My new Stage 3 Update discussion thread

B5 S4/ RS4
#1

My car was dropped off at Velocity Factor on April 7th, 2012 - with a list of internal engine parts to charge me for and purchase/install…

This was originally posted on May 08, 2012, 04:33:42 PM

I’m still waiting for Velocity Factor to place the parts order from 034 Motorsports for the engine rebuild. They did send me an invoice today - I paid it within five minutes - and I’ve asked 034 to let me know as soon as the order is placed on Velocity’s end. Nothing is even beginning to happen until the pistons arrive at the shop. I’ve paid a little extra to put a rush on them and I’m expecting them to be done in 7-10 days. However, even that process doesn’t begin until Velocity Factor places the order. I really wish this stuff was ordered when I dropped the car off on April 7th. In any event, here’s what I’m getting:

ROD SET, IE V6 154 — 154MM X 21MM FORGED CONNECTING RODS, AUDI V6
ROD BEARING SET — AUDI V6 ROD BEARING SET, COATED
MAIN BEARING SET — COATED MAIN BEARING SET, GLYCO, AUDI V6
HEAD STUDS, 2.7T — HEAD STUD KIT, AUDI 2.7T RWE-1051
HEAD GASKET KIT — CYLINDER HEAD GASKET SET, 2.7T, Q2 REQUIRED - *** INCLUDES MLS HEAD GASKETS ***
PISTON SET, JE V6 — JE FORGED PISTON SET, 2.7T - 82.0MM BORE / - 86.4MM STROKE / - 9.0:1 COMPRESSION RATIO - TOOL-STEEL WRIST PINS
PISTON COATING — JE THERMAL BARRIER CROWN COATING, JE TUFF SKIRT COATING

Sam Resnick at 034 Motorsports has been giving me lots of advice. If I were to do all of this over again I’d buy a used block and have it rebuilt before I even bringing my car to a shop…

#2

what’s this thread…a mistake?

#3

This was originally posted on May 09, 2012, 12:01:08 PM

I clearly understand why everybody told me my time expectations were ridiculous. USP Motorsports in Fort Lauderdale told me a little over a month. German Auto Saloon in Port Saint Lucie said a little over a month. And Velocity Factor said a little over a month. I left their shop believing they’d at least be close to finished 6 weeks later. 4 weeks later and I just want them to order the parts to start the rebuild process…

#4

This was originally posted on May 19, 2012, 02:49:36 PM

Just a quick update. It’s been ten days since the order for the coated pistons was placed. I emailed 034 Motorsports asking about that yesterday but they haven’t got back to me yet. I emailed Velocity Factor as well asking what they’ve received and I haven’t heard back from them yet either. If I don’t hear anything by mid day Monday, I’ll start asking more questions.

In regards to the turbos that I’m not supposed to mention yet, I was told I could take what was already made for me or wait an additional three weeks (at most) for the same setup with a larger compressor wheel (the largest that fits) which should be good for at least 30-40 more WHEEL horsepower – and an even better top end. That sounds good to me. So I’ll check to see how that’s going by June 8th. The flanges aren’t ready yet for the original setup - so I guess I’m not wasting any time by waiting another 3 weeks. Besides, Velocity Factor can’t start the rebuild until the coated pistons get there - which should be any day now.

#5

This was originally posted on May 25, 2012, 09:38:45 AM

All the parts for the rebuild have been received by Velocity Factor. They’ll begin after the holiday - so hopefully that means Tuesday. Considering the engine is out, apart and ready to go - how long will a rebuild typically take? After they’re done, they’ll be sending the engine out to be blueprinted - so I’m guessing that’ll be another week before they can get started with the stage 3 build.

#6

This was originally posted on June 09, 2012, 01:47:07 PM

Another tiny little update on my car… Velocity Factor says they anticipate the blueprinting, balancing and installation of pistons to take place next week…

#7

This was posted on June 12, 2012, 05:09:20 PM

I haven’t heard anything yet. I’m planning on dropping in on Friday or Saturday to see what’s going on. I’ll have an update then at the latest.

