Losh's VR Ute build thread

[losh1971]

I have no doubt that which ever way you go you'll not be disappointed.
They both have advantages and minisous , just comes back to use and preferences

Boost would be nice for the torque gains. Ideally I'd get a Raptor but I'd need to find a SH kit. I can't justify $5k on my old ute. I think your right though that when I get the new heads on I will be pretty content. IIC I should gain the 15kw I'm chasing as it will restore some of the lost comp from being an old engine with unknown miles on it.
On another note I might have to start looking for another project next year that I can work on in my spare time. I'd look for a V8 though as it will increase in value a lot more than my V6 will. It would be something I think I'd park in my current shed that' way I can pull the engine and box at my leisure and have it over the pit to do it and not take up space in my new shed when it goes up later this year if all goes to plan.

 

[losh1971]

Quick update on the WP gasket. The engine is getting pretty cool now and no signs of weeping along top mating surfaces. I used grey RTV along with the new gasket. Hopefully I don't have to take the pump off again for a long time now. I noticed the thermo housing is also weeping but I didn't have a spare gasket so couldn't sort it. Head gasket kit will contain one so will probably leave it until the heads come off, unless I get bored and find a cheap gasket on the Repco site.

 

[losh1971]

Just noticed my front right tyre is getting quite bad IMHO, right on the very outer edge. I have booked it in to be looked at on Tuesday at My Car. A number of alignments have not been able to sort the issue. It's looking like I will be getting the tyre stripped and placed on the passenger side to get some more life out of it. If I keep letting it go I will need two new tyres before they are properly worn down on both front 's. Passenger side is still really good.

 

[shane_3800]

Just noticed my front right tyre is getting quite bad IMHO, right on the very outer edge. I have booked it in to be looked at on Tuesday at My Car. A number of alignments have not been able to sort the issue. It's looking like I will be getting the tyre stripped and placed on the passenger side to get some more life out of it. If I keep letting it go I will need two new tyres before they are properly worn down on both front 's. Passenger side is still really good.

Take it to a suspension specialist not pedders. Pedders are hit and miss around Australia but an independant has to be good otherwise they would go out of buisness.

 

[losh1971]

Take it to a suspension specialist not pedders. Pedders are hit and miss around Australia but an independant has to be good otherwise they would go out of buisness.

There are few options in Launceston is the problem. My Car is one of the better ones. The good sole propieter who was generally considered the best locally retired. Getting the ute anywhere else is the problem as I need to get to work and then try and pick up the ute afterwards.

 

[losh1971]

I have the heads in the ute box ready to drop off one day this week. I gave them a wash in the parts washer so they are fairly clean. Bloke said he can give me an estimate once the valves come out and get measured along with the seats and guides. Hopefully all of the above don't have much wear. If the heads are pretty good the cost will be a lot better than it will if they are worn out. Engine they came off is of unknown mileage. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately the engine is not original so could be good or could be worn out. I won't know though until late this week or maybe next.

 

[losh1971]

I dropped the spare heads off to the machine shop late this arvo. I have spoken to the engineer and he said porting on my bus will be a waste unless I go three stage cam. He said it could actually make the ute drive worse. I also found out the 10thou is a fair bit off the heads and that even 10 thou will increase comps a fair bit. He said that anymore and I could end up with issues re the LIM and port alignment.

I read a post today about welding up the lower ports and taking a bit out of the top of the port to help with flow. Engineer said that can't really be done on my heads, assuming because they are cast iron and not weldable, like alloy is?

The above has me wondering if 10 thou might be too much and cause some issues with oil burning due to raising comps on an engine of unknown mileage? I did ask if shaving 10 thou would make fitting a SC down the track a problem? He said if I run 98 I should be ok. He said E85 and I'd have no issues. Well only one, I'd have to buy it by the drum, if I could even source it, servos don't have it. Half or more don't even stock 98. So it would be proper Caltex or BP as my only options.

So basically I am looking at valve reshape, port clean up and a 10 thou skim and that will be about it. Bloke is going to give me an estimate before he proceeds. Hopefully if there is not a lot of wear I might come in around $300 a head. If that's the case I might even get the garage near work to slip on the new heads, save me messing around. It will all depend how much time I have and if I can take some annual leave, as I don't want to tackle this on a weekend and find needing parts, without transport until the following weekend and having to get parts sent by courier.

 

[gtrboyy]

Did you consider springs if you go boosted?

 

[losh1971]

Yeah springs are a definite. I think mine could be soft. He mentioned going a slightly stiffer one than stock but I don't think it would be needed, going by info posted by @delcowizzid ? Also not sure if stiffer springs would cause other problems?

 

[shane_3800]

I dropped the spare heads off to the machine shop late this arvo. I have spoken to the engineer and he said porting on my bus will be a waste unless I go three stage cam. He said it could actually make the ute drive worse. I also found out the 10thou is a fair bit off the heads and that even 10 thou will increase comps a fair bit. He said that anymore and I could end up with issues re the LIM and port alignment.

I read a post today about welding up the lower ports and taking a bit out of the top of the port to help with flow. Engineer said that can't really be done on my heads, assuming because they are cast iron and not weldable, like alloy is?

The above has me wondering if 10 thou might be too much and cause some issues with oil burning due to raising comps on an engine of unknown mileage? I did ask if shaving 10 thou would make fitting a SC down the track a problem? He said if I run 98 I should be ok. He said E85 and I'd have no issues. Well only one, I'd have to buy it by the drum, if I could even source it, servos don't have it. Half or more don't even stock 98. So it would be proper Caltex or BP as my only options.

So basically I am looking at valve reshape, port clean up and a 10 thou skim and that will be about it. Bloke is going to give me an estimate before he proceeds. Hopefully if there is not a lot of wear I might come in around $300 a head. If that's the case I might even get the garage near work to slip on the new heads, save me messing around. It will all depend how much time I have and if I can take some annual leave, as I don't want to tackle this on a weekend and find needing parts, without transport until the following weekend and having to get parts sent by courier.

Porting is a variable thing. Your heads will improve with a decent bowl job and chamber work. Maybe you should email higgins and your head guy can post them to higgins for the port work.

Re the welding on cast iron. It is defiantly doable there is a few different approaches you could take with welding. Welding is cost prohibitive so your engineer was likely being kind as it's something for a race team.
But you can indeed weld cast iron using either cast iron stick rods with high nickel or a spray weld. You can also braze material on then there is oxy fusion welding which takes a lot of effort.

Once welded you'll likely need to straighten the deck which might need welding too then chances are you'll need new seats pressed in then recut.

It'll be like 10k a head to do something like this so only a race team would bother.