Make slowboy not so slow - Page 16

**asshanson** · 03-19-2009

I noticed quite a bit of buildup on both intake and exhaust valves, but it's weird looking, like it's only built up in certain spots.

Also, when I took off the head, I noticed the headgastket was pretty slimy with grayish oil all over, not sure if it was leaking really bad or if that's just from when I took off the head. Maybe thats why it was burning so much oil, and not the rings? It was on both sides of the gasket too, not just the top. Would a really blown headgasket cause a lot of oil burning or low compression? I know my turbo was burning some oil, but that doesn't explain the low compression.

I'm taking the head to a machine shop tonight after work and hopefully find out if it's ok.

What's a good way to clean up those pistons? wd 40 and a rag?

A//// Guy · 03-19-2009

Hmm that is really weird.. the headgasket should be fairly dry. Maybe that was the issue, but hard to tell.

Do the rings, freshen everything up. Do it right this time and it should be good!

Febo · 03-19-2009

If the head gasket was super blown your engine probably wouldnt have even ran. But if it was leaking, you would get low compression and lots of oil useage. It could also just be from separating the head from the block, thats not the cleanest operation in the world. And WD-40 or just some parts cleaner and a rag will work fine to get most of that out of there, but those carbon deposits might be a tougher challange.

**asshanson** · 03-19-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLFebo

It could also just be from separating the head from the block, thats not the cleanest operation in the world.

I thought about this for a bit, and decided it was definitely leaking quite a bit. It wasn't just oil, when I took off the head it didn't leak any, and when I turned it upside down a lot of black oil came out as expected. The stuff on both sides of the headgasket was grayish slimy stuff. On the plus side, nothing was caked or coated on either the head or block, both are pretty smooth. Maybe because it's an MLS gasket, because when I took off a stock headgasket on another motor there was stuff stuck everywhere on the block and head.

Not sure if this is a big deal, but 3 or 4 of the 10 headstuds actually came out with the nuts, so maybe they weren't tightened all the way?

A//// Guy · 03-19-2009

Drain your coolant, see if there is any oil in it. Or when you drained oil, was there coolant in it?

**asshanson** · 03-19-2009

Coolant and oil are both pretty clean. I have a gallon container of the oil i drained, it's been sitting for a few days and there is zero coolant at the top. Also the coolant gallon is pretty green still. So yea I'm not sure what is up.

Febo · 03-19-2009

I woulndt worry about it, I think it was just from seperating the two honestly.

Kevin 1G Drummer · 03-19-2009

The coolant would be at the bottom of the oil. But it would take a couple months to separate like that. Was the oil milky colored at all when you drained it?

**asshanson** · 03-21-2009

I know oil floats on water, but I could have sworn I mixed a gallon of coolant and black used oil together and within a day all the coolant was on top.

Anyway, got a good amount of progress done tonight. Got the rest of the ABS brake lines out, as well as the control unit in the fender. I also got all the new lines installed and hooked up, that was a pain in the ass. Bendy SS lines would have been a million times easier.

You can see on the bottom corners of the new proportioning valve where the primary/secondary lines from the master cylinder go to, instead of to the ABS control unit. It definitely helped clean up the engine bay a bit, I don't have a bunch of lines running to the front corner and back again. You can also see the new hole I have in the fender.

tehehodi · 03-21-2009

your car is cleaaaaaan! i have rust..

at least you get to work on your car! looking good though! keep it up! i'm liking what i see!!! that and i can't wait to party with you again on the spring cruise..

!!!

Kevin 1G Drummer · 03-21-2009

An engine mixes the oil and coolant much better than you could ever do it by hand, and it also depends on the amount of coolant in the oil. Again, was the oil milky colored when you drained it?

**asshanson** · 03-21-2009

No, it was pretty black. Just the stuff on the headgasket/block was milky. Also the headstuds had the milky stuff on them when I took them out.

C3L1CA · 03-21-2009

Looks like you're making some good progress on the car! Those brake lines suck to install, especially the going to the driver side caliper. haha

**asshanson** · 03-21-2009

Yea that was the worst of the four by far. Got the brakes all bled today. Tried gravity bleeding but that didn't work for two of the four lines, I had to have emily step on the brake and force fluid into each individually. After that I was able to gravity bleed any of them, but since she was already helping I had her do the push push hold method, it seemed to go quicker.

Once it's running I'll drive around for a bit and then rebleed the entire system.

**asshanson** · 04-03-2009

Got the cylinders all lightly ball honed, but they were in pretty much perfect shape still. Also got all the new rings filed and pistons installed. All that is left is to install is the head and button things up. I decided to go with .020 for the top ring and .023 for the second, hope that works out alright for me. I also lined up the gaps to where they're supposed to go, I never realized the locations were so specific. Good thing I had someone helping me.

The old rings were gapped at .024 and .028, so that explains the blowby and low compression numbers.

Oh, is it normal for a company to ship 9 ring sets? I only ordered and paid for 4 sets, but I got a box with 9 of them. Is that in case you mess up 5 separate sets?

A//// Guy · 04-03-2009

Good progress! Id have to say gravity bleeding isnt a good idea. I always have someone pump the brakes for me when im bleeding, much faster results. You did start with the furthest caliper from the engine bay right? Then follow to the next furthest. You shouldnt need to rebleed them after a while.. if the pedal is rock hard, youre set.

tehehodi · 04-04-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by asshanson

......I had her do the push push hold method,

never tried it, gonna have to show me next time your in town...sounds fun..

Quote:

Originally Posted by A//// Guy

...... pump........ rock hard, youre set.

didn't know you swung both ways peter....lol kiss me thru the phone!!

game!

**asshanson** · 04-06-2009

Yesterday I got the bearings and rods all attached to the crank, but didn't know how tight to make them. Then Emily's parents came over so I was done for the day. Tonight I torqued all the rod bolts down, so the bottom end is all set to go now.

Got the headstuds installed yesterday with blue loctite, and today I noticed one had seeped some goop up and was loose, so I redid that one. The rest were in great shape, nice and solid. I copper sprayed the stock composite gasket and installed the head. Lubed up the ARP hardware and torqued down to 85 ft-lbs.

After the head was on I got the intake manifold installed and plug wires routed, as well as all the sensors plugged in. The only things left are to bolt on the turbo, do the timing belt, and put the oil pan back on. It should be up and running by Thursday at the latest.

In the pic with the coil pack, check out the home made bracket where the AC was bolted on. No JMF fancy bracket for me, just metal stock.

**asshanson** · 04-06-2009

I've never really looked at a DSM head before this one, how do these ports compare to stock? I know this head is ported, but how much? Are both intake and exhaust ported?

The hot tank cleaned up the valves a TON better than they were, the intakes are shiny SS now with just a little crud. The exhaust valves didn't clean up quite as well.

The guy who did the head cleanup said the lifters and guides were in great shape, and the valve job it has was done very well, so that's encouraging. Got new seals, the old ones were in terrible condition he said. He also cleaned up a few scratches in the intake cam journal.

eclipse_spyder · 04-06-2009

The exhaust side does not look ported me. No idea on the intake though.