Let's not be too hasty to judge. Keep in mind I'm short forming everything. Nothing is for certain yet and I've left out some details- probably critical ones for those of you who actually know what you're talking about. So I put a bit more money in, build up the car the way it should be, and balance out the turbos with the cars internals.

I'm confident in the shop and the folks- just like I was about progressive. The guys who looked over the build were reasonably impressed about their work and that was reassuring. Certainly there are things guys learn to do differently.

Anyway. I'll write more tomorrow. Still typing on an iPhone.

Stay "tuned"

 

I have my fingers crossed and know that things-- will -- work themselves out.
Best wishes...Wizard

 

Okay... so a couple of things weren't quite right with the build- not outright wrong, but not quite dialed in. Which is fine- everyone has their experiences.

The few things that I remember were in need of adjustment:

1) Spark plugs. Apparently plugs are rated for heat- the lower the number, the hotter the plug. It was explained to me that with the FI builds a cooler plug is better. I think they said that the stock plugs are typically a 6, and the plugs that were in my car were a 5... or if stock was 5 mine were a 4... can't remember offhand- but it was a hotter plug and that wasn't good. The gap on them was also "waaay" off- I think they said gap was supposed to be about 28 and it was almost 40... One of the plugs was showing signs of detonation. They were replaced with a greddy 9 plug.

2) Some of the fittings were inconsistent with the way they would expand and contract when heated. It was pointed out to me, and now that we're tearing it apart little things like that will get touched up and fixed.

3) The oil lines were too small for those turbos. I guess this is partly a product of Progressive working more on European cars- apparently those that are included won't provide enough flow.

4) The vaccume lines were apparently all tied in to one spot as opposed to being bored into the plenum separately and secured like that. This one was one I didn't quite get my head around- but I saw it on Seymore's engine and I think his vaccume lines basically went in separately on the passenger side as opposed to just that one little spigot at the front.

5) The tech doing most of the work has a stereo background so he had a few remarks about how he might have tidied a couple things up a little but overall he was impressed with the quality of the workmanship. When one of the other guys heard him say that, they said to me afterwards "If Mike says that then they did a pretty good job."

6) There was already some rubbing going on with some of the closer fitting parts- particularly under the air filter- back a bit between one of the... um... stainless air lines and a bracket mount for something.

7) The stock fan really, REALLY cramped up the... "charge tube?" and I noticed it had to be shaved back a bit for proper fit. I'm going to go with 2 smaller profile fans that open up some room there and are more efficient. Now is a good time to just get that over with.

8) We originally had some trouble logging into the ECU because of the COBB. Funny, because I was unloading the boxes from the original install the morning I left for Seattle and I thought to myself "hmmm, I'm just going to bring this down with me" for no reason whatsoever. Anyway, I was under the impression when Progressive said they had loaded the stock map and unloaded the Cobb that they had reflashed the ECU to stock. When they were trying to get into it with the Osiris software it was locked out. I am glad I brought the Cobb out with me- as we were able to reflash and uninstall the Cobb completely- allowing for the tune to continue. Then again... I remember joking that may have been a good thing- but I didn't mean it. Getting these components built up is what the car and the kit needs. I'm comfortable with it and I'm happy for the oppotunity.

9) I'm not sure what's up with the wastegates... but whatever they were set at was probably too high. Now, we'll not have the issue.




It took me a bit longer to get down to Kent than I expected. I crossed the border at the busy place instead of the quiet place (Peace Arch instead of Pacific X) but the drive was okay. I didn't arrive until 2:30 or so, at which point they got to work on the build about 3:30 after some visiting. They checked the plugs as they did the injectors and upgraded those to the Deatchwerks 600s. They swapped out the plugs and then rebuilt the plenum and the rest to get it ready for the tune. We had a break for lunch and supper and the tune started around 8. It was cool because a bunch of guys stayed late to work on their own projects and an engine swap on another car... music was up, folks were dropping in... pretty cool atmosphere.

When things went south, the car dropped HP and torque simultaneously- but then resumed a trend generally upwards before everything was powered down. It happened pretty fast so I'm not saying they tried to push through the drop... everything happened all at once. Looking at the fuel ratio it was sitting level throughout- where it was supposed to be. The noise that followed starting the car after was kind of a... rough idling noise- almost like a diesel... near the front driver side of the engine- the it sounded higher up... it was tough to tell.

They went after the plugs and scoped the cylinders but everything was fine there... there was no residue or signs of damage. There was some thoughts it was one of the turbo shafts... but they eventually agreed amongst the extended community that it was either a bearing or a rod...

So anyway, that's where we're at.

 

Sucks to hear but i would tend to agree with Sashas post.

I hope everything works out for you, and you get the car back up and running in a short time it will be a beast with a built engine Raj (Rcdash) pretty much chrushes most guys at the air strip event with his built engine automatic.

 

Hope it all comes together and works out Ian! If it's working by the time the summer meet comes around I want a ride. (no homo!)

 

Oh it'll be all good... these guys are really good with the platform and know it really well. The part that is going to be time consuming is getting the tranny sent out to IPT and back again... not sure how long that'll take. And yes, I'm looking for a built tranny for sale somewhere instead... thinking it'll probably cost the same in the end but might be quicker...

We'll see you guys at the meets if you don't go and change the dates at the last minute again!

Still chafing about Canmore.

 

I need to get into the line of work you guys are at. This seems like it gonna be a huge amount of money.

 

that sux to hear Ian. now that your building the motor it will all work even better!
...sorry about changing the canmore dates!!

 

Pm Jordan (Canadian) he did a 6mt swap and I think he had a built tranny for sale?

 

I'm not sure which Canadian he is... there are quite a few! Patriotic showboats aren't we!?

I'll will look into it!

I'm also talking to Sean (Sxcxyx- I think) to see about timing covers... I'm not so worried about the plenum because I can do that... whenever. I remember everyone lamenting about how good it looks but how crappy it is to do... and this seems like the PERFECT time to invest 200 bucks on the cover- because it sounds like the stock core is coming off anyway.

 

Just listed:

http://my350z.com/forum/drivetrain/5...built-5at.html

 

His actual screen name is 'Canadian'.

https://g35driver.com/forums/members...-canadian.html

 

Thanks for the leads guys. We're inquiring with the built that just went on sale. I've heard different comments about torque converters and I'm not sure if that will take things too far away from my desired ride style. I liked that on my normal driving I can't even tell the difference (except that the sound is just freaking awesome now instead of slightly raspy) but when I want to blow the roofs off an acreage I can put my row into it and beat cheeks out of there. Torque converters. Hmmmm.

Anyone got any feedback on those?

Also sounds like intec has a local guy who does smokin hot work so we'll probably do that instead- so polish is in the near future.

And brakes. Might be the time to at least buy them. I'll refer back to earlier posts on the subject. Lots to learn about brakes.

 

after reading this thread on and off, I'm going to stick with my plans of buying a car that comes turbo'd from the factory... seems like a ton of headaches/time/work goes into all of these set ups...

 

I would pm "Canadian" and or "rcdash" about driving with torque converters both have driven with built trannies and boosted cars. Rcdash(raj) has 500whp in his auto and I think he is an excellent source of info, he may spend more time on my350z than he does here.