Project Money Pit

Sifu

New member
Wow? Finally my own thread to talk about the frustration of my Money Pit. Let's start with the history.

Bought it in 2003 from another Alltrac user (1990 ST185, red). He decided to swap out the original engine for a JDM engine. The previous owner just started turning wrenches and was pretty green. She was in bad mechanical shape. She didn't start but the body was immaculate (esp. being up here in MN) condition save for a few dings. He was asking $6k for her non running. I laughed and we got her down to $2300 with a quickness.

After many attempts trying to get it started (and going through 6 mechanics) she finally sputterd to life. Granted she was running very hot at least one important problem was out of the way.

Just because she started didn't mean anything as I couldn't get her into gear. The said previous owner installed the clutch backwards. After trouble shooting (I was going to school at the time so funds were non-existant) some more I just decided to pull the whole JDM crap out. I started saving up for PMP ever since I purchased it, but now the goals have changed. What was going to be a 300hp Evo killer had now changed to a 500hp beast hunting Vette's and Porsches.

I spoke with Chris K. from Engine Logics on a beef'd up 3sgte. I got a quote of about $13k+ and pretty much shat my pants. This wasn't including EMS, clutch to hold that power, fuel, turbo/intercooler. All I could think was "I'd better start eating ramen again."

Fortunately an MR2 owner was selling his Chris K. longblock for a nice price and I jumped on that instead. On top of that I got his fuel setup and turbo kit. As of late I've just been buying parts here and there trying to figure out
- which ems am I going with
- 2.5 or 3in diameter piping for the fmic
- which clutch (dual carbon) should I pick

After those have been sorted out then I'll get to making PMP look good.

I'll get to the mods list soon (it's a pretty nice list). I'm picking up my new macbook pro because my laptop decided to poop on me and I can't wait to get back to some 3d work. Keep checking as I'm constantly buying things slowly before the BIG revival (this Spring hopefully (actually it was last LAST Spring but who's counting at this point?)).

Mods:
- Chris K. long block stout for 550hp+
* Block: Deck, line bore, smooth hone and gulley mods
* Crank: Chamfer, polish and Balanced
* Clevitte-77 bearings
* Stock bore Ross Pistons
* Eagle rods
* ARP head stud kit
* High flow Ported and shimmed oil pump
* New Primary Idler Pulley
* New Secondary Idler Pulley
* New Tensioner
* New Timing Belt
* TTE Head Gasket
* 34.5 mm Ferrea Intake valves
* 30 mm Ferrea Exhaust valves
* 65 lb Valve Springs with Titanium Retainers
* Shim-less buckets
* HKS 272 intake cam
* HKS 264 Exhaust cam
* Adjustable cam gear
* Street port
- KO GT35R Street Brawler Kit
*Full 3" downpipe with V band clamp and integrated 1.75” wastegate dump tube (with it’s own flex section)
*Wideband O2 Port and Plug
*Tial Sport 38mm external wastegate
*Garrett GT series turbo GT3582R
- Extreme Boost or Chris K. top feed fuel rail (bling or Chris? I dunno?)
- 880 SARD top feed injectors
- SARD FPR
- Walbro 255 fuel pump
- Chris K. Intake Sidefeed Intake Manifold
- BBK 70mm throttle body
- Bilstein Custom Coilovers
- Cusco pillow mounts
- Cusco camber plates
- RC Transmission
- Speed Source Braided Clutch Line
- Speed Source clutch slave piston extender
- Techna fit SS brake lines
- Cusco underbody brace
- Cusco Rear Strut Tower Bar
- Apexi AVC-R Boost Controller
- ST205 Torsen LSD
- HKS SSQ BOV
- HKS Twin Disc Clutch
- HKS Green shroom filter (which I've been told isn't good for our vehicles)
- CS bumper for FMIC
- Whiteline bushings for zero whiteline parts
- Camber adjustment tools
- Front clear corner lights
- 1 radical blue neon painted Stock Steering wheel (i didn't do this btw).
- Rice in tail pipe. TWICE!!!

Things to get (in order of importance)!!!
- Standalone EMS (still looking at options, torn between AEM, Motec, Hydra)
- Full exhaust system (Aussie)
- Volk Rims
- High Grip Tires
- Optima Battery
- Gauges or a STACK unit
- Momo Steering wheel (or TOMS) to get rid of that horrid neon wheel
- Momo bucket seats
- Cusco Roll cage
- Underbody paint and full paint job
- Rice stickers w/ the whistle tip. Cause we all know what that does. woo WOO!!!

Goal: 500hp+
Status: Sitting on the jack stands awaiting the Powerball Jackpot.
 

Sifu

New member
Here are some photos...
at1.jpg

at2.jpg

at3.jpg

at4.jpg

Towing her to the garage.
crate.jpg

Chris K. engine collecting dust...
head.jpg

Open up the crate and VIOLA!
1.jpg

2.jpg

3.jpg

4.jpg

5.jpg

6.jpg

3sgte.jpg

turbo.jpg

turbo2.jpg

Garret t3/t4 .63ar trim w/ dual ball bearing cartridge, water/oil cooled goodness!!!

