Building AAZ motor; meet Harley

[CrazyAndy]

I'll just bite the bullet and buy a middle-range magnetic base dial indicator set.  I don't know exactly what I'd use it for after this, but the way I see ti it's like the post hole digger of measurement instruments; you only need it maybe seven to ten times ever, but those time you are damn glad you have it.  I could always rent it to my friends for beer also.

[CRSMP5]

i just use the depth gauge end of micrometer/sliding ruler.. 20-500 easy.. but 20$ on sale at harbor freight should do it...

[libbydiesel]

Straightedge and feeler gauges...

[RabbitJockey]

This is what i bought from the classifieds here.  I have yet to use it! 

[CRSMP5]

here mike.. this is more fair since all new parts...


after 6 weeks of backorder on a set of rings to fix the broken one... aka broke new one.. and 6 weeeks later got replacement..

most rediculous thing ever.,.. my last vr6 rering.. never again...


yes $$ crack pipe for size...




i drove it in and out of door today too like that... 2-3 weeks i expect it to be driving down road..

[Gizmoman]

here mike.. this is more fair since all new parts...

i drove it in and out of door today too like that... 2-3 weeks i expect it to be driving down road..

Man I wish I had two more cylinders in my block.
Nice. Kinda new to anything that's not an AAZ - what is the displacement/HP of this after your done?

[CRSMP5]

something stupid... im just glad someone else gets to take it home.. sadly the owner has past conviction of eluding... and hastotaled many mk2 golf 13 years ago... this ought to teach him respect or death.. doubt there is very fine line with this.. once i get all the ic pipping made up ill get him to order up his $26/life plates.. and will be rollin silly..

who's got a go pro??

my worry.. less then week = new tranny.. he used to blow thru 020's till i built him one... mine only one to ever last him!! not had car with 020 since eluding..he gradded to vr6 after that.. but this his 1st real vr6 too.. rest junk no good cars.. mk3 jetta w/looks like cracked headf.. and one with dead hole.. his dd he has to clean fouled plug on often..

this... will be silly..

[CrazyAndy]

Damn, man, that looks cool!  Glad to see you got the rings sorted out; I actually found the VR6 ring compressor tool at my dealership, tried to pus a junk ring though it, and you're right, that thing is crap!  Nice choice on the metal crack pipe, as well as the Turbonetics snail.  The owner better not be an idiot and wreck that thing like his past history, but I wouldn't bet on it.

As far as my engine, I went with Libby's (AKA other Andrew's) suggestion and used an engineers straightedge with some feeler gauges to determine my piston protrusion, and tried all cylinders with their corresponding rods.  The protrusion came out to be 0.635-0.68 mm on all 4 clyinders, with number 3 having the greatest, 4 having the least, and the other 2 having 0.05 mm above the median of the variation. All this means I can pick up a 1 notch head gasket. I also got the main oil galley plugs , intermediate shaft end plug, and 2 of 3 coolant core plugs pressed-hammered in. Sealed them all with the tube of Hylomar that came in the mail 4 days ago; thank you online hard-to-find lubricant/solvent vendors!





  Next step is getting some graphite lubricant for seating the rings, a 1-notch HG, a piston ring compressor,and cleaning the cylinder head, and we just might have a long block by next week.  Can't wait!

And CRS, what's that upward-canted hole on the back of the VR block for?  I actually don't know!

[CRSMP5]

oil pump drive off the im shaft..

heads on it now.... but failed to notice the o-ring for chain cover/tensoner feed... so almost got chains installed... LOL... last vr6 ill ever do...

[CrazyAndy]

Just realized I have a bit of a concern; when I was doing engine work, I got my EGT-1000 probe from Aircraft Spruce out of storage to get the exhaust manifold ready for drilling to tap and fit the adapter.  However, the wire lead connectors don't match the pins for the Westach gauge I bought (also from Aircraft Spruce), which has pin connectors instead of the ring-and-screw connectors on the probe.  Pic below:


Is this going to be a problem if I decide to extend the wires, which I'll have to do anyway, and attach them with different ends?  Also, I do not remember if the EGT-1000 is a voltage-generating pyrometer or a voltage modifying one, so I don't know exactly how the circuit needs to be laid out for the probe/gauge.  Anyone with a similar probe/gauge combo on their EGT setup have any advice for this?  Thanks if anyone knows!

[8v-of-fury]

I am thinking those wires need to be extended with their kit, and cutting them will screw the reading up.

[theman53]

Same setup I have. They sent a small wire that slips on the gauge it is about 2 foot long and then you need K type thermo couple wire. Libby used to sell it. I have it written down in my instructions, but I forget which way is which. I used a lighter once it was hooked up and one way sent the gauge down and the other did it the right way.

[CRSMP5]

thnk that end screws to probe...

[CrazyAndy]

Well, the main concern is that I need to modify the extender wires; could you give a link to the notes, Lucas?  I know which ends are which on the probe, with the yellow end being the plus side, and I'll just futz with the ends on the bench to see which pin is which on the gauge by the lighter test you described.  It's just getting the square peg in the round hole right now, which needs to be done to the extender wires apparently.  If I need to talk to Libby about the wire then that's what I'll do.

[CrazyAndy]

More updates; got some of the short block assembled before daylight ran out.

Got the oil jets in, Hylomar sealed and thread locker on the retainer bolts.


 Got the bores clean and rubbed them with Total Seal graphite bore lube; turned the cylinder bores an ever-so-slight green tinge, which is what it's supposed to do.


 Then got the main studs in, put in the main bearings with wet graphite assembly lube, with care taken to put the extra full circle bearing shell on the #4 main cap to prevent '#3 rod syndrome'. dropped the crank in and torqued the caps down in sequence to 55 ft-lbs per Raceware's specs.


Started to rain and get dark, so I shut up for the night.  I wish I could have gotten the pistons and rods in, but I had arrived too late in the day, plus only 3 of the 4 cylinders had their rings on. Now I'll have to wait for a few days while the bus is in the shop getting metal work and the windshield replaced for state inspection.

The dry, graphite-covered bores exposed, even with the block wrapped in a trash bag, sure puts me on edge. Can't wait until ol' BUGJUICE is done being under the knife; I gotta get those pistons in!