Rebuilding an XR4TI

[cmanreinhart]

Hello all! Now I know I already posted a thread posted a thread regarding my build, but it just didn't turn out on how I liked it. So this new thread will be documenting the rebuild and all the things I decide to do to my XR. So that maybe one day if and when I go to sell it I have all the proof on what things I did to the car.(But hopefully I will never have to)

First things first I guess... I picked the car up in mid-to late December of 2013 as a project since it would be my first car. Before I bought this car I looked at several BMW e30's and what not but idk I always liked the XR more since it had turbo and the unique German Ford styling... But I wouldn't turn 16 until the following November. So I had some time to get it running and what not.

Some Pics of the car after I bought it:

[cmanreinhart]

So few weeks after I purchased the car I began pull the Cylinder Head off to inspect it and what not since the guy I bought it from said it had a bad timing belt which I would later find out was aka for a cracked cylinder head....



And after about a month of searching for cylinder head I finally found one on craigslist out of a turbo-coupe. And hey what do ya know it came with a freshly re-built turbo!!


Now I don't have any pictures of the short-block since when I bought it, it had tiny micro cracks in it but the good thing was is that the cylinder head was in good condition. My Plan was with this re-build was to just to freshen up the gaskets and replace all the piston rings and bearings etc. Since I didn't have too much money for it since after all I'm still a kid haha. But here are some pictures of the short-block after I painted it put new bearings and ring in and got the block machined since it was warped in some places 6-thou.

[nathankershaw]

Very nice.

Looks like you'll have a good foundation for fun when it's back together.

[SilST3]

looks good!

[cmanreinhart]

Very nice.

Looks like you'll have a good foundation for fun when it's back together.

looks good!

Thanks!

[cmanreinhart]

So I know I haven't updated in a while but about a couple of weeks ago I did a mild port on the cylinder head (mainly cleaning up the bowls and polishing it) Then after that I got it machined flat ( the shop said the took about 6 tho off so that's a total of about 12 tho taken off between the block and head which will boost my compression ) Then assembled the head with the following parts:
-Ranger Cam & Roller Finger Followers
-All new exhaust valves (since the old one where rough and thermal cycled to many times)
-Fidanza adjustable cam gear


Then ordered a new Felpro gasket kit threw the head gasket with a little RTV on and torqued the head on.




Still debating if I should polished the raised lettering or leave it the wrinkled black....

[merkurdriver]

Looking good!

[Esteban]

I hope you installed hardened exhaust seats.

[cmanreinhart]

Looking good!

Thanks Mike I appreciate it!

I hope you installed hardened exhaust seats.

Thanks Estonian, But no I did not that being because I thought that by putting hardened seals in that it would be more prone to cracking because I would have a thinner cast iron surface between the seat and the water jacket on a head that's already known to crack. Plus as long as I dont run it to hard I think ill be fine.

Thanks,
- Conner

[MerkManTN]

.......

[John Brennan]

I think the VC looks good as is.

[MercMike]

16 ??? Cool ... boost is addictive ... Our cars love to be operated in "loaded" state.
But you have a good chassis to learn on.. It you lift mid corner you change the rear camber and it can come around on you.
But .. that can be fun at slower speeds.
We are looking forward on your progress..

[cmanreinhart]

I know its been a long long time since I updated in awhile, and I need to start updating more often. But ive been able to get quite a bit done on the XR over the past 2 months.

I ended up having some trouble with my flyweeeell and clutch mounting up together so if your interested on how that went that heres the link: viewtopic.php?f=30&t=28007 So what I ended up doing was ordering up a new flywheel from LUK since I had already bought a clutch from them thinking that it would solve the problem.... But no of course that never happens.. So I had to improvise and ended up taking off about 10mm of the fasteners and milled out the center of the flywheel.. kind of a hacked job but oh well.... a pic of my fine milling skills

[cmanreinhart]

Alright so I think I should start up by saying ive been a serious slackers when it comes to updating this build. So I think my New Years resolution should be to update my build more often.

So I guess I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.



Oh yeah and heres me putting in the engine haha. (My father was the one who made me take this picture)



Alright so ill have to get more pictures of the engine installed and all that. But lately ive been having some thoughts on RallyCrossing the XR. Since its a cheap way of getting out, having fun and learning some car control skills.

-Conner

[cmanreinhart]

Ok so I dropped the fuel take about 2 weeks ago. Since who knows how old the gas is in there. I don't think Ill be able to reuse the tank though since I don't think I'll be able to get the sender out ( I sprayed WD40 on it and it just absorbed it like a sponge). So im think i of just getting a 15gal fuel cell and a in-line Walbro 255lph fuel pump but from the reviews on it says its very loud.