chrisbergusmc

So I have been working on getting the FD I bought a while back working again. When I bought it, I knew that the engine was already blown. So I broke out the workshop manual and started taking everything out. Me and my buddy went through the disassembly section step by step until it said take out the engine. Anyone who has gone through this has seen that when you get to that point there are about 4 bazillion electrical connectors left....fun. Anyways, we got the engine ready to ship to pettit, who said when I called them that it was approximately a 10 day turn around time. Not bad at all. Well 2 months, about $4500, and 40 phone calls later they finally sent it back. Turns out that pretty much the whole engine was bad...new front rotor housing $600, new rear rotor housing $600, new eccentric shaft FREE ninety-nine, new center housing $300 or so. Once I got the engine back we started putting everything back on, I figured that this is as good a time as any to change all the vacuum hosing to silicone. Again I go through the book for everything putting all the right torques and everything. One of the things that I hate about the service manual is that it leaves little things out like, assuming that you see it on the exploded view of what you are about to do instead of putting it on the step-by-step. after a lot of work, busted knuckles, and cussing I'm finally ready to start it up for the first time. YAY! Time to turn the key for the first time with the spark plugs in (you have them out to prime the oil through the system) it starts up fine. and then I hear not a dripping but a flowing and my buddy telling me to "Shut it off! Shut it off!". I do so and jump out to see what is going on when I see the gallon plus of oil on the ground after maybe 3 seconds of hearing my baby run. Turns out that the oil pan seal decided to not only leak, but basically throw up everything that it was holding. I realize it's a long post but I had to vent somewhere.

papsmagu

iTrader: (19)

sorry to hear about your bad luck and welcome to the wonderful world of rotary's

don't worry it will all be worth it when she is running

chrisbergusmc

Yeah, I know, that is why it is still around. I have had it since November, didn't start working on it until April 23 or so. The joys of a military pay check I guess. But if nothing else I have figured out that I have a good deal of patience.

poss

iTrader: (5)

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. You have a different problem than your oil pan seal if oil is squirting out. Even the most poorly sealed pan will at most drip, not gush.


Also, paragraphs are your friend. It makes it a little easier on our eyes.

chrisbergusmc

my buddy said he saw it just give out. what I think happened is that I was using "the right stuff" gasket maker since Cam from Pettit recommended it. The only thing is that you have to fully torque it down withing 5 minutes after applying it. there happen to be about 400 bolts on the bottom of the oil pan.

as far as the paragraph thing, oops

dubulup

you let it dry over night right?

a trick to sealing it with that stuff, is take a pointed "punch" tool (looks like an ice pick) and make thousands of little dimples in the pan flange...PITA and don't bend the flange. Then make thousands more in the bottom of the block (housing/irons/f.cover). Now when you put the two together the sealant has little "handles" to seal up into.

I'll try to find a picture.

Very frustrating car, but you'll love it. Next come seq turbo system troubleshooting!!! Or did you convert to NS?

dubulup

since we're having photobucket fun

chrisbergusmc

thanks for the advice dubulup. I'll be sure to do that. yeah, im still running
sequential, dont really plan on changing in the near future.

the turbos were rebuilt not long before I got the car, the previous owner was
kind enough to keep good records. All the way back to when it was bought.

good list of mods too. except the flywheel and engine being worthless of course.

chrisbergusmc

nice pic of the turbo by the way...classy

7racer

wow....don't worry about the set back. Impressive that you tackled that all yourself. Hang in there. Sounds like it will be worth it when its all done.

dubulup

thanks man (note aircraft connector at firewall for engine harness ), Sounds like my car when I bought it...an older guy owned it since AUG 96 from the dealer. Great records and an unmolested ride! I got it up to 301rwhp when it was seq...with 250ft-lbs of torque at the transistion, the car was scary quick! makes me want a twin turbo FD, again! Good luck.

chrisbergusmc

what mods did you have when you had it up to 301?

dubulup

Pettit cold air intake
Pettit underdrive main pulley
Downpipe
Racing Beat dual tip exhaust
PFS piggyback ECU, running 12psi on the primary, and 13psi on the secondary.

That's it, and man was that fun!! 225ft-lbs at 2500rpms <--haven't seen those days in a long time.

chrisbergusmc

as of now I have:
pettit street port w/3mm apex seals
pettit ecu, intake, ast, main underdrive pulley
downpipe, midpipe, cat back (not sure of brand, no paperwork)
m2 large smic

thats just the engine, the suspension is fully done as well
any ideas of what i should run on the dyno? I plan on doing it when the
engine is broken in anyway, just looking for a rough guestimate

dubulup

14psi ~330+

sounds like a nice car!!