Back from the dead.

Post by **Packrat182** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 10:47 am

Dee - Harness is shipped. Check your PM's :-D

Post by **Packrat182** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:36 pm

Bad news. When I originally took the CA to A&B Garage I spoke to the owner and said I would like a full gasket refresh so that when I put the engine in it wouldn't pop. I handed him a full OEM Gasket set. They called me a few weeks later and said the engine was done. When I spoke to the mechanic, and asked about the headgasket, he said he didn't do it. So for the last two months or so, I've been playing phone tag with the owner of the garage. Today I finally got the s*** of this (I was with-holding my last payment until he called me) and went in, and hand wrote a letter to him stating what I was willing to do. (They wanted to charge me for another 5 hours of shop time, and if they had done it when the engine was apart, it would have only added 2hrs to the job), I said I was willing to pay the cost of the headbolts, and split the difference of the time to 250 bux. When I finished the letter I told him i was going to give a copy to my lawyer too. I got a call a few hours later from the manager that the owner said to pay the remainder and take my engine back. So basically I got half a gasket rebuild and the timing section redone. for 800 bucks. Stay away from those guys if any of you have friends/family in the Flemington, NJ area. Now I have to do the gasket job myself this weekend. What a waste of time and money.

Post by **livelyjay** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 6:04 pm

Sucks to hear it man. I hate it when people get ripped off, especially on cars.

I you want a job done right, do it yourself or take it to someone you absolutely know and trust. I only know of one place locally whom I would trust with an engine build. Now that my CA16DE is sitting on the floor of my garage, I have something to practice with so I can do it myself next time.

Post by **float_6969** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:18 pm

That sucks. Sorry to hear man.

Post by **Packrat182** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 11:11 am

Hey guys,
You probably all already know which way I am leaning with this, but it got back to the garage manager and the owner how many clubs I am in, and how connected I am. After I paid my bill this morning and said I am picking the engine up tomorrow morning at 11:00 am sharp, they called me about an hour later saying they would do the head gasket job for the 250 I offered. Keep in mind, that we were arguing over the headgasket, job and when I reclaimed my gasket set this morning, i also noticed they didn't do the valve seals either. So: let them do the head gasket job, and possibly f*** up my motor...or just say f*** that and do it myself? (Can't do the valve seals myself tho...don't have all the tools). Thoughts?

Question for Dee: Should I replace the valve seals, or can I get away with them?

Packrat

Post by **Packrat182** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 11:13 am

livelyjay wrote:Sucks to hear it man. I hate it when people get ripped off, especially on cars.

I you want a job done right, do it yourself or take it to someone you absolutely know and trust. I only know of one place locally whom I would trust with an engine build. Now that my CA16DE is sitting on the floor of my garage, I have something to practice with so I can do it myself next time.

^They did a good job on my talon when it broke down in the area, that's why I felt they would have been ok to work on my baby. I have rebuilt these things before, I just have a severe lack of time and space right now.
Rat

Post by **Packrat182** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:28 pm

They came back with 350. I told the manager: "Dude, they didn't do the valve seals on top of all this. I can't do 350." So they're going to refund my money from my last payment. Which I'm like, alright. That's cool. Still doesn't make me condone their behavior, and I certainly won't recommend them to anyone that's for sure.
Rat

Post by **Packrat182** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:22 pm

Engine is back at home. Axles were wrong. AGAIN. Penguin and his brother came to the rescue with the correct part numbers tho. Ordered them today. Judging from the condition of the other seals on the engine, i shouldn't have much to worry about for now. They were in great shape. I should expect no less from Dee

Once axles arrive, the engine will be mounted in the car, then just have to wait the boostmaster himself :-D
Rat

Post by **boost_boy** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 6:38 am

Packrat182 wrote:Engine is back at home. Axles were wrong. AGAIN. Penguin and his brother came to the rescue with the correct part numbers tho. Ordered them today. Judging from the condition of the other seals on the engine, i shouldn't have much to worry about for now. They were in great shape. I should expect no less from Dee
Once axles arrive, the engine will be mounted in the car, then just have to wait the boostmaster himself :-D
Rat

Sorry for the delay. I've been getting owned by my normal life and my not so normal Nissan Maxima's VQ35DE that I had been rebuilding and essentially took up all the space in my Garage leaving no room to do anything. I got the AWD harness, but have not looked it over yet. I will take a look at the extra harnesses I got and send you one that's useable. Thanks for your patience.

