Wow, I commend you on this build. A lot of money and man-hours into this thing. I would have jumped ship along time ago.


Good luck! Good looking ride you got there.

 

I'm not going all ScraggleRock on you, but I wasn't a fan of the look or execution on the original center exhaust setup you had, but the new tips look amazing. I really like it!

 

The first version of the exhaust was unfinished. I was trying to find the perfect set of tips. In the end, stock g35 tips work perfectly and give the upgraded stock look I was after.

 

I dug back into the car last night. I have MAJOR issues with the PCV system so I spent a long time researching PCV routing and have concluded that I'll be changing my can design.


I never actually got any oil in the can, but a ton of condensation mixed with the oil vapor.


I have the plenum removed right now, I can see oil on top of the valves. 4 out of 6 spark plug holes are FULL of oil, yet the car never misfired. There was considerable smoke from the exhaust, and the oil was actually spewing from the valvecovers and spilling onto the (wrapped) headers causing a loty of smoke there too.


First thing I'm about to do is clean out all the spark plug tubes and then pull the plugs. next is a compression test.


I emptied over half a liter of combustion vapor water from the catch can last week, and the hose to the intake was pulling a lot of suction at WOT. And I'm at WOT a lot. I'm wondering if G forces on the turns at WOT may have sloshed the water over and I sucked in some. A self contained hydro-lock. I haven't noticed any rough running, no check engine lights.. other than the obvious smoke.


So.. compression test. If that doesn't reveal a big drop in compression, I'll chalk up the problem to catch can R&D and take it back to stock configuration until I figure out a re-design. Good few hrs of work ahead..


Stay tuned

 

So the compression test results were positive, from 207 to 220 cross all 6. the cylinders were wet with oil from taking out the soaked plugs but I was looking more for consistency so it's good.

the spark plugs show good burn on all six also. no carbon or oil was there.

moving ahead with the idea that my pcv design was a major fail and the engine is ok.

 

Pulled both valvecovers and still looking good. The gaskets were both still sealed, but it looks like the spark plug tube seals were spewing the oil.
Cleaned and degreased both covers and while they are drying I took a break and went to the park with my son and the dog.

Feeling confident that the engine is healthy and should go back together and be great again.

 

So are you going to try to drill out the plug wells and do the o-ring fix? Source new valve covers? Try the Maxima valve cover swap trick?

 

Check out the xSxExCx Catch cans. Those seem to work well for people.

 

I'll do that thanks Jordan. I already have Sean's ground kit and it was top quality.

Got the car buttoned up today (Saturday ) about 4pm. Got a late start though so it had to happen quick. I resealed all the gaskets with copper spray, the rtv on the valvecovers and spark plug tubes cured overnight so that worked out good. I cleaned the TB and the MAF while I had them in hand and then it fired right up.

if you unplug the Throttle Body for any reason, make sure the battery negative cable is off. That way you can avoid the reset procedure.

I installed the Motordyne CCV today also. But I could just as easily have installed a tube. I will never have to worry about temps cold enough to need to warm the TB. Anyone need a CCV?

I'm also running a hot air intake right now. The rain has been so frequently bad here that I was getting worried about the filter getting submerged. I'll be doing some blocking and ducting to improve that. Whatever happened to the AEM bypass valves for their CAI?

I took the car out tonight and it performed great. No issues other than the oil that was soaked into the header and header wrap that is burning off. I threw a bottle of Seafoam in the tank and filled her up. I have a pretty specific route every week so I'll be able to tell if mileage picks up. Since the new transmission and shorty header install I haven't seen over 19mpg. I was getting 20-21 consistently on the long tube headers. I still haven't had Joe (Seymour4) tune the car for real yet. Installing that wideband O2 is kicking my butt. Not really but I do need to get it in the car. ..

Oh and I bought an aluminum driveshaft. Should be in next week. My stock u joints are SO chunky. Can't wait for this one.

Next week I'll install it and swap a new front crank seal in since mine has been leaking since I installed the lightweight AMS pulleys and a new seal.

I hope this rtv job on the spark plug tubes holds out. If I do end up building this motor, brand new valvecovers are on the list.

Couple pics from the last few days


Bad news. Spark plug tubes full of oil



That catch can is coming out. Needs more work.



Compression testing. See the TB plugged in.. the paper towels are so the oil in the cylinders and spark plug tubes didn't spray. I pulled 40cc of oil each out of 4 of them.



Looks like I'm at work. . OR table



Organized chaos.



Running. Look ma.. no smoke



It's been a long few days but I think I fixed it..err..my mistake. You can't win them all. .but it will be better next time.

Stay Tuned

 

I've gotta say you are one dedicated ****, respect. The car's looking great and sounds like it's doing well. This is one of my favorite threads on Driver so keep it up and keep us posted!!

 

+1, on this. This is one of the few threads I'm subbed to. Hate to hear you got one of those find-a-new-problem-everyday cars but it makes for great entertainment haha. Keep up it up man

 

Yes, find a new problem everyday. . But hey if I keep fixing it I'll eventually run out of problems. Right...?

Saturday evening revealed 2 problems. The decision to have my wife drive my car going to a concert (I had celebrated a bit finishing the car successfully) and she striped the bottom corner of the front bumper on a curb. Here's the dialogue..

her: "now how do I know that wasn't there before? I didn't do that... " (Even though I was in the passenger seat as it happened and FELT it.)
Me: reaching down to feel the 12" scrape that wraps around the corner of the bumper.." well, let's see dear. Here is some paint dust, and oh look here at the curb.. here's some more paint dust"
Her: "well I told you I didn't want to drive your car anyway. .it's too loud"
Me: "that's okay, I'm just going to Plasti dip the car now, so the next time you drive it I can fix it with a spray can".

And if that wasn't enough, when I get home I find one of my low beam headlights is out..not sure yet if fuse, bulb or ballast.

Yes, always something.

 

"Honey the curb reached up and scraped the bumper so there's no way that was your fault" would have been the politically correct answer but I like yours a lot more!

Damn car...........

 

Damn women.....

 

Lmao, my wife always threatens me by telling me she will dent my quarter panel. Fn women


I don't know how you get so much time for all of this but great build and thanks for the updates! Inspires me to get out there and take care of the G.