Engine Overhaul tips

[isaidthephil 10]

Hi Guys,

 

Next week I am picking up a VR6. The car has done 193k and was driven daily for 5 years until the radiator went 12 months ago. Once I get it back I intend to first of all give the engine an overhaul and any of your input would be much appreciated. I am from a MK1 Golf / MK2 Scirocco background so don't know much about the VR6 engine yet. Below is what I intend to do..... do you all think this needs doing, if so how difficult are we thinking? I have removed and fitted engines in my previous cars.

 

Timing Chain - The car currently sounds find but due to being at 193k I have been told I should probably replace the chain/guides. I have also been told that this would be a good time to do the clutch too?? is there anything else I should do whilst I'm at it? Also is this a difficult job needing specialist tools or is it just time consuming due to how much has to be removed.

 

Radiator / Coolant hoses - due to needing a new radiator I thought I may as well replace all the coolant hoses.....guessing this isn't too big of a job.

 

HT Leads, plugs, coil pack and Battery - Just for piece of mind.

 

Oil/Filter - Obvious one seeing as it's been stood for 12 months. It also has a leak from what I have been told is an oil sensor at the front of the engine. Guessing will be a quick fix with a new sensor?

 

ABS - The guy I am buying it off said the ABS light sometimes flickers on. He thinks it could be the ABS sensor...... anybody else had this before?

 

Like I say, I have never worked with a VR so this could be interesting. I am willing to get stuck in and have a go but if I need specialist tools for things like the timing chain I think I may avoid it.

 

Any input would be great. Thanks

[g0ldf1ng3r 15]

hello m8

 

your plans sound sensible & there is lots of info on here about all the points you raise, including a timing chain guide on the wiki

 

i had work completed in a similar vein & found that i ended up highlighting weak links during the process. below is a copy of the entry from my build thread relating to the engine work

 

Long story short i put her into stealth back in Oct last year, approx 150K on the clock, for a head rebuild & some functional & some shiny upgrades & there ensued several months of gremlins causing many a trip to stealth & back from west midlands

 

Upon reflection i have concluded that some of the issues were a combination of old worn parts, new parts failing when installed, a mass of work done but not quite a full rebuild (resulting in chasing a problem round until all factors in the equation were found & fixed) & an unfortunate lack of attention to detail & presentation in work.

 

I have to thank Vince for being the customer focused person he is & congratulate him on managing to keep my faith in stealth & himself during the very difficult period of tackling said gremlins. There was a mixture of bad workmanship & bad luck, with several brand new parts failing, but Vince made sure he tackled all of the issues & in the end produced a superb result & a happy customer. I also have to thank him for all of his efforts to keep my costs down during difficult period.

 

Those several months resulted in the following being done:

 

Head rebuild inc new gaskets, valve seals, re-seated valves etc etc(this was done twice as vince re-done all work to make sure all issues were fixed)

Full set of chains & tensioner's

Schimmel 263 cams

BMC CDA

Custom stealth ECU remap - graphs to follow

Roose motorosport hoses & clips, full set

Thermostat & housing

Primary & auxilary (electric) water pumps

All 3 cooling temp sensors

Oil temp sensor

golf V5 starter motor

Vibratechnics front engine mount

OEM rear gearbox mount

Valeo clutch with revised release bearing (as the original shed its grease & the 2nd one chirped like crazy) & new clutch arm assembly etc

Sump oil pump

Sump & gasket

Core plug

Battery

Valeo heater matrix

Full set of golf VR engine rebuild polished stainless bolts & washers from liquid metal refinement

Vince also took my inlet manifold to the body shop he knew & had the couple of deep scratches they had accidentally made flatted & polished out

 

build thread link http://the-corrado.net/showthread.php?t=44751&highlight=g0ldf1ng3r

 

hope that helps

[Mk3highline 10]

Hello

In the head have the valve guides checked/done as I'm led to believe these are prone to wearing

There is a timing chain guide which is from the mk4 that's better than the standard one

Also use the steel head gasket

Speak to stealth for the parts they can sort them out

Or just drop the engine off to them

[isaidthephil 10]

Thanks for the replies guys :) I will take a look at your thread etc. I will start a build thread once I have picked the old girl up and got cracking.