8 hr netted this today.. still good 3hr left in welding on it...

stainless.. vbands n all.. 2 j pypes there.. what a pain..
Looks like your winning the battle
ಠ_ಠShaddup giz

Okay, but seriously, gonna be stuck without a car for the weekdays anyway, so I'll twist a friends arm to help me go down and pick up my head and one of the pistons and the ring set to get the ringless piston squared away (need a template; messed up the compression ring order). I'll also disassemble the head down to the guide inserts and get it cleaned up, then stick it together with new stem seals and re-lap the valves. The HG comes in on Wednesday, so things should align to get the long block a reality by late this weekend, or at least see what reason/exuse I'll have by then on why it still didn't happen.
ಠ_ಠ
Shaddup giz 
I meant that in a good way Andy

I am fighting a similar battle myself and it's all I can do to keep at it sometimes.
I figure the only way the mess of problems, decisions, knackered knuckles, boxes of parts, endless posts, searches, and dwindling bank account will pay off is when I hear some clack!
lol.. giz a bad boy... my head showed up today..

so had to dig it our for a pic..
got aaz im shaft, vac pump.. theman.. giz supplied headgasket.. 8v supplied head.. bottom end is what it is.. not discussion at the moment.. till i figure out headgasket..
http://www.cometic.com/ talking to a drag racing friend.. that place can build me new spacer for head gasket.. so i can increase the compression to a better one.. if i cannot get the 1hole aaz to work..

too bad when i removed the im shaft from it.. i found this..

so i guess im bearings.. still gotta find a fuel pump, oil pump.. and need to clearance the head gasket as the pistons hit it..

1.9 aaz bores too small..

by just a tad..
looking thru cosmic.. i can but a specialty thickness headgasket.. cut rivits on the aaz.. use the top layre of aaz with proper bottom portion.. i bet that would work..

this may actually work?


??
Sure it will work, just spray some magic hylomar on it

. Hold it down with Some
AARP studs cause it's an old used gasket ;Ds
No really, I think it will work.
well just a future fyi to you and those putting aaz heads on 1.6.... the vr6t uses a stock metal headgasket, removed rivits so middle section fatter.. lower comp..
now looking at 9a headgaskets.. they make then different thicknesses.. no reason the top layer of aaz for pre cup cannot be used with bottom 2 layers of say 9a for my app.. the pistons clear it.. as they do not get to top layer
i see no reason it cannot work

if i get really into it get the micky mouse ears milled into the flat top pistons of the 9a..
WELP, short block isn't happening this week. Piston ring tools didn't come in through my tool guy. Did get a 30mm hub water pump to run a VR6 pulley for my serpentine setup, though, and my head gasket is in at NAPA; just need to go get it. I also need to put oil back into the broes and scrape the slight surface rust off that I caused by prematurely prepping them.

Also, for reasons that I'm not going into, I tried to mail my WRD 02A trans mounts to Canada, and customs has yet again lost them. I opened up an inquiry, but it takes about 24 days, and that was a week ago so I'm still in the hog pit waiting for them to respond. I'm never mailing to Canada again, and I truly mean that.
Looks like the Rabbit isn't making Madness this year either. oh well, at least everyone will get to see my Bus and it's new windshield that had to be put in because a rock hit the old one.
Another day at the funny farm I guess.
now looking at 9a headgaskets.. they make then different thicknesses.. no reason the top layer of aaz for pre cup cannot be used with bottom 2 layers of say 9a for my app.. the pistons clear it.. as they do not get to top layer
i see no reason it cannot work
if i get really into it get the micky mouse ears milled into the flat top pistons of the 9a..
That layer that is hanging inside the cylinder (with the smaller ID) - while it may not get hit by the piston, it's gonna get reel hot.
thought bout that too.. be like a thin piece of metal to turn red hot and melt.. then i thought of router idea you also suggested..

im going to make it work.. you watch.. sadly with ideas of cali.. puts my crap on back burner..

but if i make it to sanfran/tahoe.. i can buy ya lunch/dinner for the gasket

so ill push this back till sept.. with ideas of ok go ttime ill hit it..
ill pay $1 per fake foam 02a mounts so we can send him home with lots of mounts that we toss at him like water bombs... at mk1 madness...
i know... we all hop into bus and head to customs with towels on our heads and follow a mk1 rocco into parking lot as head pops out w/rocker launcher be fun..
how did i miss canada... thats 3rd time charm??
Seriously!

You put that head on grandmas nice bed shall that she made for you!
Right now I wish there was a like button for that comment ^ LOL