Got another one! Project: PolarXJ

[xj_man_646]

Sounds plausible for sure. Gotta blow out the carbon every once in awhile.

[6DoF]

he's still convinced that my "new" turbo has sticky vanes from the logs ... and i can't disagree. i'll have to take it apart and clean everything out really well. maybe i can find a rebuild kit while i'm in there

[xj_man_646]

What did that turbo come from? I didn't realize it was VGT.

[6DoF]

VNT-17 from an 04-05 Passat. bigger and more efficient than the old VNT-15 i had. plus it's a totally different location that's higher and more forward ... gave me more clearance for better engine mounts.

VNT is the VW name for VGT

[xj_man_646]

Ahhh. Interesting. I wonder how the ECU software is different between the two engine models. Could be something with that, but I'm also assuming you weren't the first one to attempt such a swap and the subsequent tuning.

[nblehm]

I’ve work on a tdi where the intake was basically packed solid with carbon build up. That was an interesting find.

[xj_man_646]

Yep it is quite common in the TDI world, I assume due to heavier EGR usage than other diesel applications. The diesel soot and oil material that forms due to crank case vent and EGR in diesels is nasty stuff.

[6DoF]

whoever thought it was a good idea to put EGR and a crappy PCV on a smokey diesel was a doooooouuuuccchhe. lets just mist the intake with oil and carbon dust, that'll work great!

[6DoF]

you can kinda see in this pic what my intake was to start with ... i cleaned it like 3/4-ass'd

[6DoF]

so i asked the tuner to take my original Malone Stage-3 tune and just scale only the fueling for my larger injectors. even down 5psi peak boost from his prior tune, i'm probably 2x the power n torque now!

everything is better across the board. power comes in sooner, harder, has more, and then pulls longer. starts better, lower EGT's across the board ... and he's still arguing that Malone doesn't know what they are doing. now, he's got some theories and wants me to try another tune. it's entirely possible if he figures something out that his tune could be better MPG and maybe idle a tiny bit smoother, but i don't see any possible that i gain power anywhere. he's a super nice guy and has helped a ton by finding other issues i had too. he totally deserves the help when he wants to learn what's up.

now i want to figure out what program he's using to write the tune ... i have everything else now to tune any engine.

[6DoF]

#towrig

[wrath]

Is there a trailer underneath it or are you hillbilly like me and just lag bolt a tongue to the building and deck screw the axle to the building?

[6DoF]

-4 2x4's scabbed together for a tongue
-2 trailer stub axles welded to plates and bolted to the bottom of the shed.

i build the set-up before we build the house to move and use this shed then, but now it's in the way again, so i just jacked it back up and threw tires back on it. if you notice, they are the OE XJ wheels n tires bolted on backwards for better spacing

[Cobound]

Tiny home tow rig

[6DoF]

Originally Posted by wrath

I always expect to see a bunch of MSA stuff in the background, like Sordins stacked up like cordwood. But it's still DeWalt yeller everywhere.

yeah ... the employee discount isn't good enough to be worth buying anything like that. i've actually found them cheaper online before. really the only thing i've picked up was a Packers hard hat cuz the steelers ones are watched too closely.

[6DoF]

Originally Posted by wrath

You should have your MIL show up for 3 weeks. Even though it's miserable outside... it's good motivation. Plus there is only so much TV to watch.

mine has sequestered herself to her basement kitchen baking hundreds of dozens of cookies!

[xj_man_646]

Originally Posted by wrath

You have a polebarn with a concrete floor. You're out of excuses. Yes, I too like watching jeepnski work but I'm not making excuses.

Right...as I'm sure you're willing to work with no heat in winter and in a shop where it exceeds ambient in the summer.

To be honest I'm considering biting the bullet and installing some better lighting and the 2 post with 220 circuit this summer so I can do something in there (installing the PEX tubing prior to concrete only took a couple hours, but it was so hot in the barn that I ended up puking my brains out due to heat exhaustion).

The problem is that the project of upgrading the electrical snowballs very quickly because I need an all new run from the meter, which requires trenching almost 200' across both legs of my driveway. Or I could get another meter installed where the power company would do the trenching to the barn from wherever they need to....not sure which route to go yet. I only have 60A to the barn as it is now, and what I described is what it takes to get more than 100A out there.

That is enough for now, I don't want to clog up his thread too much

[xj_man_646]

Originally Posted by wrath

You're starting to sound like a 52? year old from Minnesota that I share a first name with. What do you do all day? You've been there how many years? Didn't jeepnski build a house and several vehicles in this timeframe?

He also married a doctor . I straight up haven't had the funds to tackle any of the jobs related to my barn when each stage is between 5-10k from the bids I've gotten. Concrete was probably the biggest step, though.