The guys that have done this weren't lying lol. It really kills your back after a while. This is the first time I've opened up the motor so I'm going at it really really slowly. Just some progress pix as of tonight. I didn't post up a DIY on this because it's simply too big of an undertaking even for most of the DIY'ers out there. One small mis-step can lead to catastrophic failure.

The intake manifold on this car is really really hard to work with. I spent most of my time wrestling with the very bottom piece of the manifold. It finally came off and I called it a night.

Oh yea, I was glad to find that my entire valvetrain and valve cover was spotless. Not even a trace of yellow film or anything. Everything was completely clean and clear. I guess the Mobil1 synthetic was doing its job and is good for something

Anyways, on with the pix!

 

what's blurred out?

 

what size head gasket are you installing 2mm?

 

his skillful hand.

 

Nah thats the light thats in the way

And yes, its a 2MM headgasket.

 

y new headgasket soo you can run more boost ??

 

THis is going to be another Boosted Beast... Keep us posted Jeff..

 

O man that looks intense!! I would not be happy doing that

 

Yes, the new head gasket is to lower the compression ratio to around 8.7-9.0:1 so that he can run slightly higher boost without detonation..

 

Yikes.. sounds pretty bad.. I would have waited until it blew or leaked..

 

jeff,

very impressed with your mechanical skills. most of us will not touch this area but i have to hand it to you.

 

Honestly, I don't think I would want to do this all over again lol. Still though, I wouldn't want to shell out the $700-1000 for a shop to do this. I guess that's why I'm a DIY guy after all lol. I'm not looking forward to my bottom end rebuild lol

Right on. I'm putting in a 2MM headgasket so I can drop the compression ratio to 9:1 to run higher boost.

Here are the updates as of today
My car has been sitting in the garage for a whole week because I was too busy to work on it. Oh yeah, and also I was waiting for a tool to come in the mail. I don't know why but a 14mm allen wrench is impossible to find. I tried about 10 local stores before I finally gave up and just ordered one online.


Hmmm...not enough torque.


Ahhhhhhh....MUCH better!


Pulling off all the stuff so I can clean up the head.


Stock paper thin HG VS. upgraded 2mm thicker HG.


Head cleaned up and ready to be installed.

 

All the little parts and such removed from the head.


All cleaned up and ready to be put back together.


All cleaned up and pretty


Another shot!


Torquing down the ARP head studs.


Doing the final rounds and tightening up all the main bolts.


Finished up to this point and called it a day. I'll reinstall the turbo and manifold tomorrow. Hopefully I'll have it all up and running by then

 

Looks good, probably don't have to ask this but you did keep the buckets in order right?

 

Cool DIY! Seems like a whole lotta work involved. Thanks for sharing the pics