motor rebuild questions

[DaltonM]

Lets start this post with a short story.

So I bought a 1991 TSI AWD with roughly 165k a few months back. Got it home changed the oil, plugs, wires, coolant and when I went to test drive it I had the timing belt break. My local DSM "guru" replaced it for me and it ran better than when I was test driving it after he put his magic touch to it... but it now it has developed a knocking sound that I've heard could just be noisy lifters but with the mileage and timing belt I think it's time for a rebuild.

I'm looking to get the car road worthy by late summer by rebuilding in my garage and I was wondering what would be so good parts for a budget build my power goals are set at 500 awhp tops but more realistic would be 375-425. So would the stock rods be good for those goals if they are reusable or if I can find some for cheap and I've read about using evo 8/9 pistons with them but once again not sure of the reliable hp range for them. And now onto the head, what should be replaced on the head besides valves if they are damaged from the timing belt mishap. I'm planning on trying to just get a list of parts together for when I get my taxes back so any insight helps

Ps this is my first forum post ever so be easy on me

 

[nathan_spindler55]

first of all a knock is a whole different story then ticking lifters. i would look farther into that. 1g lifters have very tiny oil passages. stock 6 bolts have been known to hold up to 500 hp some even higher. I would do a stock bottom end rebuild and then build up the head with some nice parts of your choosing and what fits your budget. do some searching on what others have done and just go from there. but definately get some race bearings in the bottom end and you should be pretty good. you could also get 2g pistons for a bump in compression, but the rods i think have to be machined for them to work. something about the wristpins i believe.

 

[BogusSVO]

You could have s spun out balance shaft bearing that is the knock.

But it is all guessing untill you get the engine out and apart.

You should not really buy many parts till you see what you need.

Why get std bearings and rings when the block needs bored and the crank needs ground?

The stock 6t valves will be ok at 500hp, many have taken that far, now if you have replacement parts store valves, I would suggest a set of stainless valves.

Valve springs stand a good chance of being weak from age, new springs need to based on what cams you want to end up running

Yes some have taken stock rods up over 500hp, But I would suggest moving to a forged piston and h beam rod for the extra strength

 

[Ace_gst]

Like what they said, for your goals a stock rebuild will be fine. I used top line pistons with stock rods, sees 20 psi from a 16g daily. Think I spent around 1500 after machine work and parts to do the bottom end rebuild. If you bent a valve you would need to have machine shop swap out the valve guides in the head and seat the new valves while it's there. Rip it open and measure measure measure before you buy any parts.

 

[HawkesTSI96]

get new arp head studs for sure

 

[pauleyman]

Everybody is putting the cart before the horse. A rebuild is being planned before we even know whars wrong? (If anything) You broke a timing belt. I assume the head was rebuilt as a result of this? Fill us in. You need to find out what your problem is and THEN decide the course of action. This "knock" is self described as possible lifter tick and youre planning a rebuild?????? 165k is not relevant. Its not objective.