I liked the idea of using the Evo intercooler, something different.. something that probably isn't a common mod to do. But I just dont think its working, I'm thinking of getting a smaller, wider intercooler, the typical 'small universal ebay special intercooler'.
The reasons are... Its new - I dont think the Evo one is holding pressure anymore, and its all bent and twisted.
It has good mounting points - so I can mount it to the crash bar, and it will be further away from the radiator.
I think it makes sense to do this..
Also managed to lock myself out of the car completely tonight! Not cool :( battery went dead and key wouldn't work in the driverside door! Managed to sort it though, so its all good!
Need to really get some bits bought at the end of the month to continue with the engine, Maybe a set of the valves bought, so I can start grinding them in

Well.. first post without a picture. I'll make sure I dont do this anymore, makes it look a bit bare.
Anyway..
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Well, this weekend wasn't exactly full of excitment for me. I spent most of it in bed, watching whatever films I could download. I recomment 21 Jump Street and Safe House though! Great films..
Saturday night I eventually climbed out of my pit around 8, and went to do a bit more on the car. Found the sheet for white vinyl I've had lying about for the past week or so.
Pictures of sharkmouths got the better of me, and I finally did it..
I've ran out now, so only got half of it done! ordered more from ebay now though so I'll get to all finished wont it arrives. Creating the template was the biggest ballache ever, and something I will not be repeating again! I do feel sorry for the people who are going to spray my bumper, because they have to mask the full mouth and teeth off! oh well haha! not my problerm I guess. Spoken to a mate, and I'm getting some black/grey tint for the foglights, to blend them in a bit more. Yellow just doesn't go with the mouth now. Makes it too out of place!

Well I've cleaned the cylinder head now, but now out of things to do until I get new parts :( The shims are back in, with the spacers for the head bolts, but thats it.. I've painted the alternator black, which looks pretty nice now! fitted back on the car, but haven't got a picture.
Just trying to work out which bits are best to buy next month, obviously the cambelt will be last, and no doubt that wont be bought until mid next year at this rate! I really do dislike this car, but love it at the same time. Everytime I sit in side her, I get that childish smile back on my face! knowing that I'm doing the right thing by getting her back to her former glory. She will stand out again .. I miss her

Well just spend the night taking the alternator off the car, cleaning it and painting it. Followed by stripping everything else off the cylinder head. This included the cambelt shims and the valve stem oil seals.
 I've covered the cylinder head with Gunk cleaner, and washed it all off. Currently airing out. its a lot cleaner then before. I'm really hoping that the engine will performed better once the new valves are grinded in. I know the old ones weren't, they are simply machined in at the factory. Which doesn't allow for a perfect seal on them. Everything inside the block is getting replaced, unless it really is good enough for another 100k. I want the engine as strong as I can get it. After cancelling the car insurance, it has freed up another £70 a month, which will help towards getting parts. so think I'll make a start at the end of the month. I want this to be something special. so Its going to get what it needs..

Well, I didn't have any idea how expensive this would get to be. I've priced most parts up, apart from the injector bolts, rocker shaft bolts, and tandem fuel pump gasket. I'll have to get these from the dealer I think.
The rest came to quite a hefty price. Similar to the price of a second hand head, with everything fitted.. 
Maybe its not even worth the time getting all the individual bits together? Maybe its just worth getting a complete cylinder head, and buy a headgasket for it? 
I will still need sealant and some other gaskets, but I just dont know what is more cost effective? 
I would love to put everything back together, but I'm probably looking ar around £600 for this.. And it may not even work at the end of it! knowing my luck that is.. So I check prices for second hand heads with all the internals in place. So a quick breakdown of the prices.. These are rough estimates from various websites I've been on, including Euro Car Parts, TPS, the Skoda and Audi dealers, and eBay. 

1 x tandem fuel pump gasket
1 x water pump - £40
1 x headgasket - £25
1 x cambelt kit with pulleys and tensioners - £100
8 x injector bolts - £?
8 x exhaust valves - £50
8 x inlet valves - £50
5 x rocker shaft bolts - £?
10 x head bolts - £30 delivered (ebay)
5 litres of oil - £40
1 x oil filter - £5
coolant g12++ - 40

Head set - £95 - 362441380
1 x inlet manifold gasket
1 x exhaust gasket
1 x rocker gasket
11 x rocker bolts
16 x valve stem oil seals
1 x inlet camshaft oil seal
1 x exhaust camshaft oil seal

£475


Maybe I should get advise from others who have done this type of job? See if they can get me parts cheaper or not.. 

Now that the Audi is declared SORN, theres no point in having it insured! The car is going in the garage, so shouldn't be getting damaged (I say that....). 
I rang Admiral today, wanted to see what they can do for me. Already had a multicar policy, but didn't know if I would need a new one or not. Turns out I didn't, and that all my details just get transferred over to a single car policy. Bonus! And very easy to do. 
So my insurance has gone from £116 on two cars, down to £48 a month, on my old faithful. 
Now the old faithful... a Hyundai Accent Coupe, 1.3.. I dont think its even the bottom spec model either.. comes with fog lights, sunroof, electric windows and a spoiler. Very sporty some might say.. most people dont though. I love it though. It really, genuinely is a nice car, and a car that hasn't broken on me! Went through an MOT, and I wasn't worried about it being too low or anything like that. I passed the keys over, and walked off. I didn't have to explain how to take the front bumper off, how the ABS light 'may' come on, nothing like that. 
I will actually look after the Hyundai, keep on top of anything it needs. Its worth it. A £500 car that has lasted me longer (without breaking) then any other car I have owned. Must say something right? Its Korean.. no German build quality in sight! yet its comfy, it drives, and it just seems to work.
I actually dont mind driving it! I think thats why I dont miss the Audi that much.. Because I get in this car, and drive anywhere I want without a single problem. Got us to Scotland, got me down to Woking. Its done over 3000 faultless miles. RIP to the original owner. 

Well obviously the car is in bits, like a massive, complicated jigsaw puzzle. A puzzle I really dont want to do by mself. As a kid, I was the one the forced the peices together.. and 'made sure' they fitted! 
I cant really do that with an engine.. as much as I would like too! 
Whilst it is in a million pieces, I may as well take the opportunity to clean it all, and make the engine look nice and new. So I have my big bottle of gung cleaner, and the cylinder head is going to get a good clean! 
I need to also lightly stand the bottom of it, to make sure that all the crap is taken off before fitting the headgasket. So I have my 2500 grit sandpaper at the ready! Also need to do this to the bottom end too.. 
I'll also going to clean out the EGR valve, and make sure its all ready to put back on the inlet manifold (which is freshly painted!) I'll need to get some high temp paint to do the rest though. 
I need to be careful to take the camshaft shims out and put them back the right way.. otherwise it could cause uneven wear on the camshafts. I dont want that happening! 
I dont know why I like working on cars so much, it always tends to backfire, and continously break on me! Must buy a reliable car next time, but then.. wheres the fun in that?