Cheers guys, I've been slack over the xmas break as I had family in town and haven't had much time with the car to diagnose the probs. I need to do the leak test this weekend to eliminate any chance that it's a failure in the top end before ripping out the motor. If we do the leak test and everything comes back fine then I'll pulle the motor and check the rods... I might sound optomistic that it's not a rod, but its a big job to rip the motor out, and if I pull the motor to find it's not a piston or rod (small chance I know but still) I'd be spewin! Baby steps, I'm in no rush as my olds have lent us their Liberty for the time being. Besides, this will more than likely be a big job and the last thing I want to do is rush.

Good luck with it matty. You got the right idea.... take your time.

So what are you guys up to on the weekend any way (greg, Cam)? You should come round saturday arvo, and we'll see what we can figure out... Beer will be on me!

sounds like a plan..what time

2:30ish sounds good...

if I can get an issue fixed on my ute I will probably head to gladstone, if I can't sort it out then count me in

sounds like my engine. mine ended up being a bent rod. goodluck with it dude.

sounds like my engine. mine ended up being a bent rod. goodluck with it dude.

I'm planning for the worst, unfortunately the budget is too tight for atomic gear. Started pulling the motor out today, am a couple of hours in and loving it... it's a learning curve, and I'm sure I'll have my hiccups, but I'm taking notes, and putting bolts and everything in bags zippy tied to relevant parts so the build should hopefully be just as fun as the strip.

Anyone got any tips?

buy a digital camera just for the strip and build and take photos photos photos, and I dont mean for us here.. But while your there ..

Take a photo of the part your removing on the engine, take a photo of the engine with it removed, and take a photo of the part on the floor with every nut bolt washer it took to get it off. You will end up with a few thousand photos and hopefully will never have to look at them, but mate, a picture tells a thousand words. I had the chance to help a mate strip down and build a ca18 on the weekends, made a big difference when putting it back together. Also taking photos of the build can be just as helpfull.

My 2 cents

The iphone is coming in great for that... you'd be surprised how many people have said 'take photos' to me. Cheers.