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Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) this could have been much worse!
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 1:56 pm
by Foscora
Wow ! Looks like you were lucky on this one
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) this could have been much worse!
Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 1:29 pm
by DE80q
Foscora wrote:Wow ! Looks like you were lucky on this one
Yeah. I got very lucky!
So got it fixed and running again. First I modified that rail mount so it's no longer slotted, and doesn't need a spacer.


I then put it back together and was still blowing fuel all over the place. So I got the rail off to check out the orings. Turns out the viton oring on the #1 injector was sheared.

So I put a new set of top orings on, and all is well again. For now a least.
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) back in action.
Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2016 9:05 am
by westco4k
dang man! glad it didn't ignite! I have been paranoid from day one with how close my fuel rail fitting is to the wg manifold. started carrying a small fire extinguisher in my trunk.
Glad to see you made it there and back. one day ill come out and meet all the Midwest audis
I really cant say enough good things about the switch from batch to sequential/COP on a 5cyl. my particular setup is so much more accurate and smooth. . . I added 13 degrees timing at peak torque, under more boost, ditched the VP octane boost and I have yet to hear any knock. just a snarling beastly 20v trying to bust thru the hood anytime I go near the throttle

Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) back in action.
Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2016 9:34 am
by DE80q
Yeah, I feel pretty lucky with how it went down. I need to get an extinguisher to keep in the car. This is twice that I had fuel sprayed under the hood.
Just wondering, but where is the video of your trip this time? I keep checking on GRM, but nothing from you lately.
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) back in action.
Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2016 9:45 am
by westco4k
I literally just added the video link today. Ive been hiding in the garage, selling old project stuff, trying to make room for powder coating tools and more audi parts. glad to hear your up and running again.
oh and as for the tow truck guy. . . . you are much more composed than I could have been in that situation. I don't really understand how companies like that survive.
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) back in action.
Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2016 10:26 am
by DE80q
I'll have to go check out the video!
As for the whole ordeal with the scrap yard, having my wife and daughter there helped me keep my mind right. Really don't need my 6 year seeing daddy get into a fight. That's the old me, and she doesn't need to see that.
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) back in action.
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 11:30 am
by DE80q
Got the "new" boost gauge installed. Not very happy with how it looks, but it will do for now.

I then took it for the first drive sense the fuel rail blew off. Everything seemed as it should, except the new boost gauge is reading 12psi, and the computer is still only getting 9psi. With the gauge reading 1psi with the engine off, that means its seeing 11psi to the gauge... what a pain in the neck.
Also, I noticed some smoke coming from the PS of the engine bay. I threw the hood open, and it seemed to be coming from the downpipe. It did go away, so im figuring it was fuel varnish burning off of the wrap on the down pipe. I'll have to get some more gas in the tank, and start driving it regularly to get the tune dialed in.
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) back in action.
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 10:33 am
by DE80q
For some time now, I've been using a piece of 4mm silicone vacuum hose to connect the 4mm hard tubing I installed in the car, so the 1/8" tubing that was attached to the gauge. I figured it was time I took care of that. I couldn't find a readily available fitting, so I made my own. It started off as a piece of 1/2" SS hex stock. I think it will do the job nicely.

Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) back in action.
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 1:45 pm
by PRY4SNO
Well done, fitting looks awesome!
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) back in action.
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 2:03 pm
by DE80q
I'm just going to put this here for now.

Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) back in action.
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 4:12 pm
by ringbearer
Be sure to put it under the hood next!
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) back in action.
Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 1:58 am
by DE80q
Plan is to rebuilt it, then wait for Tim to fab the manifold.
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) back in action.
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 8:07 pm
by 88a5tq
Wow man that's nuts! NAPA sells extinguishers for under $20 I think. That's where I got mine. Glad your family and the car are alright
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) back in action.
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 7:36 pm
by DE80q
Had a couple bits of good luck on CL and eBay. I scored an old school Thule 555 fairing in really good condition with all its mounting hardware for $35! I also managed to snag a new 594xt sidearm bike carrier off ebay for half Price!
Looks pretty good!


