well day one, my friend and I put in about 6 hours yesterday:
first picture is of my friends solution to the hood prop being in the way and hitting his head on the hood. We think that the hole in the hood and the eye loop on the strut tower brace are made for this.
next one is me a little stur crazy from workin on the car in 90 degree weather.
next one is of what i found when i pulled the head off .. I was amazed, over 100,000 miles and still hone marks in the cylinders and no crown ridges.
and the last one is of the progress as it sits today we got the engine stripped and on a stand. On schedual today cleaning the block heads intake throtel body and valve covers and maby get some paint on em. If we have time tonight getting to some of that portmatching and polishing.

 

I had to pester 3 dealerships for this
enjoy
keep in mind this is for a 2000 2.5RS

Tighten all bolts in alphabetical order to 22ft lbs
Tighten all bolts in alphabetical order to 51ft lbs
Back off all bolts in reverse alphabetical order 180°
Back off all bolts in reverse alphabetical order 180°(not a retype you have to do it 2 times in a row)
Tighten all bolts in alphabetical order to 31ft lbs
Tighten all bolts in alphabetical order 80-90°
Tighten all bolts in alphabetical order 40-45°
WARNING!! DO NOT TIGHTEN PAST 45°

 

word of caution do not try to remove the heads inside the car!! I didn't notice untill yesterday but as we were trying to pull the heads out we put a couple of nice scratches in the sealing surface of the engine. Luckley they wern't too deap so i can just polish them out. speaking of polish here are pics of the throtel body before, rough cut, and after. the evil bit i found for my grinder worked wonders for a rough cut, then i shot some spray paint on it and grinded away with a stone untill there was no more paint showing, then moved on to my progressively higher grit sandings. I should have done another spray paint coat before the sandpaper but it turned out well enough, just a simple blend and quazi knife edge, I replaced the screws with stainless button head cap screws so i dont have to worrie about stripping them before they are tight.
a good shot of what im doing with the intake manafold.. so far im pleased with what little process i have made.
just noticed my throtel positioning sensor is on backwards ... oops

 

Ok intake is done, one head is done fresh paint on the block (sliver). I need to paint the intake, finish cleaning and porting the second head and I can start reasembling. The first pic is of the exhaust ports. the port on the left is marked with a yellow grease pencil and the port on the right side is after the rough cut.. thats a good 1/2 inch off of the diamiter. the next pic is the cylinders after i cleaned em up, the discoloration is from heat and i did not want to put too much pressure on the pistons while wirebrushing. I am very happy with the progress!
progess is going to be slow, id rather take my time and do it right then rush it and be paranoied... And the scratches buffed right out... dodged a bullet on that one!

 

well the engine is back in, intake is on and hooked up. I just need to throw on the ac pump and the alternator and radiator, also some more wireing is in order than i can pressure check the thing after adding fluids that is. Hopefully it runs as good as it looks.. And im loving how it all turned out so far.
well all will be revealed tomarrow.. hope this was helpfull for some.

 

well the car is 'sparkin and a-fartin' as my grand pappy used to say.
the car is running great. There was a bit of white smoak on start up and for about 10 minuts. That worried me big time. The smoaking stoped and has yet to show itself again so i just assume that was the oil i used to coat the cylinders burning off. I know the porting may not be good for too much horse power but the car felt great. Nice and smooth power, little more lower end grunt, and quicker revs when heal toe shifting. Eather the portmatching is responsible or the lack of carbon in the cylinders... but if you think about it less carbon = more displacement so lower compression.
eather way I am very pleased with the results both power and looks.
I will post pics of the finished product tomarrow.

 

Nice job man, looks like alot of work but glad it turned out good.

 

my heart sank when I saw the smoak on start up but i am very pleased about the whole thing!