Cooked everything, rebuild time! Advice needed.

[ShadowWulf]

1996 2G N/T 420A, 65K miles
Ok, so i fried my rings, valves, and now my clutch is screwed.
Oh and did i mention i got robbed and everything got torn outta my car (tv, stereo, nitrous kit, PLUG WIRES! etc). This all happened in the last week anyways. Now i cant trade it for the 1G TSI AWD that was planned, but enough crying/whining on my part already.

Well, the car is now at the shop, and the mechanic, whos a really good guy, says he feels bad for my shitty luck and is willing to cut me a deal on some work

What im having done now = head into the machine shop, new valves, rings, HG, valve cover gasket, timing belt.

nooooowwww, what SHOULD i take advantage of since my car is basicly torn apart as is, motor/tranny is out and everything is easy to get to for a change? Im NOT gonna go turbo for various reasons (mostly money) so dont recomend that. HOWEVER, maybe i should go with high-comp pistons since the labor is a moot point with it being apart anyways? New rods? What?

Basicly im looking for ideas on getting a bit more power outta the motor (yada yada, i know all-motor is unrealistic but so am I ). I will be running nitrous on this however (once i buy a new damn kit), proably around a 75-100 shot range depending on other factors (motor strength being one of them). (current mods are in my profile BTW)

So any advice on the direction this should go?

 

[sjgYFZ200]

Well, when you said your head is going to the machine shop, I wasnt sure if you meant having it ported...I'd do that. Also, throw some cams into it. If your sure you will never go turbo, put in some high comp. pistons. Those are the basics, I'm sure you will get some better advice

Sorry about your car dude, that really sucks...

 

[dr1665]

Just remember, the darkest corner of hell is reserved for thieves and cheating wives. Karma will come back to them all in due time. Trust!

As for the rebuild, I would advise stepping up to some 10.5:1CR forged pistons and Eagle rods. Get a .020" over to make sure the cylinders are true, and rebuild the bottom end like normal. If you don't have a UDP, get one, and keep things mild on the head. Getting too crazy with the portwork on an NA car is not always the best idea. You need to keep your intake velocities up to make that power down low.

It is harder to work on the block due to what its removal requires. Get it done competely and then be comprehensive on the head. Cams can be installed in a driveway easier than a valve job, know what I mean?

Keep us posted. Nothing wrong with good, old-fashioned engine building. All motor or otherwise.

(and damn! You had some low miles!)