Post by **Packrat182** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 8:22 am

No worries captain! I was worried you had fallen off the earth! what's up with the VQ?
Rat

Post by **boost_boy** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 10:45 am

Packrat182 wrote:No worries captain! I was worried you had fallen off the earth! what's up with the VQ?
Rat

Always remember, I'm a around, but I may not post/reply to anything because at times I'm in "glance only" mode and that's because I'm always on the move. The VQ needed attention as I bought the car with tappet noise and got fed-up with the noise as it was embarassing for me to drive a car making such a horrible noise, but also being a person that builds engines. So I decided enough was enough and let me just say, this engine is not for the novice and have a new found respect for labor, especially in the case of the VQ35 because it is a P.I.T.A and down-right expensive

. Too many parts and too little room for error, so I took my time; my sweet and precious time at that.

Post by **Packrat182** » Thu Aug 09, 2012 7:59 am

From what little experience I have with that engine, it set me off as a "I don't want to play with you..." kind of thing right from the get-go. You are a braver man than I sir.

Post by **Packrat182** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 12:50 pm

livelyjay wrote:Good to have you back Pack.

Your thread on the exaforums helped me out with that stupid Half-shaft problem boss. many thanks!

Update - trans mount fixed. Ready to drop motor. lookin like 3 weeks out to do the drop. (scheduling right now is total crap).

Rat

Post by **Packrat182** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 8:52 am

boost_boy - update plox? :3

Post by **boost_boy** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:06 am

Packrat182 wrote:boost_boy - update plox? :3

Dude, you can't really be needing this harness. You should check your pms or at least frequent Nico more because I pm'd you a month ago for your address and have gotten no response. The harness been in my trunk awaiting a response from you.

Post by **Packrat182** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:56 am

I was being patient cuz I didn't wanna bother you man, i understand your time is valuable, youve got a family n s***, and your job...
Last messages i have from you are the one you sent concerning the condition of the harness (before i sent it back) and the one with your address. I pop in almost daily.
I'd throw you a call cept i lost your phone number about a year ago when my last fone got hit by a cab. >_<
I'll pm you the address.
Thanks,
Rat

Post by **Packrat182** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:05 am

PM Sent

Post by **boost_boy** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:59 am

It's on its way and should arrive tomorrow. Let me know when you get it.

Post by **Packrat182** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:49 am

will do! Thanks dee. Could there be some unseen issues with the PM feature of this forum? I did notice i was having issues PMing you a while back. (s*** would get stuck in the outbox for a few days).
Anyone else noticed anything?
Rat

Post by **float_6969** » Thu Sep 20, 2012 4:43 am

First I've heard of it.

Post by **Packrat182** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:20 am

Ok Dee - received new harness. Engine is finally installed in the car. Will post pictures tonight. In lots of pain...cast iron = very...heavy...
Rat

Post by **Packrat182** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:56 pm

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/270332/19 ... sar/page-6 - New Pics!

Post by **Packrat182** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:57 pm

Most important - engine in it's new home

Post by **IntraParadigm** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 8:42 pm

Packrat, awesome to see you're still in the game with your DET pulsar!

Been working on mine a bit this year, but I just destroyed my T25g while trying to rebuild it thanks to breaking the edge off the center cartridge flange for the compressor housing

. The car's interior is torn out completely, well, the dash is still in atm. Busted out all the old sound deadener crap and am cleaning up the minor surface rust spots. Will probably be using some POR-15 to try and keep the rust out for the future... and then some expired aircraft fuselage sound deadener (the adhesive on the panels 'expires' and we have to destroy it/throw it out... it will never be put on an aircraft while it is under the carpet of my pulsar!)

BTW, what SS exhaust manifold is that? Interested to know because I wouldn't mind having one if the turbo actually fits in there and isn't half an inch away from the radiator

. Actually, close pics of the front of the engine from above or side would be awesome...

