Jonny_L

Hi everyone, I finally got my arse in gear and got my new engine in. I'm well chuffed, mainly coz it started first time! Course, nothing's that easy though. The new engine sounds like a right old tractor. I assume it's mainly coz it's been sitting around for a while, but it sounds like it's knocking a fair bit. I'd say it sounds like the timing's out, since the whole thing sounds bit rough. I used the ignition system from my old engine, maybe it doesn't match up properly or something? I don't know, Give me a distributer any day! I guess the best thing i can do is hunt for my vag-com lead and hook it up, see if it can find anything. Jonny

Been there, nearly had a manual box, but my insurance didn't enjoy it. pretty lame really! I've sorted the bolt out now, just had to do a bit of careful forcing to get it right, but can anyone tell me if the fluid between the engine and box is normal? I'm assuming it's fine and will put it all back, but just wanted to make sure! Jonny

Hi guys, I've taken my engine and box out, and today I split the two. It's a bit of a steep learning curve for me, since this is the first watercooled car i've done an engine swap on, and also i've never touched an auto gearbox. When i split them, i noticed that theres a bit of transmission fluid around the flywheel (where the clutch would be). Normally i'd worry since the clutch would be getting oiled, but i'm new to automatics. Is it supposed to do that, or have i got something wrong there? the previous owner had the box rebuild about a year ago. Also, one of the flywheel bolt holes has slightly threaded on my new engine. It appears that i need an odd tap for it, I think M10x1.0, but nobody sells them that i've found! I don't suppose it's imperial maybe, is it? like 1/32 or so. Cheers, Jonny

Glad i'm not the only one then: On the corrado, and this on my old CBR: sad really, isn't it :lol: Not as impressive as yours with the trip set too though, my hat is off to you sir.

So that's why you reccomended I get the 12v block! :lol: 24v RADO, Welcome to the forum, you Lucky, Lucky man! Jonny

My engine arrived today :D All looks in order, tho i'm gonna need a few bits and bobs that they didn't send me. All just normal service stuff like belts, plugs and HT leads, so not bad. Just thought i'd big up http://www.breakerlink.co.uk, I put in an application for the engine there, and had 3 calls within 20 minutes. I'll name the scrappy I bought it from when i know it works! :wink: Now all i've gotta do is send my tinworm ridden campervan to the great stealers in the sky :( . It's too far gone to do anything on, and i need the shelter for my Corrado.

The gearbox is from the same car. Unfortunately my insurance has dictated it for me. They said i can't put the manual box in. Pretty lame really. I was thinking about calling around, but it was so difficult to find insurance on the corrado anyway, that i might as well not bother. (not yet, anyway!) Ok, There's probably a thread about it somewhere, but how do I fit air con into a non air con car? I assume it's just a matter of grabbing all the bits and bobs from a donor car and throwing them at my corrado :lol: ? I've inherited my late granddad's rover 25 (yes, i know), So at least i'm in no rush to have it back on the road... Well, sort of! I'm also taking the time to spray up my flakey bumpers.

A quick update: I've ordered that engine, I figured It'd be silly to miss out on such a low milage engine with 60 day guarentee :) I got chatting to the guy on the phone, and he's offered me the manual gearbox, plus all the gubbins described in Storms auto to manual thread, for about £250. I'm extremely tempted TBH. I bought an auto: A) coz it was cheap, and B) I fancied it at the time, but I do miss having full control of the gears, and i bet the VR must be loads more fun. That seems a pretty good deal to me, I'm tempted order the bits in anyway, since i could probably get my money back if i decide against it. Hmmmm, decisions, decisions. Oh yeah, Is it possible to put an air con system in while i'm there too? If i can source all the bits, that is. Feel free to tell me to shut up, sell it and buy a manual with air con!

Thats the other thing. I spent a fortune getting some speedlines refurbed, all in the name of keeping my car standard. can't go back on myself now!

I was thinking it's pretty good, I know milage isn't everything but 47k has to be a bonus, and the fact that delivery is included is a godsend. Honestly, if you hadn't mentioned it in the other thread, I wouldn't be thinking about the 24v now! You're probably right about the insurance, i'll try them tomorrow just in case, but i think they'll laugh at me. If they don't, i'll ask about an R32 engine, there's another one on ebay! I'll be doing all the work myself either way, so the 12v is a much easier option, but then the 24v shouldn't cost the earth. I'm much better at fabricating and welding than i am at mechanics :oops:

I think we discussed that before, It wasn't going away. I think it was to do with the bearings, as they were initially pretty worn. It might of had some piston slap as well on top, since it did used to get quieter after being warmed up. I'm wondering if it all started after using that engine flush stuff. I tried it once, thinking "I love my vr6, i'm gonna treat it to a good clean", and since then, my engine's sounded like it's slowly killing it's self! course it wasn't until after i used it that i read the threads on here about it. Maybe that loosened up the bearings to begin with. Just thinking, what's worth considering doing on a 47k engine while it's out? Don't think there's much point doing the chains yet, but is there anything else? It's an auto, and had the box rebuilt a couple of years ago (not by me), so that should all be fine too. touch wood. As for the 24v, I'm thinking, if i'm paying that much for a vr, it might be worth looking into. I'll try my insurance, but they quoted me an extra £86 to put an induction kit on :shock: , so i'm not getting my hopes up!

Quote's for a 2.9 with coil pack, so it's exactly the same as mine, but 2 years newer and 35k less on the clock. What do you reckon on that price? I'd probably break mine up and sell the good bits, so it could work out not too expensive. I'm really keen on the idea of a 24v conversion now, but I'm 21, so my insurance already hates me. (or should that be loves me!)

