[gabedude]

Originally Posted by EROCK11

Good luck with your build...I am particularly interested to see how the 08 STI intercooler performs for you.
Do you think you will have issues maxing out the stock MAF with the APS 65mm? Any thoughts of going with the 70mm instead?

Thanks, I am excited to see how well it performs.

The stock MAF goes up to 400+ G/S flow and at 280-290 G/S I get 310-320 WHP. If I run out of MAF I can just halve the load values (and everything else that has to do with the MAF sensor) to get 2X the airflow measurements but at the sacrifice of table resolution. Scaling an APS 70MM is a PITA. I have done a few and by no means is it any fun as it is non linear (you have to rescale every cel in the MAF table which is much harder that upgrading injectors and changing the injector scaler and dead times / (lower portion of the MAF for non stock intakes which throw off the MAF because of bends in the tubing)).

I suppose if I do go over 400 G/S I will be getting the larger one and doing the work to rescale the MAF (upper end).

Gabe

[gabedude]

I have a whole bunch of pics to add and build instructions. I am going very slow to do it right.

[gabedude]

So I broke one ring after realizing I had the gaps on one side on the piston skirt (Helps to read the manual) and I broke a ring trying to put a piston back in. Had to order a whole new set (4) of rings, so I have 3 unopened bags. Anyone want them?

Next is to finish assembling the engine (manifold, etc) and drop it in. I have to wait till the 1st to buy a hoist so it is going to be ready to drop in then.

The Gate's timing belt has great markings and was easy to install (after I figured out I had to turn the LH side cams to get them to line up). Engine turns fine, no hitting of valves against pistons (that is always good). I am getting excited now.

[weasel936]

What type of gates timing belt are you using? i know they make 2 types the regular black belt or the blue one that has kevalar lining in it so it won't break, and stretch as much.

[gabedude]

It is the Blue one.

[weasel936]

I got one on my wife's gst and i like it as well. heard alot of good things about those belts man.

[gabedude]

I need some motivation. After doing a compression check and leakdown, it has to be an intake valvestem seal (or a guide, I sure hope not). I got the right c-clamp spring compressor this week. Tess got me a Red racer gauge for father's day. I have the engine on a stand already. My Meth is plumbed and ready to wire up (even the wires are routed). I am just lazy. I guess I have been having too much fun inside the house instead of inside the garage.

Compression: 120, 120, 120, 120 (cold - forged pistons, large end gap)
Leakdown: Around 5% on all 4.

It doesn't help that we have two STIs either.

In retrospect I should have removed the valves and cleaned them when I first built it. Then I would have had new seals. The valves had carbon deposits all over them and were kind of ugly. It ran great for 20 minutes (idle -18.7 in of vacuum), then it started smoking (idle -16.5 in of vacuum). There is no oil contamination either which leads me to believe that it is an intake valvestem seal. I ran it for an additional 25 minutes after it started eating oil.

Check these pics out (#3 is the problem child):

[gabedude]

Ok I am dumb. I swear I double checked it! That ring was installed right side up, not upside down! Well, there you have it. Simple fix though.



Top of piston was fine.



Hmm, oil control ring fine.



Top comp ring fine.



...
..
.
Yeah that was dumb. Easy to fix though.

[gabedude]

More work done last night:

Head is fine and almost back together. Look at those seals; those are stock seals.




Piston is back in (double checked that the rings were installed the correct way.



Did I tell you my wife works with me (just got the engine back up on the stand)?



Coming together:



One head left!

[BBBsti LTD]

I dont understand, didi you drive the car and then found something wrong with it??? Your engine, pistons and heads are very clean with no sign of oil or carbon deposit.

What exactly happened???