Bike carrier mounts up pretty easy. I need to get a pair of locks for it though.

Loading the bike was pretty easy with this style carrier. Set it on, clamp the front wheel, and put the strap on the back wheel! It makes it easier that my bike's frame is aluminum...

And as you can see, plenty of room for other things. Probably find a small box, or a basket for up there too.

Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) back in action.
Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 6:36 pm
by PRY4SNO
Nice! I need a fairing too.
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) back in action.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2016 11:00 am
by DE80q
Finally got to drive this! It was a pretty good time. Had a little smoke from the downpipe, but not much. It also seems to be pulling a little to the left. I need to check the tire pressure before I jump to any conclusions. I also need to install the steering damper I have in storage. Hopefully that will help with the steering wheel jumping around when I hit any lump or bump in the road.
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) so far...so good!
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 2:31 pm
by DE80q
Dove it to work and back last night. It's doing very well! The auto tune function in tuner studio is doing a great job of bring the fuel VE table into spec.
I kind of forgot how fun this is to drive when im not worried about things under the hood busting into flames! Now that I have cooked all the fuel varnish out of the wrap on the downpipe, no more smoke from under the hood. This morning I let it go to full boost on the highway, and it just pulled hard, and the AFR's were in an acceptable range. I'm very excited thinking about turning the n75 on...
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit)
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 7:12 pm
by DE80q
This will be more of a life update. There are a select few who already know this.
On Sept. 15th, my dad passed away very unexpectedly. The funeral was held on the 23rd, a beautiful ceremony with way more people than I expected. Dad was pretty much a loner, but it seemed everyone who knew him showed up to pay their respects. It was quite difficult for me to leave the cemetery. It still hasn't set in fully that I can't just send him a text, or call him with a question. I grew up working on his cars, and doubt I would be quite so into them if it wasn't for him.
Here is one of the last pics that I took of him, that wasn't during a holiday. We all know how it is, the photographer is never in the picture.

He will be sorely missed by many. I love you Dad!
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit)
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 7:31 pm
by elaw
Dude... I was so sorry to hear about this. I've lost a few loved ones in my days and it always hurts the most when it doesn't seem like "it's their time" which clearly was the case here.
Condolences to you and everyone in your family.
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit)
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 8:06 pm
by RS4Tech
I always loved this picture. You could see how hot and tired he was, but still excited that not only was the big job over, but that the car was one step closer to driving. He will be missed sorely by everyone who knew him.
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit)
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 8:46 pm
by chaloux
Ahhhhh, so sorry to hear that Dave. I can't imagine what you're going through. All the best, hang in there.
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit)
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2016 9:42 am
by vt10vt
Holy shit Dave, I am so sorry to hear that. He and your Mom were always so welcoming, hospitable and tolerant of shenanigans. Thoughts with you and the rest of your family.
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit)
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2016 8:44 pm
by PRY4SNO
Wow, sorry to read about this. Condolences to you and yours.
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit)
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2016 8:23 am
by DE80q
I want to thank everyone for the condolences, and kind words. My dad was a big part of my life, so it's going to take a while to get things anywhere near "normal" again.
Shawn, mom and dad loved having you over. Mom actually asked what happened to you not too long ago. I guess I didn't tell her you moved back home.
Hopefully soon I'll be back working on tuning the bandit. It's just a little difficult to find the time right now.
Re: 20vt B3 (The Bandit) "idle" hands
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2016 7:25 am
by DE80q
Had some time yesterday to try to figure out what was going on with my ISV. I checked the diode I placed in the connector, and it was good. Turns out the ISV was actually working, just making horrible vibrating noises that could be heard through the intake track, and even in the BOV. Talking with Eric, we figured the frequency used to control the valve had to be off. I was running at 75hz, which was way too low. We turned it all the way up, 1021hz, and now the ISV is quiet. Now I'm working on getting it to function properly again. It bounces around for a little, then jumps to "high idle". Hopefully I'll get this taken care of today.