My 1992 GTI

[DocWalt]

Yeah, I understand. I wouldn't take a sander to the head, that's for sure. I was afraid using a plastic scraper, so I just picked at it with a paper towel and patience.

[DocWalt]

All cleaned up:


Not bad for 161k:




New oil cooler:


Head on:






All wrapped up:




The power increase is noticeable, to say the least, haha. Better bay pics and videos coming later.

[wingnut]

The power increase is noticeable, to say the least, haha.

[DocWalt]

[FeaRpb]

Sounds awesome. Love the pics. Good work doctor..

[wingnut]

[futurevr4man]

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

looks nice. That engine may have been rebuilt. The bore is chamfered around the top like a lot of engine builders do to make the rings go in easier. not sure if the factory did that or not with your car.

[anyonebutme]

I think people blow MLS's need for smoothness out of proportion. You'd be surprised what an MLS gasket will seal. I think people who have blown gaskets for other reasons like tuning like to blame something....and the head not having perfectly spec RA is an easy target I think. Just helped someone replace a blown head gasket on a 3.0L V6 Honda engine that was badly overheated. Heads were quite warped honestly as I could see considerable light between each cylinder using a straight edge. Slapped it together with a factory MLS gasket after cleaning with an air powered die grinder with a scrub disk on it. Runs like a champ and perfect compression and leakdown numbers. The engine I put together in my Stealth has piss-poor RA smoothness, and if it was going to blow, it would have considering the abuse I put it through. People building BMW x50/52 engines are afflicted with this desire for mirror finish head and block surfaces, too, thinking that's the answer to solve their head gasket sealing issues when boosted or running crazy timing numbers on ultra-high compression race engines. I don't buy it. They always blow up anyways, lol.

[DocWalt]

looks nice. That engine may have been rebuilt. The bore is chamfered around the top like a lot of engine builders do to make the rings go in easier. not sure if the factory did that or not with your car.

Not sure, never looked into it. May need a rebuild in the future anyway, my dad's pretty sure it has a wrist pin on the way out. Has a rattle above 3,500 RPM that goes away as soon as I let off the gas. It's always done it, and no metal in the oil. Meh.

I think people blow MLS's need for smoothness out of proportion. You'd be surprised what an MLS gasket will seal. I think people who have blown gaskets for other reasons like tuning like to blame something....and the head not having perfectly spec RA is an easy target I think. Just helped someone replace a blown head gasket on a 3.0L V6 Honda engine that was badly overheated. Heads were quite warped honestly as I could see considerable light between each cylinder using a straight edge. Slapped it together with a factory MLS gasket after cleaning with an air powered die grinder with a scrub disk on it. Runs like a champ and perfect compression and leakdown numbers. The engine I put together in my Stealth has piss-poor RA smoothness, and if it was going to blow, it would have considering the abuse I put it through. People building BMW x50/52 engines are afflicted with this desire for mirror finish head and block surfaces, too, thinking that's the answer to solve their head gasket sealing issues when boosted or running crazy timing numbers on ultra-high compression race engines. I don't buy it. They always blow up anyways, lol.

Interesting. If I ever do the full rebuild I'll have the block and head smoothed and try the MLS gasket and see how it goes. VW people haven't had too many issues with the MLS gasket, but most people that bother with the MLS gasket are doing a built engine, so who knows.