Well where were we? So, I have just taken off the head to get the broken studs removed. Then I placed a call to Collin at TT to ask about cam upgrades, this is where things changed in a big way. So, we were talking about cams and what I wanted to do and then Collin says, “ Why don’t you just put in a 2-liter?” Then I ask, “Where do I get one from?” Collin then goes on to tell me what car’s engines I can use, what fuel injection and ignition mods I needed, which cam to use, and all the goodies I would need. We chatted a little more and then said good-bye. The next move I made was to call around to the local junkyards to see if I could find an engine and what it would cost. One of the yards foolishly quoted me $500 for a complete Audi 80 engine. My mind started working, my eyes started to blur, the room started to spin, and I blurted out “I’ll take it!” If I were to look back, this is the moment when my life changed, three little words that started the next chapter of this epic journey.

Well, the next step was to find a truck to transport the engine to my shop. Got that taken care of by begging a friend and promising all kinds of things I couldn’t deliver. When I got to the junkyard I was surprised to find that the junkyard guys had left all the manifolds and the bolt on stuff attached to the block. They had just pulled it out of the car and dumped it on the ground. This was great, now I didn’t have to source all the bolt on stuff, it came with it. Then I found out why junkyard guys are junkyard guys. The engine is sitting on the ground and these two guys just walked up to it and lifted it into the truck like it was nothing. That was something I knew my friends and myself was not going to do when it came time to take the engine out of the truck.

So, we got back to the shop and put the engine on the stand. I then took a step back and admired my new toy. Then the real work began. I completely disassembled the engine down to the bare block and surgically cleaned everything, bagged and labeled all the parts, and put the head and block along with everything needed by my machinist in the Jeep and headed off with a big smile on my face. The next time I was to talk to Paul he was going to tell me my engine was done and I should pick it up.

The phone call I actually got from Paul was not to tell me all was well. What he did tell me was the bores were ovaled too much and he thought it was best if I went to the next piston size, bored out the block, and got everything back to square one. No problem I thought. I’ll just get on the phone and order a new set of pistons. Well, the first place I called said fine they would get a set from Germany and send them out to me. Took a deposit and everything. Called them four weeks later to have them tell me they could not get me my pistons. Not the good news that I was looking for! What should I do next I asked myself? Get on the phone to Colin at TT I thought, after all he was the one who talked me into this whole idea. So the next day at work I got him on the phone and asked what should we do. He said he would make some calls and let me know.

The next time I talked to Colin he did not have good news. When he called Germany they told him there were none on the shelf and my piston was not scheduled to be cast for six months. SIX MONTHS! This was not the news that I wanted to hear. Well my butt was over the proverbial barrel so to speak, so I told him to order them and call me when they came in. We will pick up the story seven months from now. Yes, seven months.
Till next time,

Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

Installment 1

Installment 2

Installment 3

Installment 4