Oh right, I see. Big mistake on my behalf then. I also didn't replace the conrod bolts, forgot to mention, since my friendly vw man said not to bother, since they wanted another £100 odd for them. Still, can't blame him for my mistakes, I suppose! I've just got a few Quotes from breakers, best so far for a 96' VR6 engine with 47k on was £710 delivered. Quite a bit more than i was expecting, tho he said i'd get a 60 day guarentee. i'll go and work through the for sale sections and the like, otherwise i'll get my haggling hat on and call him back. By the way, even with the bad one off, it still doesn't turn, so i suspect the others would be like that too if i could get to them! is it hard to swap a VR round? I'll get an engine crane, but i've only ever done beetle engines. I take it VW's aren't just 4 bolts and lift any more!

Not good news. I couldn't turn the crank by hand, so I dropped the sump again to have a look. I checked the ones i could get to (I think 2 and 5) both were fine, then checked number 1... had to give it a (light!) tap with a hammer to get it off, and I found that it's completely shagged. both shells have a big scrape on them, and there seems to be a corresponding scrape on my crankshaft :cry: I'm not sure how it happened to be honest, I found some metal filings in there, which i assume are part of my crankshaft :shock: Out of interest, I did put graphogen on the backs, as the parts guy said put it "all over the place", also, i didn't get the oil pressure up before hand, could these things of caused it? Anyway, it seems the damage is done now. I'm trying to work out where to go from here. My options are either to look into getting the crank reground, get a second hand VR6 engine somewhere, or start saving up and go the route of the 24v 8) Mind you, money IS an issue, so what sort of price should i be looking at to get the crank done? Ta, Jonny

They've got a little lip on one side which needs to match up the right way, but no holes. there are holes in the crank for oil I think. Just to make sure, the torque setting on big ends is 30nm, isn't it? forgot to say, it's a VR6 by the way.

Alright folks, I finally got round to doing my big end shells yesterday, but i've got a problem. I made sure that all the bearings were covered in graphogen (as recommended by the engine centre i got it from), everything was torqued up nicely, the old bearings were quite loose, but the new ones fitted nicely, and plastigauge says my cranks ok. Anyway, sump goes on with new gasket, oil in, and i fired it up. First off, it sounded the same as always, a bit clacky from the bottom end, i tryed revving it (carefully) to about 2500 rpm, at which point the clacking stopped and it sounded healthy. Bonus. Then I went to 3000 rpm, and it just died, stopping with a funny squeaking noise, and now the engine won't turn over. It sounds like it's really trying, but can't turn. I made sure the battery was fully charged, but i've got a horrible feeling that something's seized. I'll have to get it back up in the air and try turning it over by hand, but does anyone have any ideas what might of happened there? Just thought i'd ask before i have to drop the oil and sump again. Cheers, Jonny

I've got a VR6 auto. Most of the time it's great (traffic, cruising, etc), but then when i fancy putting my foot down, i generally start playing with the selector to keep it from hitting 4th every time i go over 40 without giving it full throttle. What's involved in converting from auto to manual? Gotta be quite a lot of work! something i've always wondered but never dared ask!

Right, I've only just got round to getting this sorted. I went to the stealers and they can get the bearings and the sump gasket, but he said i'd want thrust washers, which have now been discontinued. Anyone know where i can get some from these days? VAG sent me to one of those "engine centres" that rebuild or replace engines, who ummed and ahhed a bit and said they'd look into it, but didn't sound too hopeful. Cheers, Jonny

I'd of thought the 911 was in the wet, maybe? you'd think they'd say so though!

sorted, got a tool for it. The pliers idea would've worked, but I managed to snap my only long nosed pliers doing something similar a while ago! That reminds me, I better add some on the shopping list next time. Cheers

Ah right, thought it might end up being something like that. :brickwall: shame the cars on 3 wheels now! gonna have to brave the rain on the bike. thanks for the help guys.

Hi everyone, I'm just in the process of replacing my brake pads on the rear of the vr. I've got the new pads all lined up and ready, but i can't seem to compress the piston on the caliper to get it round them. I've not got the handbrake on, and i've been using a trusty g clamp that's served me well before on countless front calipers, but this is actually the first time i've had a car with rear discs! Is there something else i need to do to be able to compress it down enough? Cheers, Jonny

Mine does it from cold and lasts probably a few minutes, basicly til the engine is warm. I'd heard about Vr's tapping from cold, and i always assumed that was all, and thought nothing of it. kevHaywire, I think you're right mate, there's only one way to know for sure, I'll try and get a look in there soon. If it's piston slap, would putting good super unleaded, like optimax, stop/help that? Can't remember where i've heard that before, but it might be my first port of call if it's true. The milage is the weird thing, it's only on about 79,000 miles!

Blimey, i see what you mean now. Cheers for that. I figure that if i do the job myself, i'd want to get a decent torque wrench first, my current one was from aldi, dirt cheap, but i wouldn't trust it on an engine! So on that basis, i'm gonna ask the garage first, just in case it doesn't cost the earth. I'll get on the blower to vw too, get some bits ordered in. I assume that i just need the bearings, shells and a sump gasket. not to mention oil and plastguage. unless i've got a bigger problem, in which case i'll take it as it comes!

Thanks guys. Stan 24v, hope it's not the same problem as yours. Your car looks sweet now though! I must admit I did notice an R32 engine on ebay the other day that i was tempted by. Let's just hope for the sake of my wallet and my insurance premiums that it's an easy fix this time! Mind you, i'd feel a bit of a tit if i had a big engine in an automatic.