Time to build the motor?!

**NogaroWonda00** · 01-12-2009 12:27 PM

So here is the deal I have a somewhat slow coolant leak and there isnt any residue in eye sight so I am thinking its the head gasket. It has been going on for a while now I have extra coolant so I have been consistantly making sure its topped off.

So if it is the head gasket should I use this as an excuse to build the motor lol?

I was think some integrated valves and rods anything else I should do? Or will it not be worth while? I will have to use my stash I have been saving up for tuning but this will take its place if its a good opportunity to get more power, cause if I did tune it now then build the motor I would have to get a new tune anyway.

opinions on what I should do?

**SilverSurferS4** · 01-12-2009 01:06 PM

Building your motor doesnt get you more power.. it will make your motor more reliable/stronger to withstand more boost/higher power levels...

Its a great idea i think to build your motor.. However if your going to do it, do it right the first time...
Honestly since your only stage 3 with k04's, I think you shouldnt really worry about the heads (besides the head gaskets of course, lol), I would fully build the bottom end (pistons, rods, head stud kit, main stud kit) and get everything balanced and resealed..
you can then run higher boost with a custom tune... and if you ever decide to go with a bigger turbos, you can then do the heads at a later time, to me with k04's its not worth doing the heads at this time...
just my 2 cents...

**b5bossman** · 01-12-2009 11:23 PM

Do you need to pull motor for head gasket?

**ILoveT** · 01-12-2009 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by thesilverbullet

Do you need to pull motor for head gasket?

Wut?

**AMC** · 01-12-2009 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by b5bossman

Do you need to pull motor for head gasket?

short answer. no

**MacDaddy** · 01-13-2009 03:02 AM

if the engine is running really hot (like, due to a broken thermostat) that will cause the coolant to boil off. I would start looking at that first before i wen't spending thousands on a rebuild.

**Big Boost** · 01-13-2009 05:30 AM

I'll go one step further. Once the heads are off, the K03's are fully accessible top and bottom if you have a lift at your disposal. That's how I had the K04's installed with the heads off. If the heads are off anyway, wouldn't it make sense to do some P&P work to them? Why pay for labor twice to R&R the heads if they are already off?

**s4silver1** · 01-13-2009 09:32 PM

have you checked at all to see if it's not your afterrun coolant pump thats leaking? well known problem on these cars and would explain a slow coolant leak that you wouldnt be able to see.

**Das General** · 01-13-2009 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by AMC

short answer. no

Short answer, no. Long answer, it is a pain in the ass though.

**NogaroWonda00** · 01-14-2009 10:27 AM

Yes I have checked and looked and looked for some leak its not running too hot, I do have a lift to use, so thats why I thought it would be a great time to at least the rods, but I may just wait and see how it goes after we yank the motor out, I imagine it would be a major slut doing the head gasket without a lift and taking the motor out lol