Changing from T28 to T3/T04E!!!

[ghx407]

My car broke the ring lands on the #3 piston, so it gave me the perfect opportunity to overhaul the engine. The previous setup was a GT28R with 370s, stock MAF, and stock bottom end. It put out 234HP, was very reliable, and tons of fun.

Since the motor has 172k miles on it, it was the perfect opportunity to overhaul almost everything. Here's my new setup; it should be up and running in 2-3 weeks:

Walbro 255 pumpDW 740cc injectorsNismo FPRZ32 MAFEFI Specialist ECUApex'i SAFC for fine tuningCometic HGArias 8.8 pistonsEagle ESP rodsCalico bearingsNissan oil pump (new)Nissan timing chain kit (new)SS headerTial 38mm WG (10.15 psi/0.7 bar)HKS SSQ BOVEbay FMICFlex-a-lite dual fansACT clutch kitAnd I'm topping it all off with a Chinese knock-off T3/T04E (63 hot, 50 cold, 57 trim) turbo!!!

I'm keeping the current water pump because it has less than a year on it. I also have a Garrett GT35 (63 hot, 70 cold, ?? trim) which needs a rebuild, but I want to see how long the $200 turbo lasts. Feel free to make bets...

[1995240sxSE]

how relilable could your old setup be if you blew ringlands?

[ghx407]

Well, I first turbocharged the car a year and a half ago with 165,000 miles and cylinder compression ranging from 145psi to 150psi in a bone stock motor. Despite the frequent abuse and 10-11psi of boost, the car never gave me trouble of any kind until a year and a half and 7,000 miles later.

Because of the engine's condition, I knew something would break eventually, but it surprised me how long it held up...

[1995240sxSE]

cool I wish mine lasted that long!!!

[ghx407]

Quick update: The long block is already assembled and in the car. All the clearances checked out great. Besides the cracked piston most of the old parts, including the bearings look decent. If anyone needs stock DE rods, let me know.

We did run into a problem though; it turned out that the header is for on-center turbos and my tangential turbo's dump would run into the brake lines going into the BMC. Tomorrow we'll do some welding to transform the old T2 bottom-mount mani into a T3 top-mount. Maybe it works, maybe not...

[S13FX]

**** it do a remote mount and be done with Manifolds LOL.

[1995240sxSE]

Or why not rotate your motor a bit. Thats what I did! Motor mountsbigger on driver side smaller on passenger. It will rotate motor and you can be good with clearence!

[ghx407]

There is no way I'm hiding my Chinanetics turbo in a remote system. The upside down T2 manifold with the T3 flange worked great, I'll post up some pictures soon.

[ghx407]

Another update: We started the car and the engine ran good, but it has a huge oil leak on the driver's side and a huge coolant leak on the driver's side, both from the head gasket between cylinders 2 and 3. The spark plugs were perfectly dry, though. All the torques, specs, lubricants and parts are identical to the FSM and this how-to guide: http://www.ka-t.org/forums/vie...art=0.

I don't think the head or block is warped because the car had no leaks before I took it to the shop. I'm replacing the Cometic HG with a Nissan HG next week, hopefully that'll do the trick.

Has anyone had similar problems with Cometic head gaskets?

[zero_gripS13]

did u mill the head and deck the block if not thats your problem..

metal head gaskets require a extremely flat surface inorder to prevent sealing failure which is what it sounds like ur having..

just use oem with copper head gasket spray..

ull be good... and arp bolts..

then u should have no problems

p.s what u do with the gt28r?

[ghx407]

I'm trying to sell it. It's a Chinanetics too, but it has worked great for me for the 1.5 years I ran it. It didn't burn any oil, virtually no shaft play, ball-bearing cartridge, and awesome spool. It's integral wastegate will do 10-11 psi.

If anyone is interested, let me know. I'm selling it for $350 with CNC compressor inlet and outlets, oil inlet fitting, oil drain tube, and a 2.5in divorced dump pipe.

Quick update: We started the car again today and it has no leaks with the Nissan head gasket. Hopefully I can bring it home before Wednesday.