Home from bodyshop:
So, got it built back up, windows from Mike, and ready for MOT:
Passed 1st time, MOT man was generally confused as to why someone would do this to a Polo, but he gave me a thumbs up and fresh ticket :thumbup:
Then went to a Pistonheads meet, after telling someone the bottom ends on these are good for 300bhp mate 'no sweat' :
B*gger.
Stripdown again (the mrs has given up all hope at this point):
Punched clean through both sides of the block, and ripped the starter from the box.
Solution:
To quote someone on Club Polo:
"Rod WHYYOUNOSTAYINBLOCK
because boost." lol
So, time for an update. I have the Club Polo trackday booked at Blyton in a few weeks time, and BVF was falling on my birthday weekend, and I'd just shat my engine fairly comprehensively.
Sat 14th I picked this up from Surrey:
Saved some time as it came with a 1341cc bottom end (but no BVH).
Already had stuff booked that weekend and Monday, so that basically gave me Tuesday- Friday lunchtime to strip en engine out the black G, rebuild with forged rods and a BVH, get all the rebuild parts, repair my leaking ally rad, put it in the car, and drive to BVF. Simples eh? Quickly filled my holiday sheet in on the Friday, and told work I'd see them in a week...
Here in, lies the tale, of the engine I have aptly named, 'the *******'.
So we start on Tuesday, engine out, gearbox split, and head off... to find its a stock head, bugger. Quick call to previous owner and PeteG40 sees me with some cash back, and me due to pick a new head up from Pete (thanks Lewis/Pete).
Spend the rest of the day splitting parts off my failed 1341cc motor. That evening I drive up to collect the head from Pete and have a brew.
Wednesday- parts arrive from Germany, and rods/bolts are already here, so split the new 1341cc further and take rods from pistons, install new rods. Start to put new rods back in bottom end, torquing them up happily (ARP torques not VW), and SNAP.
****. Game over.
So a call to the supplier and some head scratching later, I realise I've been an utter rainman and torqued them up to the incorrect bolt spec. 15lbft too much. With my background this is an epic failure. Call back to supplier, £80 later, lesson learnt, don't be a smart **** and read instructions properly.
Removed the other bolts, which had started to neck, they're now on my shelf of broken ****.
I didn't take many pics over the next day or so...
Thursday comes, and rod bolts arrive by courier about half 2. Hmm, leaving Friday lunch looks highly doubtful! Anyway, put everything back together and find on Thursday night, 'the *******' strikes again, this engine can't like the thought of 1.5bar up it's **** or something... fighting every step of the way, 2 cam bearing studs pull. ****, they're M7 and need helicoiling, not a problem I've got a kit as this is a common problem, kit is at my old unit 120miles away. The ******* strikes again.
So I get everything back together anyway, and figure I can sort it Friday, this is 7hrs of work:
I finished about 10.30pm Thursday night, engine still not fired/checked.
5am Friday morning, drive to Chelford, collect Helicoil kit, tell myself I'm mad, and drive home. Helicoil both studs, torque/angle them and they're good, sweet! Fill with fluids, and then fire it up. Running on 3 cylinders, ****, it's half 12 now, should be leaving in an hour for BVF.
Whip the plugs out, carbon deposit stopping cyl 1 firing, sound. Back to the full 4 now. Time it up and chuck the tent in the back, have a shower and wonder what I've not torqued up...
Andy gets home from work, we load the car up and leave about half 2 to meet Pete and Sam and convoy onto BVF. Car starts smoking.... hmmm, I did wonder where all the oil from my bottom end went, most of it seems to have been soaked into my manifold/downpipe wrap, que smoking for the next 50miles whilst other road users look generally worried.
Arrive at BVF, beaming. It's my birthday weekend, and my car and mates are there, sweet!
I was utterly shattered all weekend, but well worth it. Currently got a boost leak, but no other problems!
Or so I thought....