Machined a couple of simple slugs to pound the intermediate shaft bearings in with, and got the shaft in with ARP bolts and a new seal. Used a lenght of 3/8 rod to get to the inner one.
Finally painted all the small bits for the motor this weekend.
Ill skip the part where I spray the epoxy etc and just get to the eye candy. Im still amazed at how nicely this SPI clear lays down. All these are right off the gun. I did get a couple small runs but I blame it trying to get coverage on all the little features. They shouldnt be too bad to do a quick sand a buff on.
Checked the oil pump clearances and installed the new oil baffle for the factory windage tray and a new oring for the pickup. So thats ready for install.
^ This is just a ridiculous level of detail. I feel like no matter what I work on or how detailed I get this thread is always going to be in the back of my head going, “you’re still a fucking slacker compared to that VW build on NYSpeed”.
You can’t even drive this thing when you get done. Park it in the living room as a work of art. Also, what is going on with the Cavy? please tell me you’re driving the mess out it.
I fixed a few of the issues late last summer with it, drove it a couple times. It needs a re-tune, and maybe a different turbo, I currently hate the response. If it ever stops raining I need to get that taken care of, but I do plan to drive it this year.
Picked up the tools to do the ring fitting / install myself - pliers, ring filer, ring squaring tool (this thing worked amazing and was way easier than flipping a piston over on every hole a bunch of times), and the bore specific wiseco ring compressor (also worked amazing vs the adjustable strap type).
Then I figured why not crack on. Got the ARP head studs in and the MK3 MLS gasket in place. For my VW friends the gasket is p/n 037103383N which is for the MK3 2.0. The one alignment pin either has to be removed or the hole in the gasket drilled. I opted to drill it. I simply taped the layers down so nothing could get between them - unitbit made quick work of it without any burrs.
I recall you saying you’d be ‘offloading’ the engine build, which really only meant offloading the machine work. I’m sure you’d have it no other way. Keep it going, I love this thread.
I was going to have the whole thing done, but my machine shop doesnt really like to assemble, so I was going to have my tuner help me - since he does a lot of assembly also, but our schedules never lined up so I said F it and just tackled it myself.
Decided that it needed a little something, why not try filling the ARP on all the bolts in red. Wasnt too hard and adds a little something that likely no one will notice.
A guy I work with has a smallish CNC at home. We designed a pulley and he cut it out for me one night last week. This may only be Rev 1 as Im not 100% on the cable routing yet, but at least I have something to test fit. He can knock me out a final version once im ready easy peasy.
SS inserts installed in the intake (the TB is counter bored in back to accommodate them - they came with a loctite on them that I didnt want to disturb trying to shorten them)
The red lettering…love the attention to detail. Just when you think this project has raised the bar as high as it can go, you take it up another notch.
Those gears are pretty dirty. I expect to see them polished or powder coated with some cool little highlights before they’re put back in the trans case to never be seen again.
