

Good luck

[T0M]

thanks for the tip. managed to get it out another way in the end. tried to buy some more from vw over the phone but the guy couldn't find them on the system,
however im not entirely sure he understood what i was going on about. so will go there on the weekend and hopefully will be able to get something sorted.

Having mega trouble with that sodding sheared bolt. have drilled about a third of it out. using a thin bit to make a pilot and then a fatter one to drill it out. was repeating this process every couple of mm so i could be accurate. but the thin bit has snapped of with none of it showing. so i cant carry on drilling, or work out a way of getting it out this has made me a very sad panda....

On a good note, my jetex system, 4-2-1, rad , short shift kit and linkage rods, and a few other bits and pieces arrived in the post

[Funky Diver]

Tried summat like this?

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/20084/Van ... t%208%20Pc#

Plenty of release agent going in first (WD40, etc)

[T0M]

Sadly Ive mucked it up to a point where its going to be un economical to have the drill bit remains taken out.
This is a direct consequence of being too stubborn to go out and buy the right tools. Lesson well and truly learned ...

Looks like MarkH has saved the day once again for this car. has a spare head that i might be able to grab off him.
thanks Mark!

[T0M]

righty, got a little bit more done today. New Rad in:



And i started on the gauge pod. bought a tacky plastic DIN slot Gauge holder (Which i sprayed Satin Black to match the rest of the dash plastic and it was a surprisingly good match )
But i still want a head unit in the standard place.
so i set to work butchering the centre console which was a little painful/worrying



But i think you'll agree, when the VDO's are in there it should look rather good!

[T0M]

And we're in



Got the lighting wired in (From the now defunct ashtray bulb wires) and tidied up some of whats left of the original stereo wiring, someone went to town on it at some point in the past!
Volt Meter is working on the original (switch live) scirocco plug as its got the same VDO connector.



One thing i am a little unsure on is that the senders i got out the audi look the same as the ones already on my oil filter housing.
If they are the same, can i splice the Gauge wiring into the original sender wiring, or will that affect readings / Not work at all?

Cheers, Tom

[T0M]

Withdrawing my previous question. just read up on the VDO gauges. The pressure sender has 2 connectors. one for the original wiring to keep the pressure light happy, and one to go to the gauge. but apparently it will have a higher low limit than to standard one so the pressure light may flicker a little on idle.
as for the temp gauge i think im just going to put the audi sender in to be sure it has the correct rating, and disconnect the wiring for the MFA temp reading [eliminating the need for a T piece] presuming this wont have any effect on the MFA's other functions.

[Funky Diver]

would imagine that it will be needed for correct MFA operation, as after all you use more fuel when the engine's cold than hot... least it makes logical sense to do that. I am by no means an MFA expert, actually... I'm clueless to the actual MFA, but hte concept is straight forward enough

[T0M]

Hmm fair point, i have no idea if your right or not. just bought one of these for peace of mind:

http://www.vwheritage.com/vw_act_shop.p ... try_GB.htm

I think its the right one... Find out soon enough

[T0M]

fresh head from mark appeared today
so got to work cleaning it up and stripping it down
( apart from the water things as the bolts are rather tight and im not snapping them again! )
came out very nicely with a bit of paint, as did the rocker cover... shiny things for your eyes:



fruity cam kit is going to be ordered from kent in the next couple of days
New G60 steels to be ordered from the bay also (just waiting on pay day for both!)

anyone know how the stem seals come out, have given them a tug with some pliers and just seems to tear them rather than pull the whole seal out?

[Funky Diver]

long nose pliers on the outside of the seal... give them a little twist to free them and they should just pop right out.

[T0M]

quick update :

got a fair bit done this weekend. Head is all built up with new kent 270 degree cam, followers + new stem seals,
manifold studs and various other bits and pieces.

blanked off the 5th injector.

new gear linkage arms and bushings with 50% reduced throw short shift kit fitted (feels great )

jetex system is on with raceland 4-2-1.

gauges are all wired in properly with senders .

pillar badges are sprayed up and back on the car.

also there was a slight change of plan on the wheels front... i was really into the idea of having sebrings or G60's on the car but saw these on wheel whores last night and decided i needed them, so im off to pick them up in the next couple of days:



wasnt sure about grey wheels on a black car but then i saw the picture of the car they came off, decision made!



anyways, once the engine is back together i shall get some photos up of progress!