[Socket]

Originally Posted by JB4-335

Looking good mate. Well done Vince.

I'm sure it'll all be work it once it's up and running with a good tune.

Yes mate... getting close now

[vtl]

Was worried we couldn't get a proper air filter on. There is simply not enough space to get a filter on the front of the turbo. A 3.5"->3" 90 degree reducer was cut down and fits with millimetres to spare. The air con port had to be bent for clearance, luckily it's quite soft and is easily bent out of the way of the filter

Heatshielding has been done for all of the wiring, and a shield has been made for the valve cover too. Hopefully this keeps the stuff from melting

[RJ019]

Great work guys! With the air filter there it might benefit from some colder air from the scoop. Is the turbo finally in for the last time? I can only imagine the amount of times it would have been in and out for fittings.

[Brule]

Everything's looks pretty tight.
Hope you get it going soon.

[JB4-335]

Originally Posted by vtl

Was worried we couldn't get a proper air filter on. There is simply not enough space to get a filter on the front of the turbo. A 3.5"->3" 90 degree reducer was cut down and fits with millimetres to spare. The air con port had to be bent for clearance, luckily it's quite soft and is easily bent out of the way of the filter

Heatshielding has been done for all of the wiring, and a shield has been made for the valve cover too. Hopefully this keeps the stuff from melting

Good progress boys.

I have to drive this thing!!!

[Hoper]

Awesome to see the progress boys, will it fire up this weekend?

[Socket]

Originally Posted by Hoper

Awesome to see the progress boys, will it fire up this weekend?

Working on it

[Socket]

ST build continued

Got heaps done this weekend but not enough to get it started up. Close but ran into a few time consuming problems along the way....

Managed to finished wrapping all the wiring in heat shield tubing and aluminium tape. Looks like someone spewed tin foil in the engine bay hahaha

Also managed to construct an air filter (as per vinces post above) weld the o2 sensors onto the temp exhaust pipe. Filled the car with oil, hooked up the oil and water lines, fitted the ADV 02s and bolted the turbo down. Bloody turbo bolts were a pinta to get access to ended up taking 2 hours because of the shitty access.

Finally run out of daylight, wrestling to get the vband on the dump pipe and turbo..... turbo might need to come off to get the vband on

Will come back and have another go tomorrow

Big thanks to Vince who gave up his weekend to work on this shitty, never ending project

Pics below

Pic 1 - Wiring wrap complete
Pic 2 - No officer the engine bay is completely stock
Pic 3 - Air filter in position, was considering cutting hole in bonnet
Pic 4 - Air filter in position, fits much better
Pics 5 & 6 - Vince welding in 02 sensor bungs... nice
Pics 7 & 8 - I don't know what this is but we figured spcgry is the only N54 with one
Pics 9 & 10 - Vince fitting oil line to turbo

[Aus335iguy]

Nearly there Socket...

[Socket]

Originally Posted by Aus335iguy

Nearly there Socket...

Almost mate.. although I suspect starting it up will simply be the beginning of the ironing out the bugs... will be a major milestone though

[R32GOJIRA]

Backyard mechanics at its best!!
I think Vince needs to start his new business "Yoda Modasports"

[Socket]

Originally Posted by R32GOJIRA

Backyard mechanics at its best!!
I think Vince needs to start his new business "Yoda Modasports"

+1 Vince knows his stuff and always makes sure it's done right. There's not a better workshop in Melb imo

[101Duck]

progress is good, vince needs to put down the welder. lol

turbo drain will melt through. you can't run a braided line like that past the manifold hot spot.

you should put a catch can on that line. or else you gonna end up with a dirty engine bay every drive, oil vapour will catch all the dust and make it stuck to everything.

[vtl]

Originally Posted by 101Duck

progress is good, vince needs to put down the welder. lol

turbo drain will melt through. you can't run a braided line like that past the manifold hot spot.

you should put a catch can on that line. or else you gonna end up with a dirty engine bay every drive, oil vapour will catch all the dust and make it stuck to everything.

Yep I have next to no fabrication experience lol. I can lay down tack welds alright but was having a lot of trouble with it for the o2 bungs. Just a temporary downpipe until the section from the downpipe->exhaust is made up by someone competent.

Good tip, will heatwrap the oil drain, we have to take it off again anyway.

The PCV vent is also a temporary solution, will run a line to the exhaust with a fitting that claims to generate a vacuum from the passing exhaust gasses. I figure it'll be more effective than relying on a vacuum from a single turbo air filter which is not restrictive enough to generate any vacuum.

[Coupes33]

Everything is certainly a tight fit Socks. I hope your engine doesn't rock to the side at all. Is there room to fit a turbo blanket? That is the only form of heat protection you would have for the paintwork on your bonnet I would imagine.

[Armadyllo]

Originally Posted by R32GOJIRA

Backyard mechanics at its best!!
I think Vince needs to start his new business "Yoda Modasports"

I think we all need to chip in and buy Vince a car hoist

[iliketurtl3s]

so exciiittteddddd

[Aus335iguy]

Originally Posted by Armadyllo

I think we all need to chip in and buy Vince a car hoist

And clone him so he can also work in Sydney!

[Boganian Rubes]

Originally Posted by Aus335iguy

And clone him so he can also work in Sydney!

Need a clone of him living in my garage

Vince could become a millionaire selling his clones lol

[Kalsharith]

Originally Posted by Socket

+1 Vince knows his stuff and always makes sure it's done right. There's not a better workshop in Melb imo

++1 absolutely the best shop or in this case non-shop in Melbourne!

[Socket]

Originally Posted by Coupes33

Everything is certainly a tight fit Socks. I hope your engine doesn't rock to the side at all. Is there room to fit a turbo blanket? That is the only form of heat protection you would have for the paintwork on your bonnet I would imagine.

Yeh pretty tight mate. Everything is very snug. Turbo blanket is ready to go on and have some heat shielding for the underside of the bonnet for above the manifold. Have kinda gone OTT on the heat proofing but better to cover it up then to have it melt

[Socket]

ST build continued

Charge pipe back from the welders, not the neatest welds ever but for $60 you cant expect perfection

Bloody freezing in Melb tonight, but lots still to do so after tucking into a pizza, got to work before we got frost bite

Finished wrapping the oil and water lines in more foil (thanks for the tip Duck) then had to take out all the turbo bolts we struggled with yesterday so we could refit the v band.
Got that in place and managed to get the turbo bolted down again and the oil and water lines reconnected (hopefully for the last time).

Doesn't sound like much progress, but working in the cold and dark with a torch to see what we are doing, makes the job extra hardcore...

Highly recommend anyone considering a ST upgrade, do this in in spring or summer hahahaa ...

Pics below

Pic 1 & 2 - Hot side charge pipe all welded up..
Pic 3 - Full size pic of engine bay....at end of day 172