Again once I get my laptop I'll be able to work on my website and get more photos online. OH JOY I CAN'T WAIT!
 

saki10man

New member
wow :shock: with that set up you will definitely be eating up stock and modded evo's and STi'. Great work! Keep us posted on your build......looks really good man. :smokes:
 

Aaron

Member
How did you afford all this stuff? You said you were a student. What do you do part-time? :shock:
 

Sifu

New member
Thanks guys, this project has been in the works for 3+ years now and there's really no end in site. My next big purchase will definately be an EMS and a new uncut harness (unless someone can fix mine w/ missing connectors).

As for my occupation I'm no longer a student. LOL funny how time flies and you've found yourself all grown up and working with everyone else. I always thought that I'd have more time after college. Boy was I wrong. I currently manage one of our family businesses after quitting my career. I'll get back to that later...

I'm shooting this spring for getting her started. There's still so much left to do but I guess punking some cars in a jaloppy will suffice. :smokes:

I didn't call it a Money Pit for nuttin'... :wink:
 

GT4_CR

New member
Quick question. I see and understanda that the engine you bought is a full kit or at least you purchase everything as is. What I want to know is, if intake manifold is custom made.. why would you prefer it to have the same shape as the original, and not a side intake with shorter more direct runners and stuff.

Just because I intend to have a new intake custom made and definitely want it to be side feed
 

Sifu

New member
The engine was an MR2 block with forged internal goodness. I won't go into too many details but yeah it'll rock 600hp no problems, my turbo unfortunately isn't since 500hp will be pushing the limits.

That intake is Chris K's. intake mannifold. He has both side and front/center feed runners but prefers front as the distribution of air is not as easily disrupted giving a more accurate air charge. It is pricey though and I was NOT able to score that part no matter how hard I tried to bargain for it. I have to have one made for my setup.

As for the side vs. center feed debate you can ask him about it. He's more experienced than I am and I'm not going to doubt his work since a lot of MR2 guys will vouch for his work.

Ross Machine also makes an intake that is much less expensive (HALF of the Chris K.) and looks better. There have been numerous debates on which is better but I'm still going to stick to his since he builds each intake according to engine mods whereas the RM intake is a one piece. Give Griffin hell as he has BOTH intakes and we're all still waiting for his dyno results.

http://www.enginelogics.com/induction.html
 

fhalperformance

New member
i dont know why people are so set on going to a side feed intake manifold. ive talked to a few x rally car engineers and they run top feed intake manifolds on the GT4s they have built so i didnt see any reason to go against the grain with my build. for the money, im real impressed with the rmr manifold im running. real impressed.

as for ems, id consider an autronic sm4 if i were you. Im running one on my build and im real impressed with it. id stay away from aem, theyve been having too much trouble and id rather pay a little more to protect my investment in a way i can have peace of mind. motec > autronic > hydra.

as to your fmic piping size, what size throttle body you planning on running? also it was my impression that cusco no longer produced LSDs for the GT4 but i could be wrong. If they are, id very much like to pick one up. also, the cusco roll cage is really only a show piece. plus you can have one custom built for you for around the same price.
 

Sifu

New member
The RMR intakes are really a nice piece but I think many members are waiting for Griffin's assessment. I'll be going with a 3in unit, we've had a couple of discussions about 2.5 or 3 but it looks like 3 will be the winner.

As for EMS I'm really not savy nor confortable with any of them. I've heard praises from Motec because it can do just about anything you want but I don't feel like spending my unborn children's body parts for it, let alone the tuning phase. Thanks for the tip, I'll have to keep my options open.

I have a friend that works at Nukabe (Cusco dealer) in Illinios and he states that in their catalog the 1.5 and 2 way LSD's will fit an ST185. When, and I do mean WHEN I'm finished I'll probably grab one of these units but there are so many other things that need to be taken care of first. I was actually hoping to do a group buy but that didn't bode too well when they saw the price. I think he needed more buyers. I can ask him again.
 

fhalperformance

New member
motec was originally formed out of two (or more) partners and one of them split off from motec and started autronic. ive heard nothing but praise for autronic sm4 and it has a far more reasonable price compared to some of the motec systems. from what ive read autronic also has one of, if not the best, ignition systems. that might be something to look into too.

is that cusco LSD for the rear or the front?
 

Sifu

New member
I believe it is for the front. Nice to hear about the Autronic. I'll definately look into it.
 

fhalperformance

New member
well if it is for the front id be very interested in it. availability of aftermarket parts for our drivetrain is the only thing that pisses me off.
 

lumbercis

Moderator
Sifu":12vpym23 said:
I believe it is for the front. Nice to hear about the Autronic. I'll definately look into it.

Hmm, better ask the dealer, I don't think any front LSD's were ever made for our cars.

J.
 

Sifu

New member
I'll check with him. It's been a couple of months since I last spoke to him.

THe exhaust mannifold was a once piece with that turbo. He didn't want to seperate those no matter how hard I tried. I gotta' put that on the list too.
 

BADNEWS

Member
Sifu":i71h2xzu said:
I have a friend that works at Nukabe (Cusco dealer) in Illinios and he states that in their catalog the 1.5 and 2 way LSD's will fit an ST185.


The cusco lsd is for the rear diff.
 

etantshi

Moderator
There used to be a TRD front LSD, but it has long been discontinued. You can get a quaife one if memory serves, but it is very expensive.
 

CelicaTurbo

New member
Sifu,

Good Luck, hopefully you get it all done soon. You should enjoy killin the Evo's, STI's, and Talon's. There's so many of them. I'll see you on the streets, look for a Blue MK3 Supra. Take care, Bro.
 
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