Nice work Tweak! I especially like the way you routed the IC and all it's piping as far away fromt he hot parts of the engine as possible with the 1/2/3rd gen style intake location. That should help alot with heatsoak.

Good placement of the flex section. That along with the support bracket is the key to not cracking those downpipes.
So when are you going to fire it up and take it for a ride?

Not planning on running a bov?

>

Maybe this weekend. I'm going to try to get over there to finish up the welds and I need to fix up one or two small things on the intercooler/piping.

Yeah I actually have the stock BOV installed, haven't taken pics of it since then. That and the water lines are done (system is totally functional right now). I'll get more pics of that up shortly.

-Doc

Doc, you should yank that exhaust and make a template and then sell catbacks to the community. I'd buy one for sure!

>

Yeah, thought about it, but the problem is that there are so many small tweaks made to the system while putting it in, and one little mis-adjustment will throw it way off.

-Doc

Here's the engine bay as it sits right now. Note water lines are complete (system is functional) and stock BOV is installed, and recirculated back to the intake. Hood closes without touching too





This post has been edited by Dr_Tweak: Aug 29, 2009 - 5:45 PM

that is one awesome intercooler

very interesting project, is this the first gte powered vert on here?

how come you went with the wta insted of fmic? stealth?
as a matter of interest how hard is it to remove the intercooler with the "v"bands? because the pipes are welded solid...damm sight easier then having silicone hose im assuming.

Since this is actually YOUR car do you have a specific goal in place for it?

top work.

>

Well... when Mouse was working on the project we were talking about what to do about the intercooler since he was on a really tight budget, and Chris at SCC had a stock ST205 WTA intercooler and offered it to us for $100. It seemed like a good idea at the time, and a simple solution. Plus, I've been wanting to do a water to air intercooler setup for a few years now. Unfortunately if you've followed the thread you'll note that the intercooler ending up being damaged internally (it had been crushed) and didn't work out. However by that time I had already bought and installed the -12 AN lines and fittings, heat exchanger, electric pump, and so on, so I decided to get another water to air intercooler and stay with the setup, while making some changes at the same time to allow the stock hood to close. That said, I would probably never do a WTA intercooler setup again.

The V-bands are just great. Very quick and easy to work with. Note that the intercooler is solid mounted to the engine/trans, so it moves with the engine. The water lines going to it are flexible to allow for the movement (-12 stainless lines).

As you guys know this project was "inherited" and I did decide to finish it. Mouse has insisted that he still wants to buy the car once it's complete, so now that it is... we'll have to see how he feels when he sees how much I've got into it HAHA. Either way, the car will very likely go up for sale with little or no more work done to it on my part. Mouse and the original owner have first dibs on it.

-Doc

hey, Mouse here:)

That's mine! DOC, your the best! call me. Thanks for everything. I have been so excited to see this build and only wish I could be there to work on it with you.

Yeah after starting from this page i decided to go back and read the entire thread, was a good read.

I ment more when your removing the intercooler from the engine, because as some of us know if you try to remove/install a stock TMIC by undoing the hose clamps only (insted of unbolting from the throttle body flange) its a real mc mission. I figure because your using v bands it slides off pretty easy.

I lost your number, send me an email or call me later this week. I'm out of town right now.

>

Oh right, I know what you mean now. Yeah this is very easy, just undo the two -12AN water line fittings, one hose clamp for the BOV, one 12mm bolt for the bracket, and then the two 10mm nuts for the v-band clamps and it comes right off no problem (ideally drain the system by popping a hose of the heat exchanger first )

Looks great!

Cuts, I think there's another GT-Faux vert on here, somewhere in Cali.

Tweak, one stupid question

I have never seen such a big AFM, is that aftermarket, if so what are the benefits, i have seen other swaps without it i think,,,,

what brand is it?

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eggman's got a sweeet ride, 3s in his vert

That's the stock 2nd gen AFM. The 3rd and 4th gens use the MAP sensor only.

-Doc

Hey, Mouse Here,

Just so you all know, I have had the vert shipped up to Anchorage, Alaska. It was shipped out last week. The doc made the Vert awesome. I have been talking to my girl, and have since decided that the vert will be getting a new interior. I am not going to drive the vert in the winter, too much snow. so I have 8 months left to work on it. Before I can actually drop the top and hit the road:) The carpet is new, so I will remove the seats and stitch new ones myself, not seat covers. If it turns out like I want it to, I might go for the doors and console too. any ideas how they should look?

I say go for a custom look on the doors...the area above the door handle (in the middle) lends itself to some new material quite well. Go for it! Just look at what Vincent_Doggy did.

Props for keeping the car as well.

>


MOUSE! whats up man!?! you wont believe how nice the vert is! it is unbelieveable! glad youre getting it back (and sad i cant drool on it anymore lol yes, those slobber stains are mine)

Mouse here,

Since last summer I finally got to drive Project Stuart Little. The motor went out after the first 120 miles of driving last summer. the thrust washers came out of place and scored the block. took out the oil squirter and caused crank walk. So i tore the motor all the way down to the bare block and the block was ruined.

The car has been sitting in storage under two car covers, for the winter. Once the sun Showed signs of summer coming along. I ordered another JDM st185 3sgte and installed it last week. Stuart Little got new performance leather bucket seats installed. I have been driving for a week now. I have a lot of goodies that i want to do now that she is up and running again. I decided to go big with it. I am removing the turbo to have it rebuilt with better internals to handle more HP.
I am going to pull the motor out and have it professionally built this winter. I have the other head i will send out for port, polish, and new performance internals as well. I am VERY happy with Dr. Tweak and his associate for his help and knowledge. I broke a connector to the heater during the install. Called him up and sent a pic. He had one on the shelf and got it shipped and on the way for me:)

I will be posting pics very soon of the install. Knowing that i was going to be removing the engine again at the end of summer for a master rebuild, we installed it without resealing it. just so I could drive it for now.

that's really good news mouse. man it must be a b44ch to have that happen to you, but just deal with it because you got a solid plan, this time you will know it will be reliable. i always thought if i get the engine swap fever, def. save up money to do it right the first time and have it rebuild inside out to get it running smooth from the start, that way i know everything is covered (new seals, bearings...etc)

GOOD LUCK and do point out what you have done with pics and maybe if you remember, throw in tips of the small things you recommend to replace while the engine is out; something small that will go a long way in the future; avoid having to take out the engine again.