I want mine running so much, but extra money is hard to come by these days. Oh, if you know anyone who needs SR20DE parts (esp FWD ones), I have a bunch, even a rebuilt longblock just hanging out in the garage.. a set of used S3 cams that I never used.... Sold a 96 200sx se-r b/c, well, my friend needed a cheap car and I didn't need to put more $ into a rust bucket. Now I need to sell the SR20 parts so I can make my pulsar drive again.

P.S. I just got my hands on the official 88 nissan pulsar wiring diagram manual off ebay for $12. The diagram is literally almost 6 foot long by 2 foot wide and in color! Not sure how I can scan it yet, probably in sections and then photoshop or something... but if I figure it out it'd be a nice addition to nicoclub and nissanexa.com.

Post by **Packrat182** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:01 am

Hey Intra,
I picked up that manifold years ago, but I don't remember from where. The biggest issue i have with it atm, is that with the turbo mounted in the stock position, the outlet is too close to the trans-bell housing. I can't bolt it down, so I am going to try flip mounting it and see how close it puts it to the radiator. At this point, I know like, ZERO people doing anything with cars any more. It sucks :-( most of my friends dropped out of the game. Ill take some pictures after i flip the turbo. More pictures of my car over the years can be found at www.cardomain.com/id/packrat182 I have a few of the actual manuals sitting around, and tons of spare parts, lemme know if you ever need anything. If you are running the ca18det from a U12 you shouldn't be having the issues I am? *scratches head* did you flip mount your turbo or something?
Rat

Post by **float_6969** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 8:22 am

That manifold is for a RWD CA18, plus it's infamous for having fitment issues. I ran one for a while and I had to modify the downpipe to make it work. Nothing else had changed.

Post by **Packrat182** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 4:20 pm

^Float - what did you run it in? Cuz I don't HAVE a downpipe, im gonna have to make one anyway...also, if i keep the inlet facing the passenger side of the car, i can't even get the exhaust dump to bolt on. So i was thinking about flipping it around...to make it face the driver side...but them im worried about it being a weeee bit close to the radiator. Im going to continue to keep my eyes open for an AWD one tho...
Rat

Post by **Liquid_Neon** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:04 pm

Hey pack, I used to have my turbo mounted compressor side to pass side and it was bad news for the dump pipe. We ended up routing it under the front crossmember part thats at the lower rad support. It eventuly got ripped off by a pothole... bad idea!!

Currently i have it mounted compressor towards drivers side, and yes it sits RIGHT up against the radiator. This vid of my engine bay shows at least a bit of the turbo... so see whatcha think for your own setup. my dump pipe is 100% custom!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIygUjcf ... ture=g-upl[/youtube]

Post by **float_6969** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 9:12 pm

Packrat182 wrote:^Float - what did you run it in? Cuz I don't HAVE a downpipe, im gonna have to make one anyway...also, if i keep the inlet facing the passenger side of the car, i can't even get the exhaust dump to bolt on. So i was thinking about flipping it around...to make it face the driver side...but them im worried about it being a weeee bit close to the radiator. Im going to continue to keep my eyes open for an AWD one tho...
Rat

It was in my old S13. IIRC, in respect to the stock manifold, it moves it down, and in. Both are bad for FWD. Once I figured out that if you used their O2 pipe with the manfold, then regular downpipes would fit.

If you're trying to use that manfold on FWD, I can only imagine how much harder it would be to make the O2 pipe work.

Post by **Packrat182** » Tue Dec 25, 2012 12:29 pm

Ok soooo i tried flipping it, with both the stock ca manifold and the shiny one. either way, the turbo is in a bad position flipped, and i can't use the stock ca dump pipe. The other issue was the lines, as they didn't really fit at all, and there isn't much around here as far as aftermarket custom things....I think what I am going to do is get a custom dump pipe made. There is enough room for me to make a ? sorta shaped pipe, and i have access to a laser. (will get flanges made from the stock manifold as well). I removed the AC stuff years ago, and the engine bay is stripped down really far, so I should have enough room to do this. (Im gonna have to get slim line fans anyway). Thoughts? I can post pictures later if you guys like?
Rat

Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Re: Back from the dead.

Nissan Forums

Infiniti Forums

Datsun Forums

Technical Forums

Classifieds / Marketplace

Nissan Motorsports

General Forums