Hey XLR8 sorry to hear about the turbo. It worked flawless on our car at 530rwhp for quite some time. But as you mentioned nobody can predict the future. I cant really see how running a BOV is a bad thing, its just relieving stress. Adding more stress for no real reason (except for cost maybe) is not a good reason to me. But at any rate, it was really nice to meet you at NJ and we really like your 7.

 

Josh I remember when you left the Carlisi meet the car was smoking a lot when you started it up. I was wondering what the problem was; guess I got my answer. Sucks to hear bout the turbo. Just remember this, you did not screw up the equipment did. When you do a build like you did that is an accomplishment in and of itself.

 

That sucks, does this turbo qualify for garrets chra program?

 

the GTX series does not qualify for the CHRA core exchange program, but the regular GT35R does. i went through this with elliot at Turblown.
what we ended up doing in my case was remove my GTX compressor wheel from my blown CHRA (compressor was perfect, turbine wheel was chewed up) and swap it onto a fresh GT35R (standard) CHRA. the turbine wheels are the same between GTX and regular GT series, but the chra cast section is slightly different.

effectively, i got the GTX turbo rebuilt (and blasted/cleaned) for $700. then i sold it.

i'd recommend doing this.

 

as for the bov, I still have your old one.

if you want we can work a deal on the bov



it may be cheaper for you to have it welded to the piping in your area. the cost of round trip shipping to me would be a lot.

im in Montreal now, ill be leaving for Iceland in 3 hours, then to Moscow and finally to the cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

I miss home already.

 

Yeah, I figured I would just buy a new one anyway and have my guy weld it on. Thanks anyway though.

Have a safe trip!

 

UPDATE

Turblown received my turbo and gave me the news. Essentially, heat killed it. The turbine shield behind the turbine is deformed. The bearings are toast and the turbine was touching the housing. If the housing is okay, it looks like a new CHRA is all that's needed. Still waiting on the final word though.

As soon as he told me this, I knew what had happened. When I first got the car running I took it for a 20 minute drive around my local neighborhood to see how it would do, and I then noticed something wasn't right. I had some pretty high EGT's and idle wasn't smooth. Upon return, my DP flange was glowing from just that quick drive and the heat was radiating bigtime. After a quick ponder, I had a HUGE lightbulb go off. I realized that I never unchecked the timing lock from zeroing it... All 4 plugs locked at 0.

Of course, I let it cool, made the fix and I went about driving it. It obviously didn't show any issues immediately as it dyno'd well and drove fine all weekend. But that it seems really was the beginning of the end.

As I said before, I trusted Logan with the turbo's condition as he seemed to be a stand up businessman. After chatting at Rotorfest before my tune, I had even more reinforcement that he was a stand-up guy. This is why I don't jump to conclusions when something goes wrong. It is apparent that I alone took a perfectly good working turbo, and killed it in about 20 minutes. Live and learn...

Turblown is rebuilding it, and I will hopefully have it back soon. From there, it's getting bolted back up and away I go. Considering the turbo did well on the dyno, I don't feel a need to retune high boost. But I do plan to run some logs as I get into boost again gradually with the new turbo. Just to be sure...

I have seriously considered a billet wheel upgrade as now would be the time. But I just don't see the necessity. My achieved power is more than enough for my street car. At the cost of another trip to the dyno and retune, I may get the same power at a couple less psi. Tempting, but I am pretty happy with my results.

I also still plan to press forward with no BOV. With a fresh turbo, I plan to clock the miles and frequently check shaft play. I really feel like I need personal closure on this debate. So we will see where it goes.

 

xl8r, i have a hard time believing you severely overheated the turbo by cruising around for 20 minutes right when you got the car running, even with the timing locked.

 

^ I have seen first hand what ignition/fueling issues can do to a turbo (I have seen the glowing turbo syndrome), improper timing, far retarded, will cause more of the fuel to burn while it is in the exhaust (think 2 step) and will cause extremely high sustained EGT's at low loads.



Josh, go billet wheel, if you don't, you will regret it. What is a few more $$$ anyway right?

 

Good work Josh... At least you know how it happened and like you said... didn't jump to conclusion. Good to know you'll be rebuilding the turbo and going on like it was.... this is where i originally got into trouble. 2 and a half years later.... the car was a full blown garage build haha. 500whp is nuts in a street car and this is the classic situation.."If it aint Broke...It Aint for fixin." That car is a rocket... on the track it would be a rocket.. everywhere at that power would be a rocket. Imagine a nother 15-20whp.... Its pretty much like..WHY? haha. Good stuff man. You coming to seven stock this year?

