It's been quite a while since I updated this thread. And I'll even update with pictures later tonight.
A month ago, I was driving the car on the highway and it overheated. I thought I had shut it down in time, but from that day on, anytime I drove the car, it would push coolant into the overflow, and I was always adding coolant...A sure sign of a blown head gasket.
A week ago, I pulled the head and sent it to the machine shop to get checked out & to have new seals put in. I figured that since I had it all apart, I may as well replace everything I could think of. Ordered a bunch of stuff:
BSEK
OEM timing belt, tensioner, pullies etc
new front case
new oil pump gears
new water pump
new upper/lower timing cover
Turbo oil feed line (from the head - I don't like feeding from the OFH)
All new gaskets & seals
Composite HG (running an E16G at 13psi = no reason to go MLS...Plus, stock clutch = not going to push my luck)
4-layer exhaust manifold gasket
Magnus heat barrier intake manifold gasket
Plug wires
ARP head studs
I just finished pulling the front case, knocking out the balance shafts and the balance shaft bearings last night. Since I left the block in the car, it was a PITA! If I ever had to do a BSEK again, I would just pull the engine.
To do a BSEK while the engine is still in the car, I basically had to remove everything besides the passenger side engine mount, rear engine mount and the axles. If I had removed those 4 additional pieces, I could have just pulled the engine/tranny in the 1st place. Note to anyone doing this....Just pull the engine and save yourself a lot of headaches.