What did you do today to your 3/S?

[DK77]

IF it made enough power it doesn't matter if it had upgraded head bolts since the heads will flex anyway. That's why Ray pins the heads if you are going for high power. Sounds more to me like the guy just plain didn't know what he was doing.

[AdamVR4]

Looks awesome. Do you have any remarks on the durability of this finish? I have a couple pairs of spare VCs and might do one in this finish...

So far so good. I've certainly tried to be gentle with it, but I gave it a couple taps with sockets on accident and it didn't chip or anything.

I've got OEM head bolts and A1's on the shelf for the next engine. I think those heads didn't seal because he failed to remove the composite gasket left overs

[james92tsi]

I take it you haven't been around the 3S platform enough then to know how well the OEM headbolts work. The ARP studs are actually thinner than the OEM headbolts and fail much sooner believe it or not. Try pushing mid 20s boost on those 16Gs and you'll push coolant because of those ARP studs. They don't hold. OEM has been proven to hold over 1000AWHP and was what Matt set all of his record passes with. A few have seen that after 800AWHP even with Ray's head lift fix it can move around some due to the OEM head bolts so A1 built a beefier set of studs that has already been run on three 1000+AWHP cars. Your best bet would be to wait for another group buy if there is one or else expect to pay $700+ for a one off set.

Had mine since 04... took a few years off... just got back to it maybe 6-8 months ago and jumped into the flash ECU club immediately. I really haven't dug into the bigger-than-TD04 class of mods, as I don't want to spend that and 400-ish awhp on pump will be fine.

I didn't know the ARPs were a downgrade. That's sucky.

IF it made enough power it doesn't matter if it had upgraded head bolts since the heads will flex anyway. That's why Ray pins the heads if you are going for high power. Sounds more to me like the guy just plain didn't know what he was doing.

I don't know that he was making *power* but he was definitely making *cylinder pressure* if you catch my drift.

So far so good. I've certainly tried to be gentle with it, but I gave it a couple taps with sockets on accident and it didn't chip or anything.

I've got OEM head bolts and A1's on the shelf for the next engine. I think those heads didn't seal because he failed to remove the composite gasket left overs

Cool, I'll probably try the VHT paint.

You're probably right. MLS gaskets are very picky about surface prep. I was thinking head lift because it just .... seems like an engine that had dumb thing after dumb thing done to it. Just like the rest of the car. You saw it... hacks upon hacks upon hacks.

I would not be surprised if he took it out with the new turbos and immediately cranked boost to the moon. Pop goes the weasel.

But I don't give a shit, it was a $400 car that I got a complete drivetrain and other misc BS out of. Spare parts for red car

[keo92stealth]

Adam, does your t case have just the mid case? Or both end case and mid? Never mind I see you have both lol

[AdamVR4]

Adam, does your t case have just the mid case? Or both end case and mid? Never mind I see you have both lol

Yep, got the first solution brought to market on both fronts It's not ideal, but I'm a fan of the galvanic couple at the heart of my drive train.

[J-Groove]

Looks great Adam! Can't wait to see her in person next month!

-John

[Sin'sVr4]

found my dash light issues last night, fixed them and car runs great. Drove it to work today and just made me fall in love with this car all over agian. Just happy its running amazing again.

[AdamVR4]

Got the lower intake manifold, injectors, and upper intake reinstalled.

[AdamVR4]

Installed the intake and intercooler pipes along with the battery, etc... All that's left is to install the downpipe, drain the coolant, check the oil, add coolant and start it.

[FeaRpb]

Sounds like a lot of fun.

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