Stonejag

Whereabouts? Can probably pinpoint the yard and rob it of bits ;)

DavyDave: I've got a complete adjustable column plus the surround going spare - yours for nowt if you want it. Whereabouts are you? [edit: or accept Henny's offer! Don't mind either way, just drop me a PM if you want it.]

If using Windows, it used to be the case that COM1 and COM3 conflicted, likewise COM2 and COM4. If you have COM4 in use I'd go with COM3... they may have fixed it in XP and up, just a thing from the modem days ;)

No worries, when I get it back I'll put it through the dishwasher. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qs7qsCPabI ---------- Post added at 7:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 7:42 PM ---------- ...but more seriously, I was going to give it a degrease, cold rinse, blast with compressed air and repeat a couple of times to be sure. Dishwasher wouldn't hurt, though.

Good stuff, cheers chaps! Actually I've just found this hilarious forum thread which puts it in perspective a bit :lol: Vapour blast on Friday, then fill and sand and I'll be ready to start reassembly :) Two further questions: 1) Can you check valve lifters outside a fully built engine? The Bentley only provides a method for checking them on a head mated to a block, camshafts installed and full of oil... Got a set of INA ones very very cheap (cheers, Ben!) - they all feel to have the same level of 'spring' when I poke them by hand but beyond that and checking the dimensions I'm not sure how much can be done... 2) Are there any decent replacement valves that aren't too dear (I'm thinking of the ones with a dished base, can't remember what that's called!) or just bung the OEM ones in the ultrasonic bath for a bit and stick with those? The local mad scientist offered to chuck them all in the lathe for me, until I pointed out they were sodium-filled :lol: Stone

Pretty sure the Mk3 mech isn't the same fit - the frame is different (though the insides are the same).

Nobody? Would like to get this off to vapour-blasting this week if it's usable. I've seen quite a lot that have been worse on here but I don't know what's going to cause a problem or not...

And some new nuts! Those are flat as a witch's tit...

That's the one, to push in the plastic ratcheting bit. It's all coming flooding back..!

Seem to recall the guide in our Wiki saying to fully submerge the tensioner bolt in oil while manually compressing it, then holding it compressed until it was reinstalled? My votes on going to 83.5mm pistons but Ben's not convinced :lol:

VR6 set with no logo for me, please. Had a coolant leak a while back and a huge chunk of the factory foam disintegrated! At least I now know how to remove it..! Stone

It's lined with felt-like stuff so it doesn't scratch. That said I've heard if you leave them on full-time they can absorb water and then it gets trapped and peels your paint off... I've been using it before long motorway drives, I already have lots of stonechips but it hides the keyed bit quite well ;) Stone

Got all the valves out of my replacement head and started to clean it up. Had a bit of a moment where I didn't spot a crack in the bottom of the plastic storage box I was using to wash it and spilt over 2 litres of white spirit in the lounge :lol: After a good rinse in white spirit and hot water I was able to get almost all of the carbon off the block side - doesn't need to be perfect as I was planning to get it vapour-blasted before refitting everything. However I've found some corrosion around one of the coolant passages where the head mates up to the block, some of the metal's been eaten away around the oval slot in the block that isn't present in the head, near cylinder 5. What's the wear limit on this section, do I need to get the head reskimmed? The head's only supposed to have done 8000 miles since it was rebuilt so I'm not best pleased! Pic below - the deepest point of the corroded spot is around 1.2-1.5mm deep. Stone

Your car's cool enough already

Sorry lads, the strut brace is mine :D

Were you really test-driving it at 3am? :lol: Sounds lovely! You lose quite a bit of go during the upshifts though, bet it would be even more hilarious in mine...! Stone

Whoops, got my acronyms in a muddle. Sorry! :oops:

Dibs on the strut brace, do you know who made it? Stone

I know JMC does them with the new handles, and some good reviews. The ones on his G60 look great, anyway ;) link to profile Might be worth taking a deep breath and having a word with your bank manager first though - good work costs. Stone

Planning to get my new head vapour-blasted, is it OK to leave the guides in? 8000 miles ago it was skimmed and valve seats recut so I don't want it to need any more machining, but the Bentley suggests you have to get it all done again if you replace the guides... Stone

There's also an access point next to the ABS controller (take the passenger footwell trim off), approximately behind the heater motor. Same deal with the grommet, poke a small hole in the thinned centre section and it'll self-seal if you didn't make it too big!

The holes must be in the same places, as you can use old-style indicators on a late car if required. I assume this means the plugs are the same also. You can definitely use Mk3 parts, my cruise stalk came off a Passat... Self-cancel relies on having the rectangular protrusion from the back of the boss - if your boss has one of these, make sure it is to the right side as you look at the steering wheel. Might be easiest to fit the wheel to the boss after the boss is installed to get the alignment closer - though it's not that critical. Stone

Awesome, I've often wondered why I haven't seen more with NO2. Did you put the tank in the boot? Wet fogged intake or sandwich plate? I know the guy from nitrous.info recommends wiring the switch in series with an accelerator switch so you only spray when you're at WOT, did you do it that way or just a manual pushbutton? I'm often at full throttle to operate the kickdown (mine's an auto) so it might be a little terrifying in mine... Also, where are the pictures? ;) Stone

That's awesome :lol: Stone

They're also known as 'trisquare' bits (cos of the 12 points, innit) which may help you searching :) As above you want an M12 size. Stone