123quattro

Glad it all went well. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help when you go to screw it back together.

AO

I haven't made any decisions yet, but I'm leaning to staying with stock HG for now. Using a thicker HG to reduce CR just seems a bit unpredictable.

My assumption is the HG failed, but I still need to confirm that the head isn't warped. I also need to confirm that i didn't balloon the cylinder. There appears to be a slight deformity in the old HG (see the pic where I'm pointing). Not sure if this is what caused the leak or not, but it seems pretty suspect. Overall the gasket is in pretty rough shape after 135k miles. I think a stock HG would probably be fine for at least another 100+ miles with the boost.

I might consider some slight mods to help reduce potential future issues, but I need to weight the cost/benefits.

pearlpower

Gasket actually appears to be in pretty decent shape minus the holes for a car with 135k miles. I have seen much worse. Nice to have an army around to help pull a motor which is generally the best way to approach this. Looks good. Thanks for sharing.

Crisis

Tim Horton's? You've got Tim's in Michigan?

All U.S. citizens beware!!! Tim Horton's are a plague that will quickly take over the entire country. Their are about 2,800 locations in Canada. There drive-thru line-ups regularly block traffic at almost every location. I don't know what the addictive additive is that is used in the coffee, but I do know that half the hosers in Canada can't function without a Tim's in the morning. The donuts also help keep us the most obese country in the world.

Just my Public Service Announcement for the day.

ps: Good work on the engine removal.

Big Dave

For comparison, here's my HG when I pulled it after 119K miles. No deformities or holes. IMO, I thought Andrew's gasket looked pretty bad. It was flaking and falling apart.

pearlpower

Looking forward to it!

Vlocity

Andrew:

Looks like you had a very talented crew.... did you ever determine with 100% certainty what was causing the high knock count? I'd hate to see you go to all of this work and still have an issue.

Best luck,

Ken

the flyin' scotsman

Good work Andrew.............you've certainly found the problem.

Now time to get her back on the road or an extensive full rebuild...........large decisions.

Didn't realise Tim Hortons had reached the US; explains the $$$

Courtshark

Now would be a great time to add headers...

Not sure a stock HG can go 100K on a boosted motor. Stock HG's don't last that long on super-boosted Saabs, unless they're running water injection. I would assume the same would be true for Porsches. Trying to remember which SC you have... air/water exchange IC?

Imo000

It's a little hard to tell but dose it say Victor Reinz on the HG? I fit does , they are not the original gaskets.

69gaugeman

Ya, they are right near Windsor and were the first to get them when Wendy's bought them. Been at least 4 years in Detroit area.

Cliff Ruckstuhl

I had a great time and am looking forward to the re-install. Thanks for a fun time Andrew

Cliff 87 S4 Murf # 44

Vilhuer

Arey you sure? Victor Reinz is OEM AFAIK.

AO

I took a quick look this morning and it says AFM REINZ. I have the entire history ont he vehicle and there is no report of the engine ever having been removed.

drnick

andrew, what are the options for headgasket replacement - apart from a stock oem part?