My 1992 GTI

[DocWalt]

I'd struggle to call it a love affair, haha.

I'd only driven my brother's Golf before this, which was a lot of fun, even on worn out old suspension or when he slammed it on the ground. The GTI takes a nice middle ground and makes it hilariously good fun. It's flickable, and easy to handle with great feedback. It understeers less than the Evo or VR-4 ever did, which is fun. Turn into a highway loop ramp and roll off of the gas and the rear will come around nice and smooth and roll back on the power and the rear drops right back in line. Really well sorted car, can't wait to auto-x or HPDE.

I'm planning on going to NG this year

[DocWalt]

Since the car's down I tore apart the heater box and repaired the blend doors. I have blistering heat now, woot.

[DocWalt]

1.8 16V head with Autotech Sport Cams. All cleaned up and ready to drop on. Got a new oil cooler, and a bunch of other bits to go on at the same time. Going to clean up the intake manifold and valve cover and paint them up, they should look fantastic. Can't wait for this weekend!

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

I'm not sure I would've been comfortable taking a rotary sander to an aluminum head, although I did use one on my iron block.

You are not using MLS gaskets, are you?

[DocWalt]

Um, no rotary sander involved. That was milled by a machine shop. Yes, using an MLS gasket.

The PO installed it, cranked it over and broke the rings in and then installed a P&P'd head with more aggressive cams. I cleaned off the intake gasket material that was on it, and wiped off the composite head gasket stuff with lacquer thinner, and a paper towel.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

uh it is obvious by the marks on the upper side that some type of rotary sander was used. Whether this was used to remove gasket material or whatever, it can put waves in the head, but whatever.

It looks EXACTLY like if I clean something up with a scotchbrite disk on my die grinder.

[FeaRpb]

I can kind of see it also, you can make out the motion in which the person was using it. Or maybe I have no idea what I am talking about..

[DocWalt]

Ok, well I have no idea why it looks like that either, but it came from a reputable shop like that. Those marks were under the bits of head gasket left over from the PO, and he had no issues (albeit with a composite gasket). If I have an issue with the MLS gasket sealing, I'll use a composite gasket. If that's an issue I'll have it decked again or build another head... I'm not too worried about it, but I'll check it with a metal straightedge and some feeler gauges.

Keep in mind guys, that was taken with a cell phone camera with the flash on, and everything is extremely exaggerated in the picture.

[DocWalt]

Eh, fuck it. Read some more about how picky MLS gaskets are... I ordered an OEM gasket, I'll use that. Thanks for looking out guys.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

sure I wasn't trying to bust balls