my small project

gjp

another post whore
Thought I will post info on my project. Not as big as some of you guys but this will be where I can ask questions for all you guys that have been there before and get asked questions for others who are looking at doing this stuff. and post pics as I go along.

List of projects

1) stage 1 turbo by RPM
2) A2A by RPM
3) Gilbert shaft
4) Brake kit by CBR
5) Trans cooler & remote filter
6) Razor alky kit
7) L35 heads, ported upper & lower intakes.
8) cowl hood by goodmark and paint
Today I spent 4 hours remove complete w2a intercooler setup along with the atr aux intercooler. Also removed stock turbo. This is my first time doing this much work on a car by myself. working out of my driveway with basic hand tools.
 
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MRKING

New Parts for Old Trucks
Re: my small project

gjp said:
Today I spent 4 hours remove complete w2a intercooler setup along with the atr aux intercooler. .
You should sell me your atr aux cooler.
 

gjp

another post whore
Re: my small project

Its a few years old but was working good when I removed. I will post pics and price in a few days. Turbo will be up for sale too.
 

gjp

another post whore
Re: my small project

The stuff I got was great. I cant wait to put it on. Thanks

Pics I took today.
Picture184.jpg

Picture183.jpg
 

gjp

another post whore
Re: my small project

Hard hard is it to do a head swap??thinking about doing it myself since I have a lot of the truck apart already. I have the skills but not the knowledge. Is there someone who can walk me through it. Or is it something That I should not even try??
 

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
Re: my small project

Compare to where your are in the pictures your about 3 hours into a 9 hours of disassembly. I don't know your mechanic ability, but things to think about. Pulling the intake requires pulling the distributor and cleaning up the gaskets. Pulling the manifolds means dealing with the bolt behind the power steering. Pulling the heads require readjusting the valves and cleaning the deck surfaces.
 

gjp

another post whore
Re: my small project

I already replaced the distibutor. No biggie there. I read up on that bolt. Looks like a bitch. I have a new gasket set and I have a good mechanic ability.( took me about an hour to remove the turbo) I know pulling everything off I will be able to do. I have the tools. Its just the readjusting and torque settings I am not to sure of. As far as cleaning the deck serfaces??? I will be putting on a reconditioned set of L35's. They have valves& springs installed. When I remove the old heads what do I have to look out for?? Or should I just put my mods on and spend the 800$ to have a shop swap them out for me. I just dont know if I can trust a shop localy.
 

gjp

another post whore
Re: my small project

Spent a few hours today and got my trans cooler in and the new rpm trans lines. Looks good. Those lines were a bitch to get to with just the truck on jacks. ANyone have pics where I can mount the filter?? I cant find a good spot. Thinking about relocating the vacuum ball and putting it there. Any ideas?? Thanks
 

gjp

another post whore
Re: my small project

A question..... With the new cooler and remote filter installed, how much more atf should I add to start off with?
 

gjp

another post whore
Re: my small project

Matt blum. The guy on ebay (hes e-mail in on here somewhere or if you search e-bay for syclone tb plates) rebuilt my tb, cleaned it (enen can beadblasted and powder coat it to)and opened it up to match the upper intake and added a syclone #411 plate up top.
 

gjp

another post whore
Re: my small project

After my sons school open house today I went out and worked on my truck. I was able to install the gilbert shaft. Was not too bad. GM had no problems using red lock tight did they? It was a easy install after I got all the right tools. you need a 32mm socket and an impact to get that nut off. I have a nice dewalt 18v impact that did the trick. I also had a few of those special bolts (thanks RPM for the sockets) that were messed up. I had to beat on the socket. Other then that no big deal took about 2 hours with a trip to Kragens. I used a ton of lock tight too. I figured I will never have to remove it.
Picture190.jpg

Then if of on to the brakes. I removed the passenger side brakes. The CBR instructions are great. I again used a 18v dewalt "saws all" to cut for the new bracket. Then I found out my grinder was fubar. So I will wait till tomorow. Not bad for 3 hours of work today. I should have the brakes in tomorow. Yes I am cutting while still on the SY. I just bagged and taped everything off good.
HERE IS WHY I AM DOING THE BRAKES!!!
Picture191.jpg

Picture192.jpg
 

QUICK STORM

B.A.M.F. BMW Tech
Re: my small project

looking good gary. head swap should be that bad. as long as you have regular headbolts you are ok. i have some arp headbolts that you can have for like 20bucks, they are brand new and you can borrow my PS pulley puller too. cleaning the decks is easy, just get a little pad for your grinder, like fine grit or a polisher pad. i would also recommend getting a straight edge and a set of feeler gauges and measure across the deck to make sure the block isn't warped, highly unlikely, but a piece of mind rather. if you need any help PM me.
 

gjp

another post whore
Re: my small project

Finnished the brakes today. Not to bad. I left the spindles on the truck. Worked out ok. The wheels fit on tight. One spot had a stacked lead tape and it took off the 2nd layer. Whole install took about 6 1/2 hours.
Picture193.jpg
 

gjp

another post whore
Re: my small project

The rpm a2a so far is the hardest thingh I have put in. 2 hours and I still dont know how it goes together. Instructions are worthless and the pic make no sense. Even the pics I found on this site has been no help. None of the pipes line up. Its like they were not made right??? WTF. So far all RPM's stuff has been great. After all the trucks these A2a's have been on you would think they would have done a better job. I still dont have my turbo but I wanted to dry fit and cut my fender but no pipe lines up and .....This sucks. WTF!!
 

gjp

another post whore
Re: my small project

Ok.. I think I got it. The pipes are still off in the couplings. Everything tightens down bit the pipes are not square. Is that the way the kit is. I guess there is play and slight differences from kit to kit. I also had to cut the 2 bolts for my steering down so the 2.5inch pipe could fit. What a pain.
 

Deanzsyclone

New member
Re: my small project

gjp said:
Thought I will post info on my project. Not as big as some of you guys but this will be where I can ask questions for all you guys that have been there before and get asked questions for others who are looking at doing this stuff. and post pics as I go along.

List of projects

1) stage 1 turbo by RPM
2) A2A by RPM
3) Gilbert shaft
4) Brake kit by CBR
5) Trans cooler & remote filter
6) Razor alky kit
7) L35 heads, ported upper & lower intakes.
8) cowl hood by goodmark
Today I spent 4 hours remove complete w2a intercooler setup along with the atr aux intercooler. Also removed stock turbo. This is my first time doing this much work on a car by myself. working out of my driveway with basic hand tools.

You know one thing I receantly found out was that my cowl hood had a big draw back was that when the hot air vents out of the back of the cowl, it tends to go right into the vent inlet for your AC. I couldn't understand why I had hot air comming out of my vents when I had no heater core even hooked up yet. Well it' was sucking in air from that damn cowl hood, now I need to come up with a fix for this.
 
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