so i have a mk1 coupe td, and i'd like to drive it

[jaysen71581]

I know what your feeling, before my brother left for kuwait he dropped off his 1.6td motor just the block on an engine stand and the head on my counter and a huge box of parts, so many long nights and posts on here and its running, im no genius or true car guy, i just followed the book and used some common sense, sometimes lol.. We will help you through this...

[RabbitJockey]

i finally have time for this car, and i figure it like you have, i can just take my time and learn as i go, my plan is to have it mk1 madness (i planned to have it there the last few years haha) but if not hopefully i can have it at h2o

[jaysen71581]

Where do you live? If you haven't figured it out I'm anakinkenobe on vortex lol...

[RabbitJockey]

head is disassembled, taking it to the machine shop monday

[RabbitJockey]

actually im gonna port it first, while it's out...

[8v-of-fury]

hells yeah! This is coming along!! lol

[RabbitJockey]

Where do you live? If you haven't figured it out I'm anakinkenobe on vortex lol...

i am in central pennsylvania

[RabbitJockey]

arp bolts installed, big end resized, rebushed, polished, and balanced, all for 100, then figure another 120 for the bolts...

[RabbitJockey]

anyone have suggestions for cleaning up the pistons and valves?  i don't wanns it and scrape them i wanna find a magic way to make the carbon fall off, i'm gonna try boiling them tonight, perhaps with baking soda

[8v-of-fury]

Boiling baking soda may do the trick. I let my TDI intake soak in a no name wally world degreaser for a few nights.. then hit it with a warm water power washer. Cleaned them right up.

Warm degreaser bath and then a boiling rinse should do most of the work, minimal scrubbing needed.

[RabbitJockey]

got the pistons and valves soaking in baking soda paste

[RabbitJockey]

well i went down and cleaned 2 of the pistons with a tooth brush in the sink, the baking soda definitely works, and it works better than zip strip, plus it stinks less and doesn't burn your skin haha.  tomorrow i'll buy a cheap pot to boil this bad boys in

[RabbitJockey]

so i left it them set over night, baking soda does help but doesn't really make the stuff fall off or anything, u can see it draws the oil out of them or something, but like i said, im gonna boil them tonight, i think that will do it

[RabbitJockey]

can't say i recommend boiling them, it seemed to work pretty well, but it smelled off and really makes a mess and is still very time consuming,  if u just cleaning off a set of intake valves or something then i'd say its a very good way, but not a set of pistons

[jaysen71581]

York? Cause im real close to central pa lol... i drive through it once a month to get to my base...