JLarson's build thread

[Spooler]

Originally Posted by JLarson

I'd already freed the calipers by the time my wife arrived with the socket, so I was ready to release my brake pads quickly and easily!

Brake pads, why for you no come out?!?! The frigging pins in the calipers were so warped and covered with brake dust and corrosion that it was a multi hour process to get them loose. It was complicated a little bit further by the learning curve -took me a few minutes to figure out that I actually needed to take those pins out to release the brake pads. So that's something I know now.

What I ended up doing was removing the cotter pin, pushing a drill bit through the bottom while unscrewing from the top, then once one end came free, gripping with needle nose pliers and pulling. Is there an easier way to do this or a better trick? It worked, but it was a very tedious process. This part should not have (but did) take me multiple hours, and it's not my first brake job.

Getting the fresh pins, plates, and brake pads in place was comparably easy. No pictures, you all know what that looks like I'm sure.

Next time push in on middle of the pad keeper to take the stress off of the pin. The pin will slide out with a twisting motion with no issues. It will bind up if you do not press it and cause the issue that you had. I use a flat tipped screw driver and needle nose pliers for the twisting motion on the pin. It is best to take the pads out while the caliper is still mounted to the car.

[JLarson]

Originally Posted by Spooler

Next time push in on middle of the pad keeper to take the stress off of the pin. The pin will slide out with a twisting motion with no issues. It will bind up if you do not press it and cause the issue that you had. I use a flat tipped screw driver and needle nose pliers for the twisting motion on the pin. It is best to take the pads out while the caliper is still mounted to the car.

Thanks Spooler! Good to know!

[Spooler]

Originally Posted by JLarson

Thanks Spooler! Good to know!

NP, they can be a pain in the butt sometimes but once you get the basic's it is not bad.

[Rusty]

If you want to clean the pins up. Chuck the ends up in a drill and use scotch brite as you spin the pin.

[OldGrayDog]

Originally Posted by JLarson

It had gone so well up till that point that I was justifiably concerned

yep that's the what the f did I forget, and when will it bite me
Nice to see you still working on it!

[JLarson]

Originally Posted by OldGrayDog

yep that's the what the f did I forget, and when will it bite me
Nice to see you still working on it!

Good to hear from you OGD! how's your wife? If you're ever up for a cruise, let me know! How did your sound system turn out?

[JLarson]

Update: As of today, order has been placed for a Boosted Performance single.

This is my first experience with boost, so the goal here is to learn. I'm keeping the kit very basic to start off with, literally the turnkey version. Couple extras I've already ordered or have already:

-FI Tow Bar to clear the intercooler
-MAC Boost Solenoid
-DEI wrap

Looking for an Omni Map Sensor, and I'll need a lot of heat protection (turbo blanket, wrap for the wastegate lines). Madwi has given me access to a lot of his pics and helped with a ton of useful information, thanks buddy!

I'll get my tune from RT Tuning, since I have my Ecutek license through them and they have experience with the kit. More to follow.

[Rusty]

[JLarson]

Omni acquired from Husam. Thanks to Madwi for the link!

[madwi]

Originally Posted by JLarson

Omni acquired from Husam. Thanks to Madwi for the link!

[Spooler]

Why didn't you get a Fast Intentions TT kit? Because it requires you to drop the motor for the install?

[JLarson]

Originally Posted by Spooler

Why didn't you get a Fast Intentions TT kit? Because it requires you to drop the motor for the install?

Biggest reason was price. Entry point, without literally anything else, for FI is 5k more. My wife would lose her **** if I went that route. Long story but after witnessing her sisters making a series of horrible decisions, she's very frugal, and it's not a bad thing. It just means a lot more negotiation.

Not dropping the engine is an added bonus.

[Spooler]

Originally Posted by JLarson

Biggest reason was price. Entry point, without literally anything else, for FI is 5k more. My wife would lose her **** if I went that route. Long story but after witnessing her sisters making a series of horrible decisions, she's very frugal, and it's not a bad thing. It just means a lot more negotiation.

Not dropping the engine is an added bonus.

I hear ya. I had many a long conversation with my wife over directions to go. She was always involved with the decision. She had asked me years ago if I was going to mod another car. I always told her she would freak out when she saw the money flying out the door. At the end, she did a little bit. I hid nothing from her. Glad to see someone else doing the same.

[Spooler]

I would suggest you prepare her for the day when things go south. Example: blown motor. Even with my build. I am straight up with my wife that things can go south quick. She knows something out of the ordinary can happen. She also knows I will be building another engine in 2 yrs due to the mileage I drive and how long I expect the motor to last if all goes well. I hide nothing. IF you have questions, ask them here or PM me. I can tell you what I think and why I did what I did.

[JLarson]

Originally Posted by Spooler

I hear ya. I had many a long conversation with my wife over directions to go. She was always involved with the decision. She had asked me years ago if I was going to mod another car. I always told her she would freak out when she saw the money flying out the door. At the end, she did a little bit. I hid nothing from her. Glad to see someone else doing the same.

Stage 1 of my project was laying out not just the turbo kit cost for her, but all the supplemental stuff involved. Shared a spreadsheet via Google. I did get a hell of a deal for black Friday, which helped a lot.