Author Topic: Brown Suit Santa came today!!!!! (Read 7110 times)

EcoMod · « **on:** December 11, 2008, 06:10:46 pm »

We are on the way to a resurrected ECOdiesel!!

TopLine Cyl Head assembled/Complete, Elring 3 Notch HG, and a set of Cosworth ARP HeadStuds.

flapjack · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2008, 06:51:05 pm »

nice

is it going to be a completely stock eco?

EcoMod · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2008, 08:25:49 pm »

Quote from: "flapjack"

nice is it going to be a completely stock eco?

Probably, .....well, maybe not so much.

I am putting the headstuds in now, for the future. By summer, I will have it ready to run NASA autocrosses and track days. Hopefully I can get enough power out of her to make it fun.

Smokey Eddy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2008, 10:07:02 pm »

I got an Elring head gasket too! Are they well known?

zukgod1 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2008, 07:08:30 am »

EWE!!

I would not EVER run anything from Top Line.

I hope you have good luck with it but I despise Top Line products with a Passion.

For a few pennies more you can get a genuine German head.

EcoMod · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2008, 07:40:30 am »

Well, I could not spend that much on this. 500 for a complete topline. What is so bad?

German is well over 800 from what I found.

My stock one was toast

zukgod1 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 12, 2008, 09:51:40 am »

Quote from: "EcoMod"

Well, I could not spend that much on this. 500 for a complete topline. What is so bad?

German is well over 800 from what I found.

My stock one was toast

Well I hope it works good for you.

Ive had problems with and have read about others having problems with Top Line products.

Personally I will never run there products on my engines again.

$800 is pretty close for a German head you are correct.

I went with a used German head over the Top Line when it was time for mine.

Dakotakid · « **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2008, 05:27:44 pm »

Does this head utilize hydro or shim lifters?

?

Zuk: I am curious about the negative reports. Were these anti-Topline sentiments expressed in this forum or personal conversations otherwise. I am just simply curious....that is all. I have no knowledge of these. Although I thought my Volks. of American mechanic friend liked these...can't remember.

One more question: who supplies the cam? How well is the heat treatment process on these cams???

lord_verminaard · « **Reply #8 on:** December 15, 2008, 07:32:15 am »

There is a Topline head on my Wife's Golf. I'm not sure how many miles were on it before I tore it down, but it's in great shape. There are no cracks between the valves, which is unusual because just about every used head, German or otherwise, has had these cracks. The head on her car is a solid lifter head. Not sure where the cam came from, but there is no wear on it either. I'm putting a metal head gasket on it and running boost so we will see what happens.

Brendan

zukgod1 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 15, 2008, 07:42:10 am »

Quote from: "lord_verminaard"

There is a Topline head on my Wife's Golf. I'm not sure how many miles were on it before I tore it down, but it's in great shape. There are no cracks between the valves, which is unusual because just about every used head, German or otherwise, has had these cracks. The head on her car is a solid lifter head. Not sure where the cam came from, but there is no wear on it either. I'm putting a metal head gasket on it and running boost so we will see what happens.

Brendan

I'm glad to hear that as it's always good to have options when it comes to head replacement.

The bad experience I've had with Topline was with their rings.
I originally had used their piston/ ring set for my build. The rings lasted about 15k. I'm now using OE pistons and Total seal rings.

zukgod1 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 15, 2008, 07:47:44 am »

Quote from: "Dakotakid"

Does this head utilize hydro or shim lifters??

Zuk: I am curious about the negative reports. Were these anti-Topline sentiments expressed in this forum or personal conversations otherwise. I am just simply curious....that is all. I have no knowledge of these. Although I thought my Volks. of American mechanic friend liked these...can't remember.

One more question: who supplies the cam? How well is the heat treatment process on these cams???

Yes The post i read was on this board and it was about their rings. I found this post after I had my engine built of course and yes I used Topline pistons/rings.
The posted commented he had gotten around 15k out of his rings if I remember correctly and I was REALLY hoping I would get more than that but, no it didn't happen. 15k and they were done.
Now there may have been other things that accelerated their expiration date but dayum! not one but 2 sets of rings toasted @ 15k.
I'm now using OE pistons and Total Seal rings. No more blow by.

I'm hoping the head will last longer than my rings did. I think it would be a really good option for us at times for a complete head replacement.

Smokey Eddy · « **Reply #11 on:** December 15, 2008, 01:07:11 pm »

Hmmm
this worries me.
I bought like the cheapest crap you could possibly pay money for.
prothe sells ring sets for 9$ each. That's what i'm going to be using. If i spent the cash for expensive rings no way would my car ever be on the road again.

So long as they're high carbon steel i'm happy and they seem to be. I broke a ring by using the ring compressor wrong so i needed a new set anyways i decided to see how well the rest of it would snap, and like good rings they don't bend very much they just break.
But who knows, i'll probably need to have it all apart again in 2 months time :roll:

total gamble budget build. Throw the dice and see what you get basically...
come on lucky 7's....

EcoMod · « **Reply #12 on:** December 15, 2008, 03:25:21 pm »

I have never used a Diesel TopLine Cylinder head. It looks good to me. The cam looks almost new, has new hydro lifters.

ThePartsPlace.com seems to have a good reputation. I doubt they would sell me a peice of crap that costs over 500.00

I have used a New Topline 16V 1.8L Honda B18c head before. Ported it, drilled it to use 1/2" head studs and ran over 30lbs of boost on it. Worked good and put down almost 700whp I guess that would be pretty reliable.

Sorry about your rings Zuk. Many companies re-brand stuff. Keep that in mind. Topline and Prothe could be sourcing rings from the same mfg! LOL

I plan on port matching this head. Maybe I will look at the shavings under a microscope and compare them to the OEM head shavings. :wink:

I promise to give feedback on this Topline Head.

EcoMod · « **Reply #13 on:** December 15, 2008, 03:29:28 pm »

Quote from: "Smokey Eddy"

Hmmm
this worries me.
I bought like the cheapest crap you could possibly pay money for.
prothe sells ring sets for 9$ each. That's what i'm going to be using. If i spent the cash for expensive rings no way would my car ever be on the road again.

So long as they're high carbon steel i'm happy and they seem to be. I broke a ring by using the ring compressor wrong so i needed a new set anyways i decided to see how well the rest of it would snap, and like good rings they don't bend very much they just break.
But who knows, i'll probably need to have it all apart again in 2 months time :roll:

total gamble budget build. Throw the dice and see what you get basically...
come on lucky 7's....

Keep in mind. Prothe is getting stuff that is currently in production because our cars are still in use over in China. His stuff is the equivelant of 99% of what NAPA/AutoZone/Advance sells....just straight from china.

If you would buy a part from your local parts store and be ok with it, I'd save money and order from Prothe.

Luckypabst · « **Reply #14 on:** December 15, 2008, 03:37:13 pm »