Blown Neo head gasket - Next steps?

[V28VX37]

Also the current recommendation is OEM head gasket and ARP 2000 head studs. Apparently the price difference between basic ARP's and 2000's is not massive. 

[admS15]

Sounds like a good plan[emoji106]

[timmy_89]

Keen to hear how things go

[Dose Pipe Sutututu]

Moar boost!

[V28VX37]

The bores and pistons do look decent, at least based on my limited understanding of combustion engines.

Still awaiting word from the engine shop on the head, loving the suspense  

Here's the block:

[V28VX37]

> Still awaiting word from the engine shop on the head, loving the suspense  

Got a positive verdict, thanks goodness. The head is being refreshed, they're just waiting on valve stem seals, shouldn't be too long. Might have a car again one of these days yay!

[V28VX37]

Finally got the car back. Based on a quick spin everything seems a-ok, no more bubbles in coolant, in fact the overflow is sitting rock steady at the max mark before and after a run now. Water and oil temps around 80 degrees at freeway speeds on a cool night. I need to do some more testing but so far very good yay!

[KiwiRS4T]

Care to let us know what it cost? PM if you want.

[V28VX37]

Care to let us know what it cost? PM if you want.

Of course, it ended up being around 3.5 plus another k for the new Mishimoto rad, all new water and heater hoses, diff oil change, second O2 bung and some other random stuff.

Lesson learned though, better take any coolant leaks very seriously.

[Kinkstaah]

As above ---^ assuming that was with the ARP2000's and Some kind of MLS head gasket? Or did you go OEM?

[admS15]

So when is the next track day to test it all out?

[V28VX37]

As above ---^ assuming that was with the ARP2000's and Some kind of MLS head gasket? Or did you go OEM?

Arp-202-4301 head studs and OEM gasket

[V28VX37]

So when is the next track day to test it all out?

Good question, I've totally blown my budget this year (what budget) but keen to have one more run this year... Mates are heading up to Winton early Dec but I'm not sure if I trust the car quite enough for the hike just yet

[admS15]

7 minutes ago, V28VX37 said:

Good question, I've totally blown my budget this year (what budget) but keen to have one more run this year... Mates are heading up to Winton early Dec but I'm not sure if I trust the car quite enough for the hike just yet

Budget, what's that lol. I know what you mean. I went to Sandown last weekend, was going to make it the last track day for the year but my car didn't even manage to do a full timed lap before my turbo decided to let go. I spent the afternoon pulling the turbo off, it's currently being rebuilt.  I am now considering 1 more track day for the year. According to tampered motorsport website apparently there is a sandown track day on the 11/12. I may sign up for that once I have my car running again.

[V28VX37]

Something random that I observed on the test drive last night is that my Defi exhaust temp gauge seems to read low. It never gets above 400 and is mostly 'fluttering' (slowly bouncing) around 300 for some reason. From memory it was 500-600 in normal driving before and 800+ on the track when pushed.

My initial reaction is that the probe must have taken a hit, however can anyone think of another explanation?

[GTSBoy]

Probe not pushed in as far as it was before.

[blah_blah]

18 hours ago, V28VX37 said:

Finally got the car back. Based on a quick spin everything seems a-ok, no more bubbles in coolant, in fact the overflow is sitting rock steady at the max mark before and after a run now. Water and oil temps around 80 degrees at freeway speeds on a cool night. I need to do some more testing but so far very good yay!

Good work feel free to take a test drive down to the south east im about to put down an order on a nismo lsd tomorrow lol 

 

So was kinda curious to see how your car goes

[V28VX37]

4 hours ago, blah_blah said:

Good work feel free to take a test drive down to the south east im about to put down an order on a nismo lsd tomorrow lol 

So was kinda curious to see how your car goes

Sorry mate manic today and over the weekend but Sunday night could work? Unless you must buy tomorrow

4 hours ago, GTSBoy said:

Probe not pushed in as far as it was before.

It's a screw type so shouldn't have moved. Just went to the shops and the gauge barely moves from 2 (minimum reading) so something is amiss.

I'm pretty sure the guys at the shop welded the new O2 bung at the bottom of the front pipe with the EGT sensor still screwed in - could using a MIG/welder upset the (disconnected) probe?

[GTSBoy]

Screw type thermocouple?  Never seen one.  Are you sure it's not just a plain sheathed TC that slips through a gland that you tighten?  That's what all the others I've seen are.  I've got mine pushed in juuuuust far enough to stick into the gas and get a decent gas reading (rather than a wall temp reading!) but not so far that it sticks way into the flow where it could cause unpleasant eddies/turbulence or perhaps burn off.

[V28VX37]

7 hours ago, GTSBoy said:

Screw type thermocouple?  Never seen one.  Are you sure it's not just a plain sheathed TC that slips through a gland that you tighten?  That's what all the others I've seen are.  I've got mine pushed in juuuuust far enough to stick into the gas and get a decent gas reading (rather than a wall temp reading!) but not so far that it sticks way into the flow where it could cause unpleasant eddies/turbulence or perhaps burn off.

This is what it looks like: http://www.defi-shop.com/installation/sensor/

Mine was all assembled when I bought it, and just screwed into the bung added on top of the dump. Perhaps it's adjustable and has moved, I'll need to have a look.