Icelandic 16v VTR by the Big Duck - Page 8 - Saxperience

Mickswan · 23rd June 2014, 18:34

Now that I look back and think of the mistakes I made it wouldn't be too bad really. Remove the exhaust, disconnect the handbrake cables, disconnect the brake line to the bias valve and unbolt the axle. Jack the car up and wheel the axle out.

Swap everything to the new axle (probably need new bearings as you destroy the old ones pulling the hubs off). Fit the axle, connect everything back up and bleed the brakes.

That's how I would do it if I had to do it again, others might disagree.

hard_corejoeboy · 23rd June 2014, 19:13

It just unbolts from a few places inside the car does it not? Are bearing expensive? I may save my boxed brajes until after I do this then!

Mickswan · 23rd June 2014, 20:49

Four bolts inside, two under the boot carpet, two under the rear bench. Think bearings are round about the £20 mark. Just need them pressed in.

hard_corejoeboy · 23rd June 2014, 21:00

So to be fair a mechanic in a garage could do it quite happily for an hours labour? Might save myself the agg. Don't like working on cars anyway!

Gandi699 · 23rd June 2014, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by hard_corejoeboy

So to be fair a mechanic in a garage could do it quite happily for an hours labour? Might save myself the agg. Don't like working on cars anyway!

So you decided to build a track car? Flol

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Mickswan · 23rd June 2014, 21:21

Think jigs had someone do it in about 3 hours (think that's what he said). I'd rather save the money and do it myself.

Jigs2895 · 23rd June 2014, 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by hard_corejoeboy

So to be fair a mechanic in a garage could do it quite happily for an hours labour? Might save myself the agg. Don't like working on cars anyway!

Won't get it done in an hour, unless the axle going on is already built with brakes and hubs already on it. It's not taking off the axle that takes the time, it's swapping over all the parts.

Had mine put on in ruffly 2-3 hours by my mechanic for £75. Expect to pay more than that though as my mechanic does everything dirt cheap for me as private cash jobs.

Prickle^p · 23rd June 2014, 22:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gandi699

So you decided to build a track car? Flol

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Go easy on him before he dents another door Ghandi

blackie_2k5 · 23rd June 2014, 22:30

should handle much better with new beam on!

most garages will charge a fortune for an axle swap..saxo ones are a piece of piss (a lot easier once youve done one before) but theyll still probs charge min half days labour which will work out pricey..do it yourself its not had at all

mick im breaking bullocks icelandic if you need anything off it before it goes scrappy

Mickswan · 5th July 2014, 17:47

Boring update, found a pair of plain black door cards to go with the GTI leathers:

Also detailed my car, although I use the word detail very loose. Wash, clay, wash and polish. Still need to do another coat of polish and wax it up but looks better.

RossMcG · 5th July 2014, 18:28

looks sweet as bro

Mickswan · 6th July 2014, 17:43

Second coat of polish and a coat of wax, hopefully if I stay on top of the cleaning it shouldn't get as bad as it previously looked.

Mickswan · 21st July 2014, 22:59

After twiddling thumbs for a couple of weeks and buying parts up I've finally started work on the 16v lump. After a shaky start I thought I had fucked rings, turned out to be a faulty gauge so crisis averted.

Stripped all the ancillaries off the engine Sunday all I need to do is unbolt the head, strip it down, send it for a clean and skim before being built back up. Hoping to get everything done and back together by next weekend ready to give it a quick test before I lift the lump out of the S and drop it into the R.

Will be built up with cams and mapped once it's in. I'm hoping it shouldn't be too much of a chew on but it never goes that well.

Mickswan · 25th July 2014, 21:28

Boring update, stuck some new track rod ends on today and got the tracking done.

Apart from that I got cracked on with doing the head on my S. Took it off and the gasket wasn't too bad, probably didn't really need to do it but the block and head were covered in oil so I thought I'd go with caution.

Covered in oil

Just strip all the valves out tomorrow and pass it on to me mate who's going to clean it up where he works then skim it.

Shouldn't be too long getting this back together.

Jigs2895 · 28th July 2014, 23:56

16v godness!

Mickswan · 4th August 2014, 17:51

Since the heads off to be cleaned by a mate I managed to make some good progress and get a couple of jobs ticked of the list.

Took the sump of which was a total nightmare as the sump previously had an oil leak and the last owner decided to seal it with silicone. Took about two hours to get it off and clean all the silicone off.

Anyway the main reason for taking it off, replace rings and bearings:

Pistons were minging:

All clean and fitted with new rings and bearings:

With this job done just waiting to get the head back and get it all built up with the new cams and on.

Mickswan · 7th August 2014, 21:33

Got the head back from being cleaned, all the built up oil from the cam ladder leak is gone. It doesn't look perfect put much better than when it come off.

Before

After

Mickswan · 13th August 2014, 19:37

Bit more done, got the head skimmed:

Lapped all the valves in which took three hours, obviously by hand but the seats look really good now.

New set of valve stem seals:

Fitted the cat cams, sealed the ladders and fitted new cam shaft seals.

Just need to fit the pulleys, change the water pump and fit the actual head tomorrow then Friday I'll get it timed up. End is well and truly in sight now for the engine rebuild.

Hope to turn the key Saturday then it'll be left until September as I move in two weeks and I don't want the car off the road due to any problems (plus I want it mapped).