Financial Mistakes :) My Build Log

[dozer103]

Congrats bud! You've earned a few trouble free miles!!

[Mille Bornes]

Hopefully more than a few lol. I made sure to get an AAA membership this time lol

[LJS]

Feels good having it on the road again I bet....LOTS of hard work and heart-ache but it's worth it in the end especially when you roll the throttle to the floor...
I'm glad things are going well for ya!

[Siggies]

I feel every bit of your pain. I need to do a build thread myself. I've had the motor in and out more times than I care to count and it just blew up a week after new turbos. Now here I am deep into a built bottom and top end. Glad to see it working out for you finally! Good luck!

[Mille Bornes]

Feels good having it on the road again I bet....LOTS of hard work and heart-ache but it's worth it in the end especially when you roll the throttle to the floor...
I'm glad things are going well for ya!

It's definitely nice to drive it! I'm scared to have too much fun with it now though lol 😬

[Mille Bornes]

I feel every bit of your pain. I need to do a build thread myself. I've had the motor in and out more times than I care to count and it just blew up a week after new turbos. Now here I am deep into a built bottom and top end. Glad to see it working out for you finally! Good luck!

Thanks man, it's been quite a journey... And I'm worried it's not over lol.

Hang in there lol and good luck with the build!

[Mille Bornes]

The 93 file is finished now... It definitely hauls but I was hoping for a bit more out of 93.
But it does a consistent 2.8 fats, 2.6 this morning when it was like 50 degrees.

Not that fats means much with the power so far right lol

We're starting 100 octane now and then will do ethanol.


The only issue so far... Oil consumption 😬
It looks like I'm on track to burn a quart every 6-700 miles.

[Silverex]

Burning a Qt that quick seems excessive, have you done a leak down?

[Mille Bornes]

Way excessive in my opinion lol

Not yet, I will in the future. I noticed a bit of blue smoke on startup, which would make me think valve stem seals... But they've been replaced twice now

[MCP]

Way excessive in my opinion lol

Not yet, I will in the future. I noticed a bit of blue smoke on startup, which would make me think valve stem seals... But they've been replaced twice now

Sorry to hear that it’s going through oil like that, but could it be something else? I don’t see how the valve stem seals would go out that fast. Did you use OEM ones?


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[MCP]

The 93 file is finished now... It definitely hauls but I was hoping for a bit more out of 93.
But it does a consistent 2.8 fats, 2.6 this morning when it was like 50 degrees.

Not that fats means much with the power so far right lol

We're starting 100 octane now and then will do ethanol.


The only issue so far... Oil consumption
It looks like I'm on track to burn a quart every 6-700 miles.

Depending on when the turbo spools FATS can be a bit misleading, I think it’s more of a metric for midrange power, so if this set-up was built for more top end raw power draggy acceleration numbers would be the best metric to use.


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[Silverex]

Way excessive in my opinion lol

Not yet, I will in the future. I noticed a bit of blue smoke on startup, which would make me think valve stem seals... But they've been replaced twice now

I’ve heard other guys having issues with valve seals shortly after a rebuild. Other than them I’d be looking at the piston rings. What all did you do after your cam chain failure.

[Mille Bornes]

Most of the stem seals were leaking when the chain broke. I don't remember how many miles on them but less than a thousand for sure. When I pulled the intake oil was pooled on top of the valves.
I used elring seals.

Hopefully it's not going past the rings but I'll do a leak down test at some point.

And yes, a dragy is definitely in order. I think the fats times are pretty respectable given the size of the turbo though and it pulls hard af to 8krpm.

[Mille Bornes]

I've been thinking about the oil consumption a lot, it's looking like it's considerably worse than my initial estimate.

If you'll recall, bank 2 cam chain was off a tooth causing bank 2 to be crazy rich initially.
I put a little too much faith in the machine shop and checked a bunch of other stuff before pulling the valve cover to check timing.
So, now I'm thinking bank 2 rings were washed out and haven't seated properly.

I should be able to do a leak down test this week but I'm pretty certain it's the rings. I've noticed that I leave a cloud of smoke after a wot pull. Nothing visible cruising or even at like 20psi but wot is pretty bad.

I'd obviously like to get a taste of ethanol before it is garaged again but I'm not sure that's the best idea until this is sorted.

