Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

I never use a pan gasket either. Just a nice even coat of ultra grey, let it set up for about 5 or 10 mins, and torque to spec. No leaks, no worries

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

I'm reading more and more about people not using an oil pan gasket. Apparently they suck... I'll look into using just RTV. Thanks for the tips.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Ultra black FTW.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

I used a gasket plus black rtv on both sides. It is pretty much unecessary to use a gasket, like everyone says.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

I used grey. Oil pan is on.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Factory didn't use one, for a reason.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Just picked up a Non-Cruise cable, headgasket, and new injector seals from Brookdale on Saturday. I had to contemplate it for awhile because I'm trying to keep as many creature comforts as I can. But decided I just don't use the Cruise Control enough for me to keep it, and eliminating it will clean up the engine bay a bit. So CC is going away.

If anyone needs a CC setup from a 91, I'll have mine for sale shortly!

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Got the CC setup out, and the Non-Cruise cable in.

Also went ahead and removed the Windshield Washer reservoir and hosing since the CF hood I have doesn't have provisions for the squirters. Plus the car doesn't really need them anyways considering it rarely even sees rain.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

^I will take those off of your hands

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Come get it before the garbage man arrives!

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Aaron, garbage day is tomorrow. You sure you want this stuff?

Only updates on the car are that I bought a new oilfeed line, and front/rear Prothane mount inserts. Got the rear one installed today, not too difficult. I'll install the front one tomorrow hopefully.

Only part left that I need is the head, which should hopefully be done soon!

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Got the front motor mount insert in today. That one comes as one solid piece so it was a little more trickey. I just lubed the crap out of it and put it in a vice and pressed it in.

Also got my package from Summit today. I ordered some manifold heat wrap and sealing spray, and also a turbo blanket. I got the turbo blanket put on, and plan on starting to wrap the manifold tomorrow.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Just a word of warning, but it seems like tubular manifolds like to crack when they're wrapped. I'm not saying your's will, but I've heard of it happening.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

I have heard the same quite a bit, but with your overheating issues, it might be worth it. I grabbed the valve spring compessor today and *might* get your head done tomorrow.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

I'm fully aware of the possible cracking issues, but am doing whatever I can to combat my overheating. The manifold is already coated in and out. Also with the wrap, I got the coating that you spray over the wrap to seal it and not allow any water in, so that should help as well.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Got the manifold runners all wrapped, but ran out and I still need to do the collector. If anyone has some extra 1" wide wrap laying around they'd like to get rid of, please let me know.

Also I think I have an issue with my front motor mount. The hole the bolt goes through in the motor mount, is quite a bit larger then the actual bolt. I'd think they'd be closer in size to each other, but there is a lot of slop. So I'm going to see about buying a larger bolt for that hole.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Manifold is wrapped, and I have the first coat of the sealing spray-on stuff applied. Will put the 2nd coat on tomorrow. My g/f and I spent a lot of time on the wrapping job to try and keep it as clean as possible because I've seen some thrown together jobs and it can look like crap, and I didn't want that. I'm happy with how it turned out. It's on there real nice and tight!

Also a pic of the cheap little turbo blanket I put on. I have a lot of extra of that if anyone else wants to make one for their application.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

just keep a eye on the mani now that you wrapped it. One of the dnp's I had cracked because I wrapped it. swaped it out for the other one I have been using for many years and never had a problem.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

thats one of the best looking wrap jobs i have seen, good work.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Yeah I already know about increased chances of cracking. But it's a risk I'm willing to take, and the manifold is supposed to have a lifetime warrantee (who knows if those guys would honor though...). Anyway, thanks for the warnings, I'm fully aware, but I need to do everything I can to keep my engine bay cool so oh well.

311 - THanks for the compliment. We tried to take our time and do it as best we could to keep it clean looking. :)

Now I just need that head...

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Good job on the wrapping. Not sure how much that blanket will do for you though. But anything will help!

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

The wrap job looks very nice! Hopefully it doesn't crack!

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Then come pick it up! :lol:

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

alllriiiiiight gigitty gigitty :D

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Got it, thanks Jet!

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

You betcha!

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Today got the holes for the head studs drilled out (2g head).

Head is installed and torqued to 90ft/lbs for now. TB is on. IC piping and Intake are on. Turbo and oil feed line are one. Fuel rail and injectors are on (had to adjust where I originally mounted my fuel filter). T-Case and driveshaft on. Most of the vacuum hosing is connected, but I'm thinking about redoing all my vacuum hose completely as it's kinda messy.

Tomorrow I hope to get the cam's and timing belt on. Finish the Oil Drain line. Install axle. Install Exhaust. Then start figuring out what I forgot :)

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

fluids!!

-A. Swift

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Good progress, you got the cam caps from Peter I'm assuming?

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

nope. Cams aren't in yet. I just put the VC on there for the picture :)

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Beware with the cam caps, they are actually machined to match the head they came with. Knowing the japs they likely ran tight enough tolerances that you will be ok, but I would check them out when you put it together.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Yes, these are the caps for this specific head. When I got it from Andrew, I had all the caps except for the 2 that go by the cam gear. They stuck to his cams when he removed them and he didn't notice. So I have to go grab them.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

So far I've got the timing belt and all accessory belts on. Axle is on but I don't have a socket to torque the nut on properly, but the isn't going anywhere anyway, so it's good enough for now.

Just got back from Wally World and picked up some coolant, 10qts of oil, and some generic 75-90 for the T-Case.

I'm taking a break, but hope to get a bit more done yet tonight!!

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Added coolant and water, and a couple drops of Ajax for good measure ;) Found out there is some kind of leak coming from the new NT water pipe. Fuckin A!! I'll have to removed it and fix it somehow.

Added 4.5 qts of dino 10w30. The car is probably a couple hours away from getting started which is kinda exciting for me. I just need to take a trip to Bloomington to get the last 2 cam caps. I need to hook up the NT Throttle Cable to the gas pedal. Attach the MAS and Air Filter. Install the Battery (hope it's not dead). Then just double and triple check everything as I'm sure there's something I forgot somewhere.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

She's Alive!!! She's Aliiive!!!

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Awesome!

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

good to hear

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Either the heat wrap, or the spray, sure is smoking like a mother. I let it idle for just over 5 minutes and shut her down. I need to fix the coolant leak on the new NT Water pipe. Also want to get that fuel rail fitting in there more permanent.

Then just need to put some of the misc stuff back on that I left off just in case it had to come apart again. Then I may pick a day where it's somewhat nice out, and minimal salt on the roads, and just take it around the block to help seat the rings while the cross hatch is still in there.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

I wrapped the header on my avenger about 2 weeks ago, let it run for 5 min or so and it also smoked quite a bit and kind of smelled like burning rags. I shut it off, let it cool down a little and started it again half an hour later for another 5 min, let it cool down. I did that about 4 or 5 times, and it didn't smoke or smell anymore.

Re: My Winter Upgrades
 

Good to hear its running.

Did you take any pics of the ported head?