Started on the top end tear down - new head gasket w o-ringed block

[Sniz]

Hey guys,
my MLS from the original TT stg II kit seemed to let go somewhere in the cyl 5 or 6 area...not sure yet, we'll see.

I'm going to keep this thread active to post questions etc on my progress, i'm sure I'll have many!

Started tonight on the tear down and made some pretty good progress! This is starting to get more routine on this car for me which is nice. I'm about to venture into new territory for me so this will get interesting.

Using my little waterprooof digi instead of my big Nikon so the pics are not nearly as clear , I'll bring the Nikon for the next work session.

Exhaust manifold, turbo, and downpipe w/ wastegate are out. as you can see the car has leaking/weeping oil pan gasket and rear main seal. Both will be addressed before the car is back on the road. Also going to pull the tranny and rebuild the shift pins, I believe they are causing the tranny to feel really sloppy while in gear.



exhaust mani

dont see any leaks on these gaskets but the damned wastegate pipe is leaking again. I'll have both flanges decked when the head is decked to assure a clean/flat surface.



Turbo is out



Coolant leaking at cyl 6



getting ready for the top end tear down....best work light ever



Valve cover is off, things look good up here to me but i'm no expert. No sludge or metal shavings. There is a little wear on the cam lobes but doesnt look bad to me for 86k miles....what do you think??







s52 intake mani is off thank god, what a mess!!!



Intake on cyl 5 and 6



cyl 6

some sludge from excessive turbo oil blow by....blown seals ftl



where I left it for tonight, vanos cover ready to come off and timing going to be locked in....this is where the new territory starts for me

[HKWe36]

I hope all goes well! Can't wait to see videos of it back on the road!!!

[futureroadracer]

Nice! Glad to see you are getting around to sealing her up and making big power! So you are going to o-ring the block? Did you ever try re-torquing the head studs?
Good luck!

[BadBoostedBmwM3]

Very good start matt!!! I hope everything goes well. Just remember to label all the bolts in little individual baggies. It will make everything go back together easier.

[Sniz]

I hope all goes well! Can't wait to see videos of it back on the road!!!

thanks! me too

Nice! Glad to see you are getting around to sealing here up and making big power! So you are going to o-ring the block? Did you ever try re-torquing the head studs?
Good luck!

I did not try re-torquing the head studs, if that is the problem i'm going to kick myself in the nuts....twice

I want the upgraded head studs and 0-ring in there anyway. Yup going to o-ring the block.

Very good start matt!!! I hope everything goes well. Just remember to label all the bolts in little individual baggies. It will make everything go back together easier.

each bag has a little inventory written on it

labeling all the connectors and hoses i'm pulling off w painters tape too

[milKt]

Uncharted territory is exciting.
Fearless... and photographing.

[BadBoostedBmwM3]

thanks! me too



I did not try re-torquing the head studs, if that is the problem i'm going to kick myself in the nuts....twice

I want the upgraded head studs and 0-ring in there anyway. Yup going to o-ring the block.



each bag has a little inventory written on it

labeling all the connectors and hoses i'm pulling off w painters tape too

You are on top of it then, Matt!!!

[Sniz]

Uncharted territory is exciting.
Fearless... and photographing.

that way you all can tell me i'm an idiot when i do something wrong

helps me not do it again

[SiGmA]

Good progress Matt. Do you have a copy of TIS, or the TIS articles for head and VANOS R&R? If not, shoot me your email address via PM and you'll have them when I get home from school. Its way better than any of the guides online.. The M3 Forum Vanos guide tells you that the motor rotates CCW, and Pelican Parts forgets to tell the reader to verify timing. Costly errors.

Let me know how the shift pin repair goes, tho I might end up doing mine first if things go quickly for me. Doubtful that I'll have it done before the end of next month tho.

Good luck sir!

[milKt]

that way you all can tell me i'm an idiot when i do something wrong

helps me not do it again

We won't need to
because the visual trail
will allow you to see where you were
and whats next
(or was supposed to go next.)

[boosted 528]

Glad your doing this write up sniz as i need to see it done so I can do mine. Take as many pics as possible.Good luck on your road to success.

Good progress Matt. Do you have a copy of TIS, or the TIS articles for head and VANOS R&R? If not, shoot me your email address via PM and you'll have them when I get home from school. Its way better than any of the guides online.. The M3 Forum Vanos guide tells you that the motor rotates CCW, and Pelican Parts forgets to tell the reader to verify timing. Costly errors.

Let me know how the shift pin repair goes, tho I might end up doing mine first if things go quickly for me. Doubtful that I'll have it done before the end of next month tho.

