Tom Tucker

I've got 18x8.5 front, 18x9.5 rear RPF1s. They clear front 6 piston brembos, but the rear 4 piston brembos required a 5mm spacer

Back to me this week to put a few km on it. Then back to tuner in Jan to send it. I've got a few small jobs to do in the meantime. IC-7 install for one

I'll wait and see what the G35 does. Honestly, if it does high 500s with brutal low and mid range I'll be happy. The only way I'd go bigger is with a 4.11 diff ratio

I've got the stock headgasket also. I don't think I'll be able to run much more than 25psi, due to the 1.01 rear housing and turbo shaft speed, but we'll see!

Yep, very true.

I actually think the most important thing for engine builds is genuine warranty and local workshop support if there are issues. Assuming you can't do it yourself like Puff

Still haven't got the car back. But it's had a lot of work put into it, so hopefully all good. I've now learnt valve spring seat pressures are a bit of an art. Most people are used to just slapping in whatever, and aren't used to sorting issues when they arise

Fueling issue? Fuel pumps/wiring? Pressure reg? Filter blockage? Injectors? If it's been sitting for a while, any of the above are plausible

Oh, and the timing issues was a dead phaser

So! Looks like valve spring seat pressure is responsible for the issues. Making the timing gear noisy until there is enough oil pressure in the top end. Super common apparently, and difficult to eliminate with stiff springs. They're only PAC 105lb with Ti retainers, but with the head machining, they have extra preload and are under higher tension. I have all Atomic HD timing gear, so should be ok.

I'm a convert to full steel. But on my next engine build

While I'm here... I uncovered a weird wear pattern on my oil pump when I got the engine built. Motor had billet gears installed into the stock housing, and the gears had etched a series of circular grooves into the cast side of the housing. Maybe some sort of foreign debris got between the gear and the housing. Or somehow the gear just started eating into the housing. New motor has new OEM housing with new billet gears and backing plate, but I can now see the virtues of complete replacement billet or steel units. The standard housing isn't great

Its got to do with the performance of the cores and better fitment. The cheaper cores might be fine for what you want, but they invariably heat soak quicker than a more expensive core. Otherwise everyone would save money on cooler selection. Its got nothing to do with brand fixation

400kw on e85 is fine. On 98 not as fine but probably ok if everything is undamaged previously and maintained properly. Bit of detail associated with turbo frames, tuning etc

Unfortunately, by the time you get custom piping done, it may be cheaper and easier to just go a full Plaz kit. Is it a cost thing, or availability?

Apparently mucking around with cam timing settings is able to move the rpm of the sound. The brand new hd chain guide was changed out again as well because apparently it had a mark on it. And it has a new hd sprocket. Pretty much everything is brand new. I haven't actually heard it, I'm just letting the tuner work through it

So, lifters and phasers replaced. Noise is still there! Apparently it is only at 2400-2600 rpm, and the noise point can be shifted with the Haltech. The guys are thinking it may be an issue with the Dyno-Mite cams

Sounds serious! Love idea of a billet crank. I guess you may as well go all nitto rotating assembly then!

So what sort of upgrade are you looking at?

I wonder if you broke the crank, which in turn shattered your oil pump

I thought cylinder pressure is a bit of an issue with the stock manifold over around 500kw?

Yeah those Atomic ones look awesome. @JETURBO what's the plan for the ute?

Yeah, that was the feedback. Lifters are good in 99% of cases. Everyone is doing the right thing though, so I can't complain. I'm not fussed with delays, so long as it's right

Yeah, you're right. I'd have no idea if the titanium retainers I bought were actually used...

No man, it'll get new crow lifters next week. Hopefully it takes care of the noise. It's a bit frustrating when the head was fully rebuilt. Why would you throw 200k km lifters back in? My tuner is charging the engine builder for the labour, which is good