[T3] cracked block

[Keith Park]

Hal,

Thanks for the ideas, although this is a winter car for me so keeping things
as simple as possible is my goal, do the A3 blocks have all the same mounts
on them for the bracketry?  I really don't want to get into changing heads
anyway...

With everyone's ideas I think I have something to try for a repair anyway,
with the flexable epoxy's and a stainless plate fastened by MAGNETS.  I was
in one of the scanners at work the other day putting an access plate back on
and sitting there in 30,000 gauss something popped into my mind...
rare-earth magnets! Why not?  4 of them should be more than enough to hold
and no drilling or tapping!

Keith


Top Notch Restorations
topnotch at nycap.rr.com 
http://www.a383ina68.addr.com/radiorest/main.htm
71 Squareback "Hothe"
65 Notchback "El Baja Rojo"
65 Squareback "Eggcrate"
87 golf "Winterat"
93 RX7 "Redstur"


-----Original Message-----
From: Hal Sullivan [mailto:howlingmokister at gmail.com] On Behalf Of Hal
Sullivan
Sent: Thursday, December 26, 2013 11:21 PM
To: topnotch at nycap.rr.com
Subject: Re: [T3] cracked block

On 12/24/2013 04:26 PM, Keith Park wrote:
> Ill keep this in mind, Im looking at several options to changing out the
> engine so I may be able to save it yet.  With the VOC regulations we don't
> get much in the way of good glues up here anymore but I do have a buddy
that
> owns a marine store.  In the spring I can get the timing belt off there
and
> really clean things up and see how much of it is really thin.
Longer term, look for a '93-'99 2.0L ABA block to swap in under the 1.8L 
head .. should be more available since it's a newer engine. Get the 
Techtonics distributor adapter kit, don't bother with their breather 
blockoff kit -- make your own plate & get a 40MM freeze plug.  Stack two 
ABA head gaskets to lower the compression (unless you've got 
knock-sensing ignition, then use only one), use new head bolts and the 
ABA timing belt.  It bolts together like stock, goes in with stock 
hoses/gaskets/mounts, and looks stock when you're done -- plenty of 
people have gotten them past California's Smog Gestapo.

If you've got all teh parts & tools (10MM XZN triple-square for the head 
bolts!) ahead of time and an indoor working space, you could potentially 
have it done in a weekend .. or less if you don't take time to clean 
everything as you go.

And lest you freak out on the stacked head gaskets, I've been running an 
engine like that daily for the last 18 months, including multiple 300+ 
mile highway trips .. no problems. =D