Thread update! Can’t believe it’s been nearly a year since we bought the R32. To re-cap No.1 son has been banging on about getting a VR6 for a loooong looong time and we monitored eBay etc for engines. Last august an R32 from a Mk1 TT popped up at a very reasonable price with all ancillaries. It was only a couple of miles from us too so we swooped and ended up with a TT BHE R32 with a spare ECU, engine stand and hoist, all delivered for the princely sum of £680! An absolute bargain! Since then we have been collecting parts. @dodgy Dave sourced us a MK3 VR6 gearbox which we have had rebuilt and a Quaife LSD fitted. All done by Helical Gearboxes in Brockley, great service. Then a lick of paint.
Before all the above happened though we wanted to be sure the bores of the engine were ok so we whipped the head off and had it inspected by a well respected engine builder Aaron at HT Racing near Brands Hatch. He was very impressed with the condition of the engine and so after we sourced new head bolts, timing chains and head gasket he put it all back together for us. He skimmed the head too which apparently needed 0.007 inch skimmed. He said that was a fair bit. Valves had to be removed to do this as they protrude above the head surface. Anyway that another job ticked off the list. We have a very long list of bits to buy but we are getting there. We now have a Trackslag down pipe which is good. @Toyotec has worked his magic on the ECU and we are just waiting for James E Looms to finish converting the loom for us. Conversion is scheduled for September all being well.
More goodies arrived today. I discussed the merits of cable or hydraulic clutch with Dave @dodgy and, against his better judgement (sorry ) went with hydraulic. I like the idea of it being a kit and bolt in. It must be because I’m getting old and worry about time The kit and FBW accelerator pedal bracket are from Retrofication who seem to be the cheapest at the moment. The brackets needed some edge filing prior to paint which is currently underway. As mentioned before, gratuitous pic of Trackslag downpipe
Another part arrived from TT spares. PAS pump for the R32 which we were missing. Another items ticked of the list.
Shortly after installation of the R32 I noticed this. The gearbox mount was exuding some nasty gungy stuff. I consulted the oracle @dodgy and apparently it’s a hydro mount which has burst. It needed replacing. I thought it might need the subframe dropping, or worse, because the bottom bolt on the mount connected to the box is way too long to remove with the subframe tower being in the way. After some careful mulling over I had a thought…… If the top two bolts could be undone and the bottom one loosened the mount might flip over backwards allowing the rubber mount to be removed. Sho ‘nuff…. New mount. Metal mount flipped up New mount installed. The only thing I can’t figure is why there is a slight gap between the plate and the mount, there isn’t at the back. Maybe it will settle into place?
Found out about hydro mounts when chopped the one on mates mk3 apart, not my best move. Could the bracket be held up slightly at the front if it's sitting on one of the captive nut tangs that poke up slightly @PhilRyder ? Maybe loosen everything, wiggle (engine, not yer booty, well if it helps try both) and see if it locates better then tighten back up.
Tried that, wiggl3d it, did the bolts up in different orders, measured stuff, still went back the same
Nope, same as original. They are in the hole. Could be. I could flip it round but I’m not too worried about it. It’s been out for drives since and there do not seem to be any issues.
Hi Phil, I have a question about the intake vacuum system. Did you have an air tank in the system anywhere or do you just have the vacuum lines and a solenoid? My 2.8 24v is missing the entire system so I’m starting from scratch. Thanks
Pretty sure the box that the solenoid plugs in to is some sort of "air tank". It only has one outlet which you can see bottom right.
Ah, I see. Ok, thanks Phil. I have another question, I don’t suppose you still have to old steering rack that you’d like to get rid of?
Crikey, I had a g60 with 230hp and that felt like too much for the car, so nearly 280 must be lively to say the least.
It drives really nicely. The only time you really notice any unruliness is under hard acceleration in low gears when you get some torque steer. The LSD does a very good job. It’s an astonishingly quick car now