[Mille Bornes]

Necro bump since I'm working on this again 😅

So. Long story short, we finished tuning on ethanol and I was looking to get this thing on a dyno when I noticed spool was getting worse and worse. Unsurprisingly, the bellows on the turbo manifolds were cracked. Also, if the car sat for any amount of time it would fill my garage with smoke on startup.

I pulled the intake and pretty much all the closed valves had oil pooled on top. Lovely. So I yoinked the engine and there it has sat for 3-4 years lol.

I've been lucky enough to fall into an abundance of free time so I'm really hoping I can get this running again before this reprieve from adulthood comes to an end.

The manifolds have been fixed. One bellows removed entirely and one replaced with the flex that Monty recommended before I ever installed these lol

When the manifolds were being welded the welder noticed some cracked welds. He went over where every tube for each cylinder met the flange and another random cracked weld. Now that I have them back I see he missed one



This is incredibly disappointing since these have, what, like 1500 miles on them? I'm a little concerned this is going to turn into whack a mole with cracked welds. But... Time will tell I guess.

Regarding the repeated valve stem seals failure. I had every guide replaced with super tech initially. I'm guessing they were reamed too wide but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So the heads are off... Again lol and I'm trying to decide where to take them. I found a local shop specializing in VW/Audi and they recommended me to a different shop whose owner apparently has a built S4 and has built a couple customer cars. I haven't been able to reach him, due to the holidays, but I'm hoping it works out as I'd rather not pay to ship these.

I sure wish I'd kept this build simple. Initially I was thinking a rod slapped 770 with built heads and done. But what a slippery slope once I started buying parts lol

[travis_w]

Oil on the valves would be the valve seals. The guides could wear out the seals if they were really worn. You could vacuum test them and replace the valve seals that are bad.

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[Silverex]

Mission Motorwerks in PA has a lot of experience with these heads and would be the perfect place to have them sent to.

The manifolds I’d trash cause they will keep cracking eventually

[Mille Bornes]

I'd really prefer to stay local but I'll check them out. I called FFE but they would want to start over with a different set of heads, in which case I'd be on the hook for porting again. But perhaps that would be best. It's been hard to reach anyone else with the holidays.

Regarding the manifolds, I was actually pricing up some manner of replacement. But wowee it seems things have gotten expensive since I was last buying for this car lol.

If I had to replace them I was thinking The Tuner cast manifolds with 485's single kit. But that is a ton of money. The 485 kits seems wildly expensive for all that it is but PB5 is really up there now too.

[Mille Bornes]

So... Here we are 14 weeks later and nothing has been accomplished. Someone local to me recommended SEP, said they've used him for a bunch of stuff. So I went ahead and shipped everything off to SEP... Which apparently was a mistake.

I shipped them out December 31, was quoted 4-6 weeks lead time. 14 weeks and I've received one head and just a completely insane number of excuses. Most recently the second head should have been completed but his machinist accidentally machined a 2.7 head instead of a 2.8... but then a week or two before it was done but he wasn't happy with the finish after it was decked so he was sending it back to his machinist... 🤔 But then before that I'm pretty sure everything was done but just needed like pressure tested or something.

Idk it's hard to remember at this point, it's literally something new every week. If I had known how this would play out I would have kept a log of what the current delay is 🙄

My favorite was two weeks ago he said the head would go out that day... And then sends me a tracking number at one in the morning, technically the next day, which still says that UPS is waiting to receive the package lmao what a joke.

Why am I updating with this? Idk I just need to vent I guess. I'm seriously ready to just start a chargeback and move on.

[Matthewest91]

Definitely shitty to hear, sounds like they are needing the work but are stretched too thin.


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[Silverex]

So... Here we are 14 weeks later and nothing has been accomplished. Someone local to me recommended SEP, said they've used him for a bunch of stuff. So I went ahead and shipped everything off to SEP... Which apparently was a mistake.

I shipped them out December 31, was quoted 4-6 weeks lead time. 14 weeks and I've received one head and just a completely insane number of excuses. Most recently the second head should have been completed but his machinist accidentally machined a 2.7 head instead of a 2.8... but then a week or two before it was done but he wasn't happy with the finish after it was decked so he was sending it back to his machinist... 🤔 But then before that I'm pretty sure everything was done but just needed like pressure tested or something.

Idk it's hard to remember at this point, it's literally something new every week. If I had known how this would play out I would have kept a log of what the current delay is 🙄

My favorite was two weeks ago he said the head would go out that day... And then sends me a tracking number at one in the morning, technically the next day, which still says that UPS is waiting to receive the package lmao what a joke.

