Gothmog3vz's build/questions thread

[Gothmog3vz]

Hey guys, so I decided instead of making a new thread every time something stupid occurs, I may as well consolidate into one big tread so future swappers can learn from my mistakes :D

Anyway, 3s is roadworthy, I'm daily-driving her now. But my turbo is not working whatsoever. I just checked, no shaft play, no weird noises, a slightly leaky seal on compressor side. It just refuses to build boost :( I swapped between two intercoolers (which may be leaky), and no change, 0 boost. I have a a2w tmic that I was holding off on installing (want a ct20), but I'm considering to rush that project. Wastegate seems to be functional so I dunno what to make of it :(

Also, picking up new gearbox next week, revised e153 with a Cisco LSD :D

[Gothmog3vz]

Haven't been on here in a while. I'm going to give a TL;DR of whats happened to the car so far

-Turbo swapped (CT20b now, with a Berk DP)
-E153 with cusco LSD installed (and it's ridiculously aggressive o.0 )
-6 puck sprung clutch rated at 395 ft-lbs and a lightweight flywheel (so I can crank boost in the spring without fear)

Right now I'm just doing maintenance on her, and looking for new rims since it's near impossible to get good tires for my 14"s. Might install my a2w setup once I settle on a location for the heat exchanger, but that depends on school/work workload.


Now, remember how I said my turbo wasn't spooling. Well... They say a picture is worth a thousand words... so here's two! You can guess my reaction when I saw my old CT26...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1098266_10153116198655650_1104197896_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/972163_10153116198465650_1133707948_n.jpg

Turbine wheel was gone, shaft snapped just level with the housing. This explains the no-boost mystery... Luckily, she's happily boosting at 1-bar now!

Other upgrade - I picked up a set of SuspensTech sways (front, rear, and mount kit) for $75. Local speedshop was liquidating inventory, and my friends dad was there, remembered my little old AW11

https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/643970_10153074284845650_839817252_n.jpg

Front is installed, I'm going to do rear over the winter since it seems I may need to drill/tap a 4th hole in the rear (and will be easier to attach tabs to struts when I change my shocks as well).

New sway vs old

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/969563_10153074285045650_626353159_n.jpg

Clutch before my trans swap. All nice and pretty. It's an F1Racing one, picked it up on ebay. The throwout was garbage, but the clutch holds well, no slippage! Was iffy, but a guy who comes to the speedshop I work at has one in his Eclipse Turbo AWD, said that it lasted him a full summer of drag-strip abuse with nary a whimper, which sold me on it!

https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1000873_10153031122395650_672216230_n.jpg

Downpipe! :D

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1017683_10153000340770650_283939584_n.jpg

This little beauty, snagged on ebay for $21 + shipping, sniped it at the last moment. Came with the pump too, can't wait to install it! Just have to find a way to plug the BOV port, as I'm running without one, ST185 style. Also need to figure out where on earth I can fit the heat-exchanger for it, and how to do it!!!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/544550_10152722956455650_2125020117_n.jpg

And here's some car porn + a pic with my co-pilot

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1002079_10152980096195650_1046627470_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1004065_10153001904155650_983059778_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1044934_10153001905260650_677855297_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1069300_10153033279590650_1829547912_n.jpg

https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/970407_10153001905490650_1635023354_n.jpg

Found a friend at the movie theater to park with :)

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1005664_10153111226745650_1813733082_n.jpg

Pic from the spring when I had a buddy over. My driveway doesn't discriminate by drivetrains ;)

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/892622_10152645850630650_1801171933_o.jpg

And a nice last one, parked next to my buddies SC AW11

https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/969334_10152980002365650_541227077_n.jpg

Now, since I finally got boost a few weeks back, I can give my impressions. First off, this car is absolutely bonkers, and I mean that in a good way. It's also a bit frightening, and I'm running a stock-pressure CT20. Haven't timed it for 0-60's, but I estimate its in the 5-second range. Powerwise, not too sure, I'd hazard a guess at maybe 250 hp with the downpipe & turbo. Regardless, it's brilliant. Whenever I put the foot down, I cant help but to have a goofy grin on my face from the acceleration. Drove my dad for the first time last weekend, and while he didn't want to drive it, he was quite impressed with its punch. Traction in the rain is a nightmare... but my tires are pretty worn + fairly cheap so not surprised. I just have to control my right foot when its wet.
As far as fuel economy goes, I went from 400 km/tank to ~250, +/- 20km. Which is pretty awful on the surface, but when I think about how much I've been enjoying the boost, it's understandable, and I expect that once I cool down a bit, I'll be able to eke out 350-380/tank.

I do have to say though, one of my favorite things with this car is the reactions I get from passengers and other drivers. It's MUCH quicker than anyone expects it to be, and with a straight exhaust, it's fairly aggressive when the wastegate opens up. Off the launch its still fairly slow since I want to give the clutch a bit more time to bed in, but when I roll onto the throttle, it's an absolute thrill.

Can't wait to get my wideband, and some 550's this winter so I can start cranking the power come spring ;) It's a never-ending project!