Pushing Mark's VR-4 w/ BM Billet 19T's - 600AWTQ and Counting!

[oohnoo]

Yes still got it and never used it yet. Was thinking of selling it at one time but decided to keep it and try it out. My car is getting revamped and I'm now working on getting it back up and running. I'll use the oem plenum at first to get all the bugs out but then I'll switch to this one. I mean how can I not, it's a work of art. But really have to decide which TB to use.

Bob! Do you actually still have yours? I thought you sold it years ago lol. I mentioned you somewhere (FB?) about being one of the few/only people with the TB+PNT plenum combo, but I honestly thought you had sold 'em before putting to use.

I did suggest to Mark that he send his to you for inspection+repair, if necessary and possible =P I will eventually remove it again so that I can take a closer look at the inside.

[bboyalan]

ETS 3.5" IC street core is enroute! In addition to the new OEM coilpack, I will be reverting to the OEM TB and plenum, installing new NGK 4554's, and hoping for the best!

-sent from my Galaxy S4

[bboyalan]

I will be getting the ball rolling again today, so hopefully some updates will be available this week. In the meantime, here is a video of the progress this year; I included coverage of the plenum leak (near end) for those that are especially curious about that.

[bboyalan]

My mistake! The new IC core is made-to-order and should be here next week! I am still planning to do a fair back-to-back first, and then I will swap out the CX for ETS.

Just before SD was hit with a little rain, we installed some birthday goodies:


"Harness bar installation! Yee!"


"JDM TyTe, y0! Jan's birthday gift for Mark is now installed =]

Next up will be a tan racing seat(s) w/ Wedge bracket(s)!"


"What a view!

A half cage will be installed one day!"

[bboyalan]

"Here is the inside of the affected runner. Obviously, I cannot comment on how bad it actually is or can become with heat, pressure, and flow. I found it using my phone's light on the outside."

[CoopKill]

Duct Tape, and some gum. Good to go!

[bboyalan]

Duct Tape, and some gum. Good to go!

haha naaaah. This will work better, and it is green!



Also!


The cap must have said, "PEACE! I AM OUT!" At least I found another major point through which the horsepower has been escaping lol.

[green-lantern]

The cap must have said, "PEACE! I AM OUT!" At least I found another major point through which the horsepower has been escaping lol.

It's probably imbedded in the fender. lol

[Jimvr4]

I had to add those little spring clamps to every vacuum hose and cap.

[bboyalan]

After much work and further tidying underhood, the verdict is a slightly better powerband but no real gain otherwise - bah! My gut tells me that it is the turbo(s) especially with a few observations that I have made. Both have a degree of radial (side-side) shaft play, but that is to be expected with journals as opposed to BB. What was alarming was the axial (in-out) shaft play that both exhibited. Everyone has their take, but I feel that ANY of the latter is bad news.

Furthermore, a handful of owners in NorCal have been having issues of their own, so it is easy to be apprehensive. The cherry on top is slight smoke from the rear underhood post-run(s) heh.

My next steps will probably be the compression and leak-down tests that I have been putting off. I will still be installing the ETS 3.5" IC core, but that is NOT going to make up the missing 100WHP that I/we are looking for even with 40 over ambient currently. It is a bummer with two major events fast approaching, and the tune+logs are exactly where I want them.

//edit//

RE the nipples: I used thicker-walled caps with US-made "micro" SS clamps and hairspray for extra adhesion.

I was barely able to comfortably tighten the front w/o removing a bunch of other sh*t lol.


"...too lazy to create a folder for Mark in my Photobucket hahaha. Snug as hell wit dat hairsprayz m0d too lmao"


"I changed out the brittle rear too"

Yeah, yeah, no big deal, BUT all of the small details count!