Scrap the Franken?? FINALLY RUNNING PERFECT! :)

[regcheeseman]

Well, Now the colder weather is here, I've just about had enough of the smokey old franken. It's got to the point that I'd rather cycle than drive it.

Sure I can advance it, but I lose power and it seems to clack more. Having already dropped to a 2 notch, I see only 2 options.

1- re-fit the 1.6 head
2- modify the cold start advance cam to give more advance

[RabbitJockey]

modify the cold start sounds like a good idea, maybe josh will chime in with how his acts in colder weather.  with daves franken jetta he had advanced the timing to 1.15 or 1.20 or so and alleviated the problem and then dynoed nearly 200whp, but he also had a 9mm pump head so i don't think it is comparable, and i don't think u want to go down to the 9mm head either?  but like you say perhaps you will be better off with a heavily ported 1.6 head, maybe taper the edges where the valves are recessed in the head to drop compression slightly and gain flow but that is all

[R.O.R-2.0]

modify the cold start sounds like a good idea, maybe josh will chime in with how his acts in colder weather.  with daves franken jetta he had advanced the timing to 1.15 or 1.20 or so and alleviated the problem and then dynoed nearly 200whp, but he also had a 9mm pump head so i don't think it is comparable, and i don't think u want to go down to the 9mm head either?  but like you say perhaps you will be better off with a heavily ported 1.6 head, maybe taper the edges where the valves are recessed in the head to drop compression slightly and gain flow but that is all

it doesnt get COLD here..

cold to canuks, and cold to us yankees is 2 different things.. here in oregon, we dont get much below the 20*F mark..

ive only seen single digit temps a few times in my life..

i believe josh told me his timing was right around stock spec.. he is WELL UNDER 1mm static timing.. i think hes running like .83, or something like that.. under .9mm tho for sure..

we may have another hybrid coming to life eventually.. i have an AAZ head that i ned to rebuild, but i havent had the balls to take my engine apart yet. it runs too good.

[nathan_b]

my franken started up stock glow plugs and no block heater at -12F last winter. even made heat too. Smoked until you drove it, then no smoke (grey anyways haha).

Maybe you have an injector or bad glow plug. Dont necessarily blame the franken, it's not that extreme a change...

[745 turbogreasel]

Slap a Cummins heater grid  on the intake and see what happens?
Or draw through a hairdryer for driveway testing.

[8v-of-fury]

Ooh I support the hell out of the heater grid. Just heating the intake with a blow-dryer works.. A grid will be friggan awesome!

[regcheeseman]

my franken started up stock glow plugs and no block heater at -12F last winter. even made heat too. Smoked until you drove it, then no smoke

Starting it isn't a problem and it'll clear within a few metres of driving.

What I hate is the cloud of white smoke on start up, the ropey idle until it's driven a few hundred metres.

I don't think a heater is the solution - that's just papering over the cracks, I did think about modifying the glow relay to run on after the key is turned.

i believe josh told me his timing was right around stock spec.. he is WELL UNDER 1mm static timing.. i think hes running like .83, or something like that.. under .9mm tho for sure..

I'm just over 0.9, did he suffer smoke.

but he also had a 9mm pump head so i don't think it is comparable, and i don't think u want to go down to the 9mm head either?

Already gone back to the 9mm, the 10 was too noisy for no gain, the 9mm can deliver enough fuel at the moment to paint the street black.

[R.O.R-2.0]

my franken started up stock glow plugs and no block heater at -12F last winter. even made heat too. Smoked until you drove it, then no smoke

Starting it isn't a problem and it'll clear within a few metres of driving.

What I hate is the cloud of white smoke on start up, the ropey idle until it's driven a few hundred metres.

I don't think a heater is the solution - that's just papering over the cracks, I did think about modifying the glow relay to run on after the key is turned.

i believe josh told me his timing was right around stock spec.. he is WELL UNDER 1mm static timing.. i think hes running like .83, or something like that.. under .9mm tho for sure..

I'm just over 0.9, did he suffer smoke.

but he also had a 9mm pump head so i don't think it is comparable, and i don't think u want to go down to the 9mm head either?

Already gone back to the 9mm, the 10 was too noisy for no gain, the 9mm can deliver enough fuel at the moment to paint the street black.

every start up ive seen was smokeless, and it started just like a stock 1.6, and it idled nice n smooth.

how are your injectors? maybe theres something awry with them?

[745 turbogreasel]

I don't think a heater is the solution - that's just papering over the cracks,

Chevy, Doge, Ford, and VW all use it...

or maybe you should skip the glow plugs altogether, as they are just a crutch for weak starters &engines...

[rabbitman]

I don't think a heater is the solution - that's just papering over the cracks,

Chevy, Doge, Ford, and VW all use it...

or maybe you should skip the glow plugs altogether, as they are just a crutch for weak starters &engines...

haha good point, the whole reason for a heater of any kind is to speed startup and reduce smoke.....some engines require more help with the "reduce smoke" part.

[ORCoaster]

Would a simple dipstick heater or engine block heater get it warm enough to keep the gray smoke at bay? 

I have an afterglow effect on my engine as I have tapped the original VDO temp gauge onto the gp senor on the flange off the coolant tube.  Stays on for like a five count.  Then clicks off.  Amp gauge drops from 30 draw to plus side of about 3-5.

No smoke on start.  Slight smoke at top of RPM range on hard hill pulls.

[745 turbogreasel]

Cummins don't run the heater above 60F, but they are probably the easiest starting of all.  I don't think the box truck 4BT has any kind of heater, and it always starts.

[Powered by Spearco]

Sorry to hear about your concerns of your build. Yes my timing is set static at .86mm. Very low but I'm using the one notch gasket, ported head and yes stock glow plugs and relay. True it does smoke on first start up but once its driven, not even 100 yrds. its smoke free. True, it'll fart and studder on first start. But give it some throttle and get some heat into the engine and its fine. Yes when its cold out, I plug in the block heater and it def. helps on starting, but it'll start just fine with out it. Yes I should have better drag racing times but the turbo is to big at lower RPM's and to small at higher RPM's. Its just finding what you like for the way you drive.

I say plug it in and leave it plugged in before you start it if you can every day. Set the timing when its warmed up to Op. temp and leave it there when your happy with the amount of racket. Yes it'll be smokey and ruff running when cold but how long will it be cold, not long.

[regcheeseman]

it does smoke on first start up but once its driven, not even 100 yrds. its smoke free. True, it'll fart and studder on first start

Good to get the truth 'straight from the horses mouth' - different story to what others were saying. 

That is exactly the same as mine runs and I'm not prepared to live with it - it looks and sounds awful.

I'm on 2 notch but worried that 1 notch may just get the pistons and valves untited - or is there lots of clearance?
The other problem is that step where 1.6 bore meets the 1.9 chamber and the squish is all wrong - that cant help combustion.

I've hopefully got a spare cold advance cam on the way, I'll re-profile that to give a few degrees more advance over stock

I really don't want to go for a block heater its not convenient - besides it doesn't get cold enough here to even warrant pulling the cold advance on a stock motor

[AudiVWguy]

I ran  separate wire through the glow plug relay for a button/switch that I can keep the G plugs activated. Usually about 30 more seconds. I felt like the combustion chamber warmed up faster and smoke went away sooner also.