#8

make it stop! lol

#9

This was originally posted on June 15, 2012, 01:24:44 PM

It doesn’t look like I’ll get to drop in this weekend but they did send me an email on Wednesday stating the engine “should leave shortly to be built”. The owner will be on vacation next week and the engine should be getting taken care of during that time. Hopefully there will be no major delays and I’ll have more information on Monday the 25th. After the engine is done the rest is bolt ons so I can’t imagine the project taking a whole lot more time at this point.

#10

There is a reason for this as you will see later.

#11

This was originally posted on June 19, 2012, 08:42:14 AM

At this point they’re about ready to get started. They have all the parts besides the turbos and fueling system and that should all be ready to ship by the end of June. If the engine is really going to be finished by the end of this week or beginning of next, I might as well move forward with the current plan. All they’ll need to do at that point is bolt shit on and setup a light tune for me to break-in the engine with.

#12

This was originally posted on June 25, 2012, 12:57:24 PM

I just got off the phone with Felipe of Velocity Factor and it turns out they didn’t do anything last week. Nothing has shipped out for rebuild/blueprinting yet. I’ve got a lot to keep my mind occupied so I didn’t even flinch. In fact, this sort of thing doesn’t surprise me anymore. So, now I’m hearing they’ll be delivering the engine to a place they work with and it’ll take two weeks for completion. So I’ll have another update two weeks from today - probably about how they’re going to send out the engine the following day.

A major problem with this industry is people setting expectations too high and/or breaking promises. “Drop your car off on Friday. It’ll take about a month and a half.” - On July 7th, my car will be there for three months. Hopefully a couple of days later they’ll have my engine in hand - rebuilt and blueprinted. All this for an engine that only really needed forged pistons. I went along with the rebuild for shits and giggles.

Anyway. I’m setting my mental goal to have this car ready for the cooler months in fall. Hopefully by then I haven’t found another hobby.

#13

This was originally posted on July 05, 2012, 09:40:50 PM

I’ve been assured that the block will be ready by next week or early the following week. I was expecting to call on Monday to hear it was either finished or just about finished. So, I’ll check in on Monday the 16th to see how things are doing. When all is said and done, I’d love to take a shot at having the fastest full interior B5 S4 with road manners in the world. I wonder how close I can get.

I could have played this game with any car I wanted to but, to me, the B5 S4 is:

  1. Getting old
  2. Very tame looking
  3. Very rare

All things that I want in a sleeper. Just thinking out loud here: Phase one of all this is getting the bottom half of the engine rebuilt and bolting on mods. Phase two brings top half of the engine upgrades, a better transmission and whatever else you guys recommend. I have $30k in the car now and I assume I’ll have at least another $20k when all is said and done. It’s certainly an interesting little project.

#14

This was originally posted on July 17, 2012, 09:24:40 AM

Well, my block came in today.

#15

Originally posted on August 10, 2012, 09:55:23 AM

The Devil’s Own methanol injection system has arrived at Velocity Factor. They have everything they need to get started. All that’s left to do is bolt things on and dropping the engine back in. I cannot imagine it taking MUCH longer to have the car back for break-in…

#16

We saw the first thread…

#17

After a couple of emails I got a response from Velocity Factor in regards to progress that has been made. They apologized for the delay and told me they were extremely busy and shorthanded as of this weekend. Great. So I guess that means everything is going to take twice as long.

Okay. The engine is still out of the car. The heads have been cleaned and the engine reassembly is still in progress (probably not started yet). They anticipate this to be done by the end of the week.

About two hours later they stated, “Just a quick update, after cleaning the heads we noticed that the heads aren’t sealing properly and new valve guide seals the redoing the heads are necessary.”

#18

Wtf was wrong with your first thread. I know this is usually a mod free forum but this thread needs to be merged with the original one

#19

The original thread is going to disappear. If I have to explain why, then this one will disappear as well…

#20

why will it disappear? ;D

in the future, contact the site admin for stuff like this. Copying posts from one thread to a new thread is uber easy.