www.psulpac.org

Lazy bastard.

Because you don't fee like hitting control+C then control+V you expect us to click on this thread, see you typed "updated" (which is more keystrokes for you) then go to a new thread that doesn't store our browsing history, and always scroll to the bottom of that thread each time?

No thanks. I expect updates in this thread.

Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V doesn't copy the attachments.

And with the setup of the blogs on DSMTuners, you just look at the post at the top.

Maybe I'll become less lazy and put it all on here at some point.

Soooooooo......

I finally ditched the cruise control. I was on the fence about it until I looked a the engine bay without the battery and the IC piping fixed. It stuck out like a sore thumb. I almost never use it anyway, even on the 3.5 hour trips to Erie that I make every to often. The pedal feel will be much crisper without it. I may have to add some more resistance with the springs on the throttle body, but that's not going to happen now since I already have too many things going on at once.

The battery is going in the trunk. I got some 2ga cable and the battery fits perfectly in the little cubby hole back there. I need to go pick up a distribution block and a few fuses tomorrow. I also ran some 2ga wire from where the distribution block will be to the starter. There will be two 4ga wires from the distribution block to the fuse box.

2ga wire is also being ran from the alternator (now 140amp) to the fuse box.

Half of the emissions equipment has been removed. I would completely ditch it all, but the way it is now, it at least looks like it is operable. It's all disabled through the ECU anyways.

The trans cooler looks kick ass where it's at. It has to be ones of the cleanest installs of a part that I've done to date. It's ducted too.

The shift kit is in. I'll have to wait until the cams are in to test that out.

The cams, springs, and retainers are being a pain in the ass. The tool I have to remove and install the keepers works awesome for removing them, but it absolutely sucks for installing them. I got 4 valves done in 3 hours and managed to smash a dowel for a cam cap. I also ruined a new valve stem seal. @#$@@Q#$#$%@#$@#$
I'm going to see if I can get a decent valve spring compressor tomorrow. Otherwise, I'll have to make something myself.

The only other thing is the intercooler piping. I decided to reroute it so that it wasn't in as obnoxious place. It will now go under the intake pipe.



Soooo that's what I'm up to. I'll add some pictures later.

For the first time since I bought my car, I'm tempted to set it on fire and enjoy the show.

Where'd the valve go???



There it is!



So now the head is off too. I really didn't want to have to do that, but that stupid valve decided to drop into the cylinder as I tried to get the keepers in.

Now that the head is off, I may see if I can track down some new valves. This engine must have some miles on it. It has a ton of carbon build up.


I also decided to completely ditch the emissions stuff. It cleans up the space above the intake manifold pretty well. I still have the fuel pressure solenoid and the MAP sensor above the intake manifold, so it won't look too empty.


And this is the engine bay as it sits now. Basically just the short block, turbo, and transmission.


At least the valve cover is shiny.


I don't think I'm going to finish by Friday night. I'm going to call off work tomorrow for Saturday and possibly Sunday if they have me scheduled.
Now I just need to track down some valves, a headgasket, and a new valve stem seal.

First off...

I HATE IT when the car takes too long! Then everything goes wrong and... well that's just about every time I work on my car!

Secondly, I'd Seafoam the pistons if I were you. I mean since the head is off.

And third, don't scare me like that! I see the valve inside the cylinder and my heart just drops!

Nice job on the valve cover, reminds me of one I powdercoated a while back:



Sorry to see the trouble you had with the dropped valve, I find that a more reliable means of holding the valves closed is the nylon rope in the cylinder trick.

TELLLLLLL ME ABOUT IT!!!! My car is taking way tooo damn long and everything is going wrong it freaken sucks. Taking off work for your car is always nice, do it as long as you can get away with it haha.

I'm just curious how many miles are really on that engine. The carbon build up was 1/16" thick or more. It was thick enough that it was flaking off in chunks.
I know it has at least 100,000 miles in my car. After looking at it now and the color of the aluminum inside the head, it's probably well on it's way to 200,000 miles or more.
It also didn't have many oil changes in it's past life. I'll have to post a bunch more pictures up later.