 

turbos get hell hot when cruising on the interstate and are glowing brightly...
they're also glowing when doing a track day and they're seeing repeated full throttle pulls for multiple 20 minute sessions.

i was just saying that having the timing and fuel off for a 20 minute slouch around the neighborhood probably didn't do much (if anything) compared to the inferno the turbo saw at the track day and cruising on the interstate and doing 4th gear pulls. could it get hotter during this condition than at the track day? i would like to see some real world info. i'd have a hard time believe that, but i could easily be wrong.

 

I do not have definitive proof either way. I see both sides, but because I don't have 100% proof on the cause, I couldn't tarnish someone's name. Because of this, I am choosing to believe it was my fault. I think Logan was very honest in the condition of the turbo and if it was injured he had no knowledge of it. This is the risk taken when we buy used parts. I'm definitely not sour in any way. So despite the cause, a rebuild is still in order, and I am now a little wiser on attention to detail when playing with the laptop.

John, you're like my inner voice...lol

However, this time, I think I'm going to take the easy way out. The standard wheel did very well. 504whp in 90 degree ambient temps is nothing short of impressive. What I may gain from the billet wheel would really be minimal for my purposes. It's been 10 long months with some pretty killer results, and I honestly just want to drive the car. With a billet wheel, my welded compressor housing would not work. More fitting, and fabbing for piping, as well as my WI fittings and then it would need retuned. With the end of the season approaching, closing on a new house in Nov, and moving in January, it just isn't justifiable to myself or my wife.

It will put that same smile on my face as it did when I pulled out of Speed1's lot, and that is just dandy for me. I'm not down grading in any way, as I considered going to a journal bearing CHRA initially to save cost.

 

Reading your speculations on upgrading the turbo was like when Frodo makes it all the way to Mordor... and refuses to destroy the ring You've got a super solid setup, repair and enjoy it! Too many 7 owners fall into the neverending build trap.

 

True car enthusiast here. Priorities are what people lack these days. Go forth and keep winning sir.

 

Josh,

Its Steven, from our days at the Pentagon CENTCOM office. How are you? The car looks awesome! I strated down the 20B road we previously discussed, you were right, it is expensive. In any event, I wanted to touch base and say hello. Furthermore, I wanted to pick your brain on some things. If you get a chance send me an email. I hope all is well.

Cheers,
Steven

P.S.- IIRC you are a comms guy right? If so and if interested in coming to the NRO let me know.

 

Goodluck man!

 

burning fuel in the exhaust will be hotter then just straight exhaust. exhaust is radiant heat vs the actual burning of fuel in the exhaust turbine housing.

I can see this happening, it makes sense. I have seen similar things before where the ceramic core in a cat melts because fuel collects on it and ignites.

 

Steven! What's up buddy!! PM'd ya!

 

just caught up on this thread. ya know, the car is awesome... but i must say, congrats on a wife that lets you play in the garage so much. she's a keeper.

 

*Whispers in ear* "Get the billet wheel"

 

I did... will update soon.

 

Carbon Panel

While I have had some down time, I figured I would tackle a job that I hadn't made time for, the carbon radiator panel. I ordered it in a group buy a few months ago by CarbonRXX. As it was designed to fit the factory car, I knew it would need some modification. With this, I requested he cut the large section off of the original design and make it flush across. He was happy to help and didn't charge many any extra. It was packaged nicely and came looking like this...



With some advice from FCinWV, I took some measurements and went to work with my Dremel. I used Dremel's "plastic cutoff wheel" and it worked very well. After mowing through it like butter, I went back and ran a "sanding" tip across the edge to take away any small flaring. I had to cut it a few times as I got closer to the shape I wanted.

I feel the end result turned out pretty well... I ensured the Rotary Extreme SN stamp remained visible as I like it. The panel will be painted Montego Blue, but for now it will remain bare carbon fiber as I get other things up to speed...

 

Turbo TIME!!

After a few weeks of waiting and discussing my options with Turblown, I finally received my FRESH turbo. It is now sporting their 35R replacement billet compressor wheel. I am ecstatic over the continued EXCELLENT customer service, and products I have received from them!

My decision to go with a billet wheel ultimately came down to a "might as well". With a total limited investment to upgrade and a nod from the wife, it was an easy decision. Looks like the little voices won, and my rational side was once again bound and gagged..... . I'm headed back to the dyno on Oct 19th, and looking to wring this sucker out! With much cooler ambient temps, billet wheel, and fresh CHRA, I am very anxious to see what it will do.

All that needs to be done is have my elbow re-welded, and bolt her on. Turblown wanted to machine my compressor housing as the billet wheel is slightly larger. With needing it to fit on the lathe, the elbow needed to be cut off. I will once again be doing some test driving before dyno day, and ensuring everything is solid.

Overall, very pleased, and excited!!

 

Good stuff Josh.... at your boost levels the billet compressor wheel makes sense

I say leave the engine bay panel carbon..... a little contrast is a good thing IMO

 

Yea don't paint it.