heh kegs

"Even gave it subaru upper engine cleaner."

It almost has to be an N/A bottom end. I had a fresh 8.5:1 comp ratio FJ20 that had 165psi over all four.

Someone must know of a definitive way to tell a turbo block from the outside. If not I think only the DET's had oil squirters on the pistons.

Also is there any evidence of tampering with the oil feed for the turbo as well as the water return?

It's going ok, however I'm beginning to think that the less you know the better!

I've got the head off waiting to send it away on monday to get ground and pressure tested. It looks like the gasket was slowly disintegrating between the water gallery on the exhaust side of cylinder 1 and the outside of the block. There is no signs of water in oil or vice versa which is a good thing in terms of preserving the bottom end.

BUT I've discovered a light scoring mark in cylinder number 4 which could mean a few things; cracked ring, cracked ring land or cracked piston skirt. Or what I'm hoping is that something foreign went through the motor and left it's mark!

Either way it's not getting fixed as I've got 3 weeks before racing at PI and no chance of a bottom end reco before then. Atleast I know now to plan for a full reco in the near future.

On a positive note I found I stuck an incorrect exhaust gasket on it when I last had the turbo off which was covering about 1/3 of the port
That will atleast be worth a few hp when I put the correct gasket on.

Has anybody successfully changed the headgasket on their CA in the engine bay of a 1200 before?

I know it could be done but there is so much stuff you need to pull off that I'm starting to think I should have just pulled the motor and done it on an engine stand.

How much stuff have other people stripped off their heads to get it off?

Did you use new head bolts?

Rallytwit

All the advice I get is that really should get the head skimmed before it goes back on. When you say check for warping, how much warping is too much and what tool would you use to check it?

I am leaning towards the whole head reco but am a little bit tempted by the quick fix....

yeah it's actually a good deal even if you aren't after the instruction. Particularly if you're just getting into motorsport because they don't ask you to have cams licenses or club membership.

It cost $225 for the day, there was only about 35 cars there in 3 groups going out in 20 minute sessions. Each group had 5 sessions I think and there was also a passenger session. Plus you can get instruction if you like for free!


It's registered and doesn't have a cage but is more of a race car. I rarely drive it on the street.

Heh do I detect a little "he should be going faster than that?" . I didn't get any instruction because the car wasn't stopping so figured there wouldn't be much point if the car was going to be consistent.

It's my 1200 sedan with CA18 turbo.

It's got about 140rwkw

Yeah I'll reco them myself.

I would stick on the skyline brakes but I think what I have should pull the car up well enough when it's all working.

Also I'm fairly certain I'm going to have my hands full doing this headgasket and brake thing before the PI 6 hour at the end of the month.

It'd be great to be still at uni and have all the time in the world for these things, but then of course I couldn't afford to do any of it!

So when is the PIGDOG mobile going to hit the track? That thing should be pretty much up to the task now aye?

G'day guys,

Just needed to vent a little about my day at sandown yesterday. I was there for an advanced driver training day and was hoping to get a few tips from the instructors. I figured I'd do the first session or two on my own to see how the car was going etc.

First session went ok, new tyres and swaybars have made a massive improvement to grip but brakes were average.

In the second session things were still ok but brakes were getting worse with the brake pedal on the floor.

I raised the car to have a look at the brakes and found one seized piston in the landcruiser calipers. That explained the bad pedal because it was causing the pads to wear unevenly.

I was tossing up whether to go out for another session and just try and get some feel for the suspension for further adjustment and I was poking around the engine bay and discovered a small trickle of coolant down the side of the block.

Looks like a friggen blown head gasket. There's less than 4 weeks till the PI 6 hour race so it looks like it'll be yet another race to the line.

I hate cars

On the plus side I did a 1:31 with #### brakes and never pushing too hard so once the issues are sorted I'm sure it'll drop into the 29's.

Cam covers or timing gear cover?