Alex's V8 90QS : Cutting the cylinders in half

[ur20v]

Two questions: What Griffin radiator is in the car? I thought I read long ago that it was a WRX radiator that seemed to fit well and had the inlet/outlet oriented correctly, but I'm not 100% on that.

Second, want to sell those B3 dual rounds? I have a brand new pair of B4 Depo e-codes I could throw in the deal

[alxdgr8]

Two questions: What Griffin radiator is in the car? I thought I read long ago that it was a WRX radiator that seemed to fit well and had the inlet/outlet oriented correctly, but I'm not 100% on that.

Second, want to sell those B3 dual rounds? I have a brand new pair of B4 Depo e-codes I could throw in the deal

Universal Griffin from Summit, p/n 1-26221-X.
Dual rounds aren't for sale unless you've got some B4 dual rounds

[ur20v]

Another volley of questions... what kind of radiator cap are you using with the Griffin radiator? Is it pressurized or non? What kind of radiator fan switch? I've ordered the radiator, it will be here Friday, but looking at the specs now I don't see any mention of the size or thread pitch of the bung even though there appears to be a bung welded on the left tank. I'm going to guess that the big M22x1.5 VAG fan switches don't thread in!

[alxdgr8]

Another volley of questions... what kind of radiator cap are you using with the Griffin radiator? Is it pressurized or non? What kind of radiator fan switch? I've ordered the radiator, it will be here Friday, but looking at the specs now I don't see any mention of the size or thread pitch of the bung even though there appears to be a bung welded on the left tank. I'm going to guess that the big M22x1.5 VAG fan switches don't thread in!

I am using a pressurized summit cap, but I forget the rating. I believe I put it as the same or slighly higher than the expansion tank cap. I'm also just using the my IIc ECU to control the fan via the temp sensor in the head.

I plan on getting one of these and running a dedicated fan controller at some point. I'll probably redo the cooling system again as I need to try and fit an IC in there for future plans.

http://store.42draftdesigns.com/VW-Univ ... p_200.html

[ur20v]

Well, got the radiator today, very nice piece, save for one tiny detail... NO MOUNTING PROVISIONS! Not a single one anywhere... not on the tanks, not along the bottom, not on top, nothing. Its extremely irritating, especially after seeing this in the catalog description on the Griffin website: "Provisions for Flange, Cradle, Pin and Foot Mounting"

[alxdgr8]

Yeah, I think mine just has two post holes in the endtanks (maybe). Mine came with a free cradle mount kit, but I made my own. I originally alumi-welded some arms off the end tanks for mounting but then went to a cradle mount so I could angle the radiator mounting.

[alxdgr8]

Received work back from 034 that my ECU tested fine :( Time to rebuild my harness I guess.

[chaloux]

Woohoo!

[alxdgr8]

Thanks to Marc at EFI Express, I now have VEMS!
Ordered a VEMS ECU with bluetooth adapter, display, and one of Marc's "generic" harnesses for me to finish off.

[pilihp2]

Hell yeah!

[chaloux]

Smart move.

[alxdgr8]

I bought a couple Christmas presents for myself since I was such a good kid this year....or there was a really good deal on them. I've been watching these for a while and I couldn't pass up the sale they had.
Picked up an Eastwood TIG welder and 40A plasma cutter. Still need to get an argon tank for the TIG, but the plasma works great! These will help greatly for future projects.





I was gone a few weeks for the holidays and then got sick so I haven't had time to mess with VEMS much. Still working on labeling all the connections I need to terminate and understand the harness/ECU. This is what my dining room table looks like

[audifreakjim]

Damn H1N1, I have it too. How much did you pay for the combo? I have been wanting to get a TIG welder for a long time, and it seems like a capable little unit. Looks like $1219 on the website now, did you get a better deal? Pretty much everything you just posted is on my to do list this year, lol.

[alxdgr8]

Damn H1N1, I have it too. How much did you pay for the combo? I have been wanting to get a TIG welder for a long time, and it seems like a capable little unit. Looks like $1219 on the website now, did you get a better deal? Pretty much everything you just posted is on my to do list this year, lol.

They had it for $999 + ~$40 shipping right before Christmas. The lowest I've seen just the welder go is $799. 3 year warranty on both!

[Mcstiff]

Damn H1N1, I have it too. How much did you pay for the combo? I have been wanting to get a TIG welder for a long time, and it seems like a capable little unit. Looks like $1219 on the website now, did you get a better deal? Pretty much everything you just posted is on my to do list this year, lol.

VEMS for Jimmy

[audifreakjim]

Wow that is a good deal. I will have to keep an eye on these. I think VEMS is inevitable, I just need to wrap it into another "while you are in there project" Sorry for the thread jack.

[Grillage]

Alex,

Forgive the barrage of questions but I am thinking about a similar swap. Just got a 93 V8 with a healthy engine and lots of other problems and I have been thinking of installing the ABH into my cabriolet. Your car has (or had) the stock V6 engine mounts right? Did the PO fabricate the brackets to connect to the ABH or are they interchangeable?

[alxdgr8]

Alex,

Forgive the barrage of questions but I am thinking about a similar swap. Just got a 93 V8 with a healthy engine and lots of other problems and I have been thinking of installing the ABH into my cabriolet. Your car has (or had) the stock V6 engine mounts right? Did the PO fabricate the brackets to connect to the ABH or are they interchangeable?

Stock V6 engine mounts on the chassis side with custom brackets to the V8 on the engine.
Here's a picture of the driver's side:

[Grillage]

Thanks. I may need to fab those at some point.

[alxdgr8]

Not really any new progress, have been busy with life. Still working on finishing the engine harness so I can install VEMS. Not sure if it'll make it to the BBQ. I just moved the cars over to my new rental house. About 1800sqft of living space and TWO garages! Normal 2-car is a 24'x22' and then there is a 'RV' garage that's 15'x45' with a mezzanine for more storage over one end. Still have to move the rest of my stuff over the next few weeks, then I can start organizing and hopefully get the VEMS installed and start tuning.

Lots of parking, even more covered storage on the side of the house.


The 'normal' garage. This will house the Touareg and Merc, or a roommate's car if they opt to rent a spot in the garage.


The 'RV' garage.


Workshop section


Lots of room...it'll get filled up quick!

[alxdgr8]

Oh, and those stairs lead to the master bedroom and bath
For those late nights when I can't sleep I don't have to walk far.

[scubagli]

Nice score, wish I had that sort of work space/storage!

[lorge1989]

That RV garage looks amazing. Get a lift in there pronto!

[PRY4SNO]

That RV garage looks amazing. Get a lift in there pronto!

This!

[alxdgr8]

That RV garage looks amazing. Get a lift in there pronto!

Already thinking that! Gotta talk with the landlord and see if he doesn't mind me putting in some anchors.