JLarson's build thread

[Spooler]

Originally Posted by JLarson

We call you our blowoff valve for a reason...

I thought he was our friendly neighborhood parts hoarder.

[JLarson]

Originally Posted by Spooler

I thought he was our friendly neighborhood parts hoarder whoreder.

Ftfy! Otherwise, accurate.

[JARblue]

both

[solidus]

Something to think about. They called about my car today. Turns out my YouTube smoke machine and Amazon Boost tester were spot on. They found that my driver side flange for the header has an exhaust leak. Which explains the low boost and the AFRs being a bit whacky. I talked to Switchback Racing and I'm gonna convert the flange to Vband. 3rd time this thing has happened on that side. Last time he flattened the flange when he repaired the flex joint. I'm thinking vband will cut that problem and make removal 100 times easier in the future.

Thoughts?

[JLarson]

Originally Posted by solidus

Something to think about. They called about my car today. Turns out my YouTube smoke machine and Amazon Boost tester were spot on. They found that my driver side flange for the header has an exhaust leak. Which explains the low boost and the AFRs being a bit whacky. I talked to Switchback Racing and I'm gonna convert the flange to Vband. 3rd time this thing has happened on that side. Last time he flattened the flange when he repaired the flex joint. I'm thinking vband will cut that problem and make removal 100 times easier in the future.

Thoughts?

I really like the idea of the V band, especially since you've had a few issues on that side. But from a QA perspective, it sounds to me like your mating surfaces are warped slightly, and not matching or exerting even pressure on the gasket, which is why there have been multiple problems in the same place. Converting it to allow for "pipe docking" as BettyZ describes it so perfectly might solve the issue for good.

[solidus]

Originally Posted by JLarson

I really like the idea of the V band, especially since you've had a few issues on that side. But from a QA perspective, it sounds to me like your mating surfaces are warped slightly, and not matching or exerting even pressure on the gasket, which is why there have been multiple problems in the same place. Converting it to allow for "pipe docking" as BettyZ describes it so perfectly might solve the issue for good.

The first two times I had no clue, the last time it was confirmed it was warped. But I look at this as an opportunity to make working on the car easier and killing the warped flange issue for good.

[JLarson]

Tune completed late yesterday evening. I was using the 7.5 psi spring, looks like I maxed that out. RT Tuning is practicing social distancing, so I didn't get a chance to talk with Vince (tuner) directly, and I'll reach out to him later today. Basically I want to find out if I ran out of spring pressure first (likely) or fuel capability first.

Time to drive and enjoy the car for a while!

Future plans:
1) Hook up my boost gauge. I just need some time to pull my upper plenum and tap another port.
2) Driver mod. I'd like to take some classes and enjoy some track time.
3) Likely go to a larger spring at some point, and pair that with a boost solenoid.
5) Better wheels. OEM are fine for now, but since I've got the power, now I'll play with the looks a bit.
6) Eventually suspension. I'm coming up on 64k miles on the car, so it's not an immediate need, but soon.
7) Depending on what the summer shows, possibly some of the track spec hood vents.

[madwi]

Originally Posted by JLarson

Tune completed late yesterday evening. I was using the 7.5 psi spring, looks like I maxed that out. RT Tuning is practicing social distancing, so I didn't get a chance to talk with Vince (tuner) directly, and I'll reach out to him later today. Basically I want to find out if I ran out of spring pressure first (likely) or fuel capability first.

Time to drive and enjoy the car for a while!

Future plans:
1) Hook up my boost gauge. I just need some time to pull my upper plenum and tap another port.
2) Driver mod. I'd like to take some classes and enjoy some track time.
3) Likely go to a larger spring at some point, and pair that with a boost solenoid.
5) Better wheels. OEM are fine for now, but since I've got the power, now I'll play with the looks a bit.
6) Eventually suspension. I'm coming up on 64k miles on the car, so it's not an immediate need, but soon.
7) Depending on what the summer shows, possibly some of the track spec hood vents.

Maybe grab a distribution block so you have ports available for when you want to add stuff that needs a boost line.

[JLarson]

Originally Posted by madwi

Maybe grab a distribution block so you have ports available for when you want to add stuff that needs a boost line.

Good suggestion. Perhaps something like this.

https://www.on3performance.com/shop/...ibution-block/

[madwi]

Originally Posted by JLarson

Good suggestion. Perhaps something like this.

https://www.on3performance.com/shop/...ibution-block/

Yep. I have one from treadstone but I wont suggest that one to you given your history with them.

[JLarson]

Originally Posted by madwi

Yep. I have one from treadstone but I wont suggest that one to you given your history with them.

*mutters* backwards welding brackets... not sending charge pipes... they'd probably send me a distributor welded shut.

[BettyZ]

Originally Posted by JLarson

*mutters* backwards welding brackets... not sending charge pipes... they'd probably send me a distributor welded shut.

And coated with corona.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[JLarson]

Originally Posted by BettyZ

And coated with corona.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

They're so inept, they'd probably infect themselves instead of me and weld the remainder of it inside the closed block.

[JLarson]

I should add, for those who are considering this kit, that it seriously hauls ***. With the relatively quick spool of the turbo, and getting pretty close to peak torque by 3300 rpms (which comes up VERY fast with a lw flywheel), hitting the pedal is extremely rewarding. The car lunges forward, and the speedometer climbs FAST. It's awesome! Worth a lot of pain getting to this point.

[JLarson]

Vince just got back to me. I have enough fuel to run around 10 psi, only about 80% IDC right now. So I can definitely make more power if/when I am ready (which I think we all know is an inevitable desire).