Gasket questions. Intake / Exhaust / Turbo

[subsonic]

I was wondering about gasket matching.  I am sure that the gaskets from various  manufacturers  all fall within a specified range.  That being said, do some of them have larger openings than others?  Most gaskets I have seen have a pretty wide tolerance for dealing with mass produced castings.  
Would it be better to use the gasket with the largest opening you can find, for gasket matching/porting?
Anybody have some on hand to compare?

I was also wondering if any gaskets are made that have any heat blocking qualities. Perhaps with asbestos fibers or something in it.  It would be nice if you could use something like this between the turbine and the center section of your turbo.

Just wondering.

Jim

[subsonic]

B......ump.

[BlackTieTD]

well i'm no expert but apparently no one else on this forum is either.

i'd find the gasket with the largest openings, assuming the quality is there, and they will continue to be available. then port match to that. yes the tolerances are very loose on these and i'm sure you will find gains.

i'm not too sure about heat blocking. in general i have found that diesel performance parts are harder to find than gas (but some good diesel fellows are helping to change that). you might want to consider performance parts from a gas car that are interchangeable, to open up your options a little.

[rabbid79]

As far as gaskets with insulating properties, search for the term 'Phenolic' or 'Insulating Manifold Gaskets' (IMGs).  There is usually some off the shelf stuff manufactured for 1.8Ts on eBay.  I'd image they could be manufactured for our engines though.  The gasket material is pretty thick, but helps keep the heat out of the intake manifold.  If you could use it on the exhaust manifold, I'm sure that would help too.

I've notice that many of your questions lately have been aimed at extracting the absolute most from your engine.  Are you still in the deisgn phase, or are you currently building this moster motor?

[subsonic]

Well, I am buying up the parts, so I guess half way in bewtween!

I guess after going through one or two home remodels you learn a thing or two.   It's always cheaper to get things done when the floors are up and the walls are open to the studs.  Same deal with the car.  It's way easier to make changes or modifications while the engine is out of the car and in pieces.  I will need new gaskets to put it back together, so I thought if there was a benefit to a certain kind I might as well go with that one.  It is free labor in a sort of way.  I need to put it all back together again, I will just be using new and hopefully improved parts.  Work in the engine bay?  I will get it done now that the engine is out.

Once dave builds the dp and gets the head done(once I get it to him) It will all be going together.  Body still needs paint and a new heater core / blend door repair.  Other than that it will be rolling.  I intend to keep it very sleeperish.  Nothing real flashy.  Just another older non turbo vw diesel running down the road-------- :twisted:  :twisted:

[rabbid79]

Really non-turbo, or just not touting it as a turbo externally?  If really non-turbo, what kind of improvements are you making?  I've been thinking about going back to non-turbo on my 1.5 just to see what it's capable of in N/A trim.  Thinking about headers, velocity stacks, pump/gov mods, lightweight flywheel, head P/P, etc.  If it doesn't meet expectations(looking for Mk 1 GTI-like power), I might be able to put a G60 on it.

[burn_your_money]

Subsonic's is definitely turbo :twisted:

[subsonic]

Subsonic's is definitely turbo :twisted:

Just like the man said

I plan on the car being a sleeper so I will not be advertising it as a turbo.  The huge intercooler that will be hiding in front may give it away though

Fast turbo diesels are cool.  Really fast diesels that no ones see's coming are even better  :lol:
"What the hell was that??!!" :?

 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[subsonic]

Really non-turbo, or just not touting it as a turbo externally?  If really non-turbo, what kind of improvements are you making?  I've been thinking about going back to non-turbo on my 1.5 just to see what it's capable of in N/A trim.  Thinking about headers, velocity stacks, pump/gov mods, lightweight flywheel, head P/P, etc.  If it doesn't meet expectations(looking for Mk 1 GTI-like power), I might be able to put a G60 on it.

That would be retro cool.  I am guessing that you could make it pretty fast non turbo.  Basic flow changes, gasket matching, bigger DP, perhaps porting.  I think it would be pretty interesting to see how fast you could make a vw diesel in N/A form.  I bet Giles would be interested in a specialty NA pump for max power.  Whole new market right there.

Anyone have any stats on fast N/A's?  I would suggest you start a new thread on that subject.  I bet with mods you could make a V.W "SNA" (Super N/A) that could take a stock TD hands down.   If done right, you could swap everything straight into one fast TD if you wanted.

Subsonic

[burn_your_money]

I had a NA that could take my TD no problem. It wasn't the gearing either, both had the same box. I really liked that engine but I swapped it out when the head gasket went

[subsonic]

How far past stock was it?

"Its not the size of the hammer, but the skill of the man wielding it"
I think this quote was from guys with small dinks or small tools.  Same thing really.  tee hee hee.   Driver does make a difference though.

By the way, I just sent one of the gasket manufactorers on this link a e-mail with questions about the quality and heat blocking properties of the gaskets they offer.  I will post the reply.

Jim

[burn_your_money]

It was stock as far as I knew. Perhaps a previous owner had fiddled with the pump. My TD doesn't have a lot of go though, so its not that exciting really.