Project Black Golfball-plans for 2008 Options

[black92_tsi_awd]

Time to start 2008's thread. Maybe this will force me to get off my ass and work on the car.

I'm still teetering on whether to upgrade the turbo. I've got two 14b center cartridges coming from a guy at work so I should be able to get it running pretty cheap. I've been looking at 16, 18 and 20g upgrades on the boards and ebay so we'll see what come out of that.

The other path is to drop some more weight, throw in some cams and see if I can get in the 11's on the 14b.

This weeks plan is to finish tearing down the bottom end and checking bearings as well as getting the head ready to go back to the machine shop.

I do have the first version of a t-shirt I will be getting for this years Bracket Season

[awd4kicks]

THAT'S FREAKIN SWEET LANG!

[treydawgs4g63T]

HAHA!

[black92_tsi_awd]

I thought the picture is representative of what happens at my house...especially if you ask my wife!

[mitsu90]

I would buy one of them shirts

[black92_tsi_awd]

I would buy one of them shirts

I could maybe arrange that Would anyone else want one?

[slacker83]

I'd wear one.

[black92_tsi_awd]

Well maybe when I put in my order, I'll see if anybody else want to buy one.

Was looking through ebay the other day and came accross Punishment Racing 16g which got my interest because they have a good reputation. This is a discussion on Tuners about it.

I'm not really big on ebay turbos, but if it has a decent warrenty and IF there's a rebuild kit it might be an option.

[black92_tsi_awd]

Finally started working on the motor again. Pulled all the crank caps and rod caps. The bearings look pretty decent. I'll probably post some pictures later for a second opinion.

What the best method for cleaning an alternator? Is spraying it down with brake cleaner ok? Mines pretty greasy and I have a backup in the shed thats worse.

Also, what's the general opinion on water pumps? Do aftermarket pumps do OK or is OEM the way to go. Mines got 130K on it, I might replace it since the engines apart.

[awd4kicks]

I would think that brake cleaner would eat away the 'Varnish' or whatever it is on the windings.

As far as the water pump, I would recommend NAPA or the OEM. I've had bad luck with AutoZone and AdvanceAuto pumps. They come with a lifetime warranty, but you get tired of reinstalling free waterpumps after a while.

Also if you need any spare stock size mitsu bearings. I think that I've got a whole set of crank bearings and 3 out of the 4 rod bearings still in the wrapper.

[black92_tsi_awd]

As with my past rebuild, anything that comes off the car gets cleaned and painted. This is the last of it, there's a couple small boxes of painted part in the car.


Here's what I could use some advice on. I pulled all the caps since I had it out. Some dirt in the bearing surfaces but they don't look too bad. Comments??

Here's the main bearing (L to R) #2 main, #1 rod, #1 main


Here's the thrust bearing (L to R) #3 rod, thrust bearing, #2 rod


Here's the main bearing (L to R) #4 main, #4 rod, #5 main

[black92_tsi_awd]

I've been looking at different bearing options,. unfortunately Kick's can't find the bearing he had. Thanks anyway man.

Anybody used ACL Bearings ??

I searched around and there seems to be a good following to them. $100 for a ACL full set vs $155 for OEM (JNZ price).

What other bearings have you guys used in your builds?

[awd4kicks]

I've used Clevites in the stroker engines. They work great in V8's, so I'm sure it never was the bearings fault. They just never lasted in my mitsu blocks.

I prefer OEM bearings when possible. Then again never tried ACL's.

Not much help here.

[wortdog]

I have ACLs in my 2.3, no problems thus far.

Then again, it only has a thousand miles on it or so.

[black92_tsi_awd]

Wort, where they the tri-metal Race bearings?

[wortdog]

No, I have the plain 'Duraglide' bearings, which are a slightly softer tri-metal bearing.

[black92_tsi_awd]

Well I guess I have a plan.

ACL Bearings from EBay. These are the Tri-metal Race bearings

All the necessary gaskets fro JNZ Tuning...as usual.

I'm going to burn my AMS gift certificate I won on DSMCentral day on a Stock Mitsu Composite Head Gasket I think this should hold up with the ARP studs, even if I upgrade to a 16g. And that's a big if at this point.

I've got 2 14b center sections coming of ebay that hopfully I can rebuild with a kit from G-POP. The kit worked well before so I'll try it again.

[slacker83]

I hope my car with the 16g runs near as well as yours did last year with the 14b.

[black92_tsi_awd]

Well my parts started coming in last week. First was the head gasket from AMS. It came with the original Mitsu package open and some damage. Misc scratches in surface and sealing rings, oil return area warped and a dent. Maybe I'm extremely anal.... AMS says it's normal and I should just use it.





Got the bearing a few days later. Package looked like it was rolled down a stairwell. Company (Eristicgaskets on EBAY) stepped up and immediately sent me a new set of bearings and well as a UPS shipping number to return ship the original set. All their cost!

Last shipment was from JNZ tuning. Came packaged safe and sound as usal and really quick. As far as I'm concerned one of the best shops out there!!

[black92_tsi_awd]

Update...AMS is sending me another head gasket to replace the first one.

Kicks got me hooked up on what looks like a good 14b core to rebuild. Thanks!
I'll tear in apart tomorrow and see what we have.

Hopefully the nice weather this weekend will allow for some quality garage time and I'll start putting the motor back together.