Roger Chatfield

I'm always a bit sceptical about engine starting aids like 'easy start' etc but this stuff looks like the real deal. Rog.

Welcome to the forum and Corrado ownership, they are old girls now so expect a few problem however when they are good... They are very good...lol Guys on this forum are awesome, real friendly and helpful bunch, I'm sure you'll get plenty of help and advice sorting out your problems. What's the matter with it anyway. Rog.

My box struggles to engage first when stood still sometimes, is that normal? I just dip the clutch a little but it is a pain. Rog.

Personally I really like Clarkson but he is getting a bit long in the tooth now days, its the same old jokes and cheap quips, May is by far the best presenter on that show, he has a genuine enthusiasm for what he does and his other TV stuff id quite good, as for Hammond, well less said about him the better. There was a rumour going about that the BBC were considering replacing Clarkson with Chris Evans, personally I think that would work. Rog.

Thanks for your kind offer Jim, yes the original engine had been upgraded with the later tensioner, the current engine was rebuilt 20k when an ols style but it was like new so I decided to use that rather than the extra expense of getting a new one. Little update, the smile is back... Got the new tensioner bolt from Eurocarspares this after noon, I've given the cam journals a little polish with wet and dry and refitted them with the new bolt. It's now running lovely, just had a quick high speed test and fingers crossed all is good. For info the tension bolt from ECS is a OE VW part, costs £68.40, little bit annoying that VW want £80 + for the same part. Rog.

Worth the wait mate, looks stunning.

What was the outcome with this Jim?? Rog.

It was running like a dream mate, I just used the guide from my old engine, the upper tensioner was still in place, I reused it as it looked like new, it has a few scars on it now which makes me think I over filled the bolt and put too much tension on the chain. Btw the bloke I beat to your engine (James with the mk1) has just got my old block.. It's a small world...lol Rog.

No, it's an early style bolt as it has an early style tensioner and not the all plastic later type. Rog.

Did think about going OE but having compared an OE one and this one side by side there is no difference. The Eurocarparts one has a VW logo on it and the VAG part number, probably made in the same factory although it does say made in France on it. Rog.

Took the plugs out and turned it over by hand, the chain is as slack as Katie Price, so removed the upper chain cover and examined the tensioner runner, little bit of scoring but nothing bad, it's secure and hasn't failed so gave the tensioner bolt a good looking at. And I think we have a culprit. The upper chain tensioner bolt. Check out the damage to the seal. I've phoned eurocarparts and they have agreed to exchange it even though wifey has thrown the receipt out...lol Pick it up tomorrow, plan now is to give the cam journal a good polish with some wet and dry and refit with another new tensioner. Fingers crossed it'll work. Rog.

yep, plenty of oil in it, not sure what that screw-in valve is Kev, I do know I haven't cleaned or replaced one. Just got the valve cover off, no obvious signs of damage. Pulled all the cam cap and no 7 has picked up slightly. only that one shows any sign of damage. I'm now wondering if I have a tensioner issue, have I 'over primed' the tensioner and put too much tension on the chain thus causing extra strain on no 7 cam journal?? the noise gets worse when hot as the oil in the tensioner expands adding even more tension. What do the collective think?? Rog.

Cheers Kev Yes, older style with a new OE tensioner bolt, bled and filled, I just pulled the bolt and it appears ok, I can't push it back so the one way valve is working. The owners manual says it should be above 2 bar when above 2000 rpm at 80 degrees so I've assumed the pressure was ok, mine is well above that, the old engine was at 0.5 bar at idle and still sounded better than this. The oil pressure hasn't changed since the engine went in, it's not dropped. I had a day in the car yesterday with some 'spirited' driving and it was as smooth as a sewing machine, went to work at 9pm and someone even commented in the carpark on how nice it's now sounding. This problem has occurred during my 5 mile drive home this morning, BTW I never 'push on' with a cold engine. Rog.

Oil pressure is good, 1.5 bar at idle.

Yep.... its broke again... really starting to get me down now, I'm by nature an optimistic person but this thing is really testing me. So, I drive home from work this morning and all is good, just before I get home I notice a noise, turn the stereo down and its now sounding like a diesel, get it home and go to bed... Start up later this morning and all is good, then once it gets hot it starts rattling. Here is a vid. Seems to be coming from the chain end but I can't be sure, I'm thinking tensioner although it is a brand new one. Any idea's fella's. Rog.

Harry, I suggest getting it VAGCOM scanned, I had a start issue with mine and the scan picked up a cam sensor fault. There is a thread on here somewhere with people local to you who can do you a scan. Rog.

Evening all, I've got a lovely sounding set of speakers that have been fitted in my parcel shelf. Now they sound great but I'm not a massive fan of parcel shelf mounted speakers so would really like to go back to the OE speakers. However, I realise these are now 18 odd years old and are pretty old school technology, so what are my options? Really I'd like the sound quality of my shelf mounted speakers but in the same size as the OE speakers, this way I can have a standard parcel shelf. I use the car daily and often remove the parcel shelf to get the dog cage in, currently its a right pain to have to disconnect the speakers each time I remove the shelf. OE speaker on right. Opinions and advice please. Rog.

Well done Rob.

Sounds like it's missing. Probably running on 4. Engines basically need only 3 things, air, fuel, spark, start at the basics, do a comp test, check all the plugs, clean them all up, check the leads, dizzy cap and rotor, maybe pull the injectors and swap them around to see if the problem moves. Btw, I've got a dizzy, injectors and an ecu here if you want to borrow them to fault find, also got vagcom if you want a scan. Rog.

Afternoon all, As some of you know I recently replaced the engine in my VR6 Storm, to that end I have the old engine kicking about in my garage. Does anyone want the head off it, the cam journals are damaged but apart from that its in good nick. Free to a good home. Rog.

Welcome mate, they are good bunch on here, I'm sure you'll like. Anyway get some pics of the beast up. Rog.

I'm in, managed to get the grill out without breaking any clips, got the offside undone from underneath and the near side with the help of a wire coat hanger. The cable hasn't actually snapped, it's just pulled through the ferel at the end and the cable mount on the handle has snapped so that need repairing. Currently have two bits of string hanging out a grill less front... Which is nice...lol Rog.

Yes, as above, deffo not a lemon, I was and still am very happy with the car, yes I've been unlucky but it's a 18 year old car and I guess the odd problem will happen. Yes, engine failure is a slightly big problem but I'll be honest, due to the help, support and generosity of this forum all it's really cost me is my time.... and sanity.. lol, I've also been lucky with a near fresh build engine coming up 40 miles away. As 'Stormy' now stands it's got a 20k engine and a 10k gearbox, should be good for another 18 years... Just needs another set of 263's.. BTW, thanks for all the advice, support and encouragement guys, gotta love this forum. Rog.

Cheers mate, grinder it is then...lol Rog.

All good fella's, just had a quick spin and its going fine, just a bit of smoke from the engine paint... oh and now the bloody bonnet cable has snapped.... winner...lol Rog.