In the future if you do valvetrain work with the head on, bring the cylinder to TDC and lock it there so the air pressure can't rotate it. If you do drop a valve you will most likely still be able to pull it up.

I think you accelerated some of that carbon build up with your "tooning." Keep up the good work and make sure to take pictures!

I realized that after the fact. I was going to use the rope method, but didn't have any lying around. I should have just spent the extra $40 for the good valve spring compressor. Either way, the carbon build up was BAD. I probably didn't help it with those days where I was running mid 9 AFR, but that's actually how the stock fuel map is setup.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------

As for the work I got done tonight.

I got the head all cleaned up.
Before:


After:

Actually, I cleaned it up a bit more than that, but didn't take a new picture.

I also got the battery relocated to the trunk and the power cable ran.


The cam caps were sanded down to compensate for the amount taken off the camshaft journals.


And I even cleaned up the valves some.

(Shows before and after.)

I tried to get the block cleaned up, but ran out of scotch-brite pads. I need to buy some more so I can finish.
Before:


After: (Seafoam, Gasket Remover, and a Razor Blade)


Once I get some new valve stem seals, I'll reassemble the head and get it mounted back on the block. From there, it's all reassembly.
I'm going to pick up the distribution block and fuse holder today. I also need to grab a plug for the new alternator from the junkyard. I didn't notice that it was a 1g style, not a 2g.

Hooowoooweee!!

I'd be willins to eat mah meemaw's dinners off that thur injun!!! Ahyuk!

But seriously that is some good cleanup and great progress. I hope it all just comes together great!

Then engine clean up is looking great, good work.

That battery relocation will fail NHRA tech inspection, probably scca as well.

It will need a tie down and a kill switch. The tie down shouldn't be hard since there's metal right underneath that. The kill switch will take a bit of creativity. I'm not sure how I'm doing that yet.

You need a firewall (or all metal box) because it is in the passenger compartment, one pitfall of a hatchback.

Then maybe I'm not understanding the way the rules are written.

I'll have to find out from other DSM owners.

I believe most people use a Moroso box. But that is what I believe. My memory is failing me.

-SEE NEW SIG

Nice work so far! Careful with those scotch-brites, you don't want to use them where that abrasive shit could fall down inside the engine. Unless you plan on hot tanking it.

I've tried to keep as much of it out of the oil and water passages as I can. I'm going to flush the coolant once I get the car running and I'll change the oil at least twice before I leave to head back to State College. I can flush half the oil passages clean as they head back to the oil pan, but the others are feeds. I have a large syringe and hose that I can use to suck as much of the dirty oil out of those as I can.

I didn't get much done today or tonight. I had to meet my grandma for breakfast this morning and I went and got the new valve stem seals and intake manifold gasket ordered. I finished the electrical stuff too except for a couple terminals on the grounding straps.

I also cleaned all the intercooler pipes out. I'll get that back on later today. Wires also got zip tied back into their holders.

The only thing I didn't do tonight that I could have done was to clean the block surface, but I'm going to try and get about 3 or 4 hours of sleep right now then I'll get the parts before hopefully getting it all back together later today.



As for the battery box, there's some extra room around the battery if I need it. I can take the little divider in front of the battery out and that's at least another inch space. If that's not enough then I'll just have to stick the battery between the strut towers in a box on race days. It shouldn't be too hard to drill mounts for the box there. Then I'll just need 2 extension cables.

At this point, I just want to get it running. I'm about $300 over budget because I had to pull the head and I damaged some valve stem seals. I'll recoup some of that through parts I picked up at the junkyard that I can sell for a decent profit. Like the $20 valve covers I can sell for $50 each.

I think Wes deserves the go-getter award for this spring break. Any seconds?

Wait til I unveil my Saturn 5 homebuilt rocket!!

I agree.