Good luck sir!

Hey do you think you can shoot me a copy of that same Tis?

[badluckM3]

So you're sending your turbo to Forced Performance for the HTA GT3586R rebuild while it's off the car, right?!?!?

Good luck with everything, she'll be right with that new gasket and oring.

[futureroadracer]

Lol!

so you're sending your turbo to forced performance for the hta gt3586r rebuild while it's off the car, right?!?!?

good luck with everything, she'll be right with that new gasket and oring.

[Sniz]

So you're sending your turbo to Forced Performance for the HTA GT3586R rebuild while it's off the car, right?!?!?

Good luck with everything, she'll be right with that new gasket and oring.

Lol!

dont think it hasnt crossed my mind

[badluckM3]

dont think it hasnt crossed my mind

That's my Stg2 right there. I haven't had anything catastrophic like what you're experiencing to push me to do it yet though.

DO IT!!!

[Sniz]

That's my Stg2 right there. I haven't had anything catastrophic like what you're experiencing to push me to do it yet though.

DO IT!!!

I need new seals put in my 35r before it goes back in, if the cost of the HTA w seals isnt outrageous vs just the seals I may just move forward. I'll report back.


an HTA 35r w meth and proper tune would fantastic I think.

[GG///M3]

I need new seals put in my 35r before it goes back in, if the cost of the HTA w seals isnt outrageous vs just the seals I may just move forward. I'll report back.


an HTA 35r w meth and proper tune would fantastic I think.

I would do whatever gets your car back on the road faster.

[badluckM3]

I need new seals put in my 35r before it goes back in, if the cost of the HTA w seals isnt outrageous vs just the seals I may just move forward. I'll report back.

an HTA 35r w meth and proper tune would fantastic I think.

Just a little more food for thought, I emailed Forced Performance a few months ago to inquire about the 2 upgrade paths they have for the 35R. Here's their response to the differences:

The HTA 82 upgrade and 86 HTA upgrade for the 35r both upgrade the compressor (cold side) wheel and compressor housing of your current turbo.
The turbine wheel and housing are left alone.

The 82 HTA is similarly sized to the stock compressor wheel but offers faster spool than the stock counterpart while providing an additional 50-70 hp over the stock wheel at higher pressure ratios.

The 86 HTA offers slightly slower spool than the stock wheel but provides an additional 125-150 hp over the stock turbo at higher pressure ratios.

And I think the upgrade is in the ~$600 range.

[Sniz]

Just a little more food for thought, I emailed Forced Performance a few months ago to inquire about the 2 upgrade paths they have for the 35R. Here's their response to the differences:


And I think the upgrade is in the ~$600 range.

I wonder what they consider higher pressure ratios. I doubt I'll be pushing over 18-20psi so if it does not give you a gain in that range it wont be worth it for me.

I would do whatever gets your car back on the road faster.

agreed, but since i'm doing the oil pan and pulling the tranny to do some work on it the car will be on the lift for at least several weeks. I'm doing all the work myself on my free time, which is very limited these days

[wushucivic]

good to see that you're finnally getting a chance to take care of this stuff. have you thought of swapping in a M50 manifold while you have the S52 one off?

[sirzepp]

I vote for DI mani...

[black bnr32]

I'm doing all the work myself on my free time

One of my fav things about this forum...it inspires guys like me to take on projects outside their comfort zone.

[SiGmA]

Hey do you think you can shoot me a copy of that same Tis?

PM me your email address.

I need new seals put in my 35r before it goes back in, if the cost of the HTA w seals isnt outrageous vs just the seals I may just move forward. I'll report back.


an HTA 35r w meth and proper tune would fantastic I think.

Wait, I thought you already got your turbo rebuilt?

agreed, but since i'm doing the oil pan and pulling the tranny to do some work on it the car will be on the lift for at least several weeks. I'm doing all the work myself on my free time, which is very limited these days

Hang tight. You're dropping the tranny, oil pan, and head? You could have had the motor out, trans off, and motor on the stand in the amount of time it took to pull the turbo and intake manifold in car! Plus it would be worlds easier to oring out of car.

[badluckM3]

You're dropping the tranny, oil pan, and head? You could have had the motor out, trans off, and motor on the stand in the amount of time it took to pull the turbo and intake manifold in car! Plus it would be worlds easier to oring out of car.

Not to mention you have access to a lift I see in pics, and dropping everything from the bottom is even faster.

[SiGmA]

Not to mention you have access to a lift I see in pics, and dropping everything from the bottom is even faster.

Good point. Tho on stands removing a motor is under 4 hours. On a lift its around 2-3 if you aren't rushing it.