Why am I updating with this? Idk I just need to vent I guess. I'm seriously ready to just start a chargeback and move on.

He’s not a bad guy but that is a very very common story you’ll hear. Getting your money back then going with a reputable machine shop that has experience with 5 valves is what I’d suggest.

[Mille Bornes]

sounds like they are needing the work but are stretched too thin.

Apparently 😅

[Mille Bornes]

He’s not a bad guy but that is a very very common story you’ll hear. Getting your money back then going with a reputable machine shop that has experience with 5 valves is what I’d suggest.

I'm really hoping it doesn't come to that but this is beyond ridiculous. So far building a car has been an absolute 0/10 experience, would not recommend lmao. If I had stuck to my original, simple plan I'd be so much better off rn.

I'm seriously about to just throw my 2.7 heads on and at least it runs 😅

[Mille Bornes]

It seems the head is on the way now... Andrew said it went out the 9th. Tracking shows that UPS has it but it still hasn't moved at all 🤔

[CELison]

Mission Motorworks is local and has done several of these heads. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have him check them out before you slap on the Medina specials.

[Silverex]

It seems the head is on the way now... Andrew said it went out the 9th. Tracking shows that UPS has it but it still hasn't moved at all 🤔

Definitely odd it hasn't moved since the acceptance/we have your package scan on the 9th. Where does it say it is now?

[Mille Bornes]

Mission Motorworks is local and has done several of these heads. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have him check them out before you slap on the Medina specials.

Lol I'm so out of the loop these days, is he known to have issues beyond missed deadlines? 😅

[Mille Bornes]

Definitely odd it hasn't moved since the acceptance/we have your package scan on the 9th. Where does it say it is now?

Budd, NJ. Just says delivery date will be updated when available. Hopefully it starts moving lol it would just be par for the course if UPS loses the package

[CELison]

Lol I'm so out of the loop these days, is he known to have issues beyond missed deadlines? 😅

You could say that….

[ShelbyM3]

Lol I'm so out of the loop these days, is he known to have issues beyond missed deadlines?

Lol I'm so out of the loop these days, is he known to have issues beyond missed deadlines?

I got an incomplete order and had to hound him for a little. He sold me a song a dance, that I didn’t buy, and I just told him that I can be patient and understand an expectation that I don’t like, but I will not tolerate lack of accountability and him not honoring his word. It was always something. And, if you follow him on Facebook, he’s always pumping out these big builds and appears so busy, but I honestly think most of it is a farce.
I got everything I paid for, he gave me a discount for the purchase, I have no issues with him personally, but I do have an issue with the way he conducts business


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[craigt1985]

Just to give a counter experience on SEP; had great communication throughout, talke thed me through my options and gave me a great deal shipped to the UK, order was sent out very quickly and they followed up to make sure I received everything all ok. I couldn't recommend them enough based on this, but there are always good and bad experiences I guess.

[Silverex]

Lol I'm so out of the loop these days, is he known to have issues beyond missed deadlines? 😅

Other than timeline and fitment issues guys have had issues with heads from him also

[CELison]

Just Rob Prout had customer cars that used SEP heads. One dropped a valve instantly, another had the caps backwards and loose, another had the valve stem seals leak. I’ve seen another motor where the heads were actually installed backwards lol. If you’re in this area, just use Mission.

[Mille Bornes]

Just Rob Prout had customer cars that used SEP heads. One dropped a valve instantly, another had the caps backwards and loose, another had the valve stem seals leak. I’ve seen another motor where the heads were actually installed backwards lol. If you’re in this area, just use Mission.

Lmao wtf maybe I should have asked here about SEP specifically first 😅

I'm Pittsburgh area. I couldn't find anyone I trusted local. I'm pretty sure I called mission but they weren't interested unless it was to swap everything over to a fresh set of heads and I was really hoping to avoid that.

Then I talked to Andrew and he said he'd see if they might be salvageable. I ended up with a different set of heads anyways lol

[csobel]

Just chiming in for solidarity at this juncture... I remember the days of trying to get my 880 B5 built. I took it to a shop that just didn't have it in them and it turned into a rollercoaster with seemingly no end. Finally towed it up to AMD and they sorted it and tuned it... phew. I've had it garaged for a year or two now and am getting ready to bring it to them for a re tune sometime.
But man... I feel your pain.