Steep learning curve

Took an absolute mission but blocks cleaned up ready for inspection

Looking good mate

Morning all, loads came from the postman and couriers yest, including a valve removal tool and a laser straight edge. The straight edge was a great buy. It’s an tech vw tool and I got 15% off.
It’s nice and heavy, so you can lay it flat with no hands potentially messing up your take offs.
I went along several times taking measurements with my lamp facing the other side of it. I couldn’t get a 0.05 feeler in anywhere. It seems dead flat.
With that good news, I pulled the valves and stem seals.
Note - there wasn’t a nice click or any notification to tell me stem seals were seated perfectly. However, they are in extremely tight - if I had the grip strength I could pick the head up by them I reckon! @jamesmartin any thoughts on the seals?

seals harden with heat and age,its quite common,squeezing around then rocking the seal with pliers usually does it

jamesmartin said:

seals harden with heat and age,its quite common,squeezing around then rocking the seal with pliers usually does it

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sorry that wasn’t so clear - I got the old seals out like you said but guides don’t have notches which I was expecting. My new seals are in but there’s was no nice little ‘Click’ to confirm. The new seals are in ridiculously tight but it left me wondering how I confirm. As long as they are tight are we good? They’re bearmach and seem very good quality

i tap them on with a suitable socket ie resting on outer metal lip ,they are a tin cap thats held by been tight

Cheers I’ll give em a tap just so I hear dead

Angle gauge turned up today so thought I’d get ready to put head back on. Half way through valve installations but tired after a long brain workout earlier!
Fresh stem seals fitted

Any ideas here gents? I’ve already got injector washers sat ready to go. Only one I know for sure out of these is cyclone o ring. Do glow plugs not have washers? @jamesmartin

glow dont have a washer they are a taper seat

Ok thanks. I think big crush washer is for temp sender, I’ve got 6 crush and 4 flat remaining in the decoke set

What an awesome thread just spent last 2 days reading this thread on and off as chucking down with rain here, your chassis and body looked in a lot better condition than mine before you started!! Just shows with a bit of love and determination anything can be achieved

Thank you! Yes I’m a stubborn prick at the best of times. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve nearly quit a lot of times. Constantly buying and burning without even getting to drive it starts to wear thin. The untrained eye wouldn’t be able to tell the difference from where I started to now either lol.
The chassis was worst bit for me and I wouldn’t do another. I’d have bought a doner and built from the two. Didn’t have space etc with old job.
It also seems instead of buying nice stuff for my cars I’m just always buying replacement components that are dead.
I’ve pulled my back in a big way so laid up right now. I’m going to phone docs if I can’t get free today. I could do with some benzos to be honest but I really don’t like taking them and I like them too much

Not so good at being laid up. I have the space for a donor vehicle but not the funds joy of living on a 5 acre small holding and being furloughed just ****ed off weather is so bad at the minute chassis welding doesn't phase me it's the body that is going to be the struggle for me as its so bad no boot floor arches middle seats there not much floor and we'll inner wings luckily other half bought me complete inner wings from froggats for Xmas currently sat in our bedroom

Lol I have a complete inner wing to go on too

Back is free and I’m stupid and couldn’t resist. What the **** is wrong with just saying torque to say 140nm rather than, do 40, then go round and do 60, then go round and do 60 again, then go round and do your long ones 20. I couldn’t even get an angle gauge into the rear so guessed it as one corner turn. Not very happy it’s accurate at all. Bloody hope it holds.

so head is clamped evenly

jamesmartin said:

so head is clamped evenly

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I get that but why not go 40, 40, 40 rather than the angle gauge? I could get at all bolts with angle gauge bar the very back ones. Hopefully my toughness at the back bolts will be ok

resto_d1 said:

I get that but why not go 40, 40, 40 rather than the angle gauge? I could get at all bolts with angle gauge bar the very back ones. Hopefully my toughness at the back bolts will be ok

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angle is more accurate than torque and your clamping it all down equally as near as you can,not one area fully whilst nothing on the rest
40 nm torque wrench done twice as center will be loose after tightening the outers
60 degrees is just one flat so a felt tip pen is all you need