UPDATE (Probably longest time between updates ever)
Completely forgot about the forums if I am honest, but realised I needed to record my journey somewhere.
Back in 2011 I got the motor finished, installed, turbo manifold didn't fit, got halfway through wiring in the ecu and lost interest, life got in the way, kids, traveled etc etc etc. The car has been in storage ever since. Finally last year I had some free time and got stuck back into it.
This is where it started (2019)
I wasn't happy with the above gearbox turbo setup I had originally made by Kelway.
I decided to redesign the packaging of the turbo and intercooler. Bought a welder and learned to weld. I just made a simple steam pipe log style manifold and reused the old flanges I had. Some suspect welds done, but if it breaks it gives me a chance to build a better one!
Then started working on the exhaust. 3" dump into 2.5" truck muffler. Really didn't want the car to be really loud. I may eventually add a resonator or similar to shut it up further. Welding slowly got better and really began to enjoy it.
Dropped the fuel tank to check for corrosion and give it a clean. Looked pretty decent for a tank that had been sitting for a decade. Scored a huge box of "speedflow" fitting through work for $1 per fitting, now the engine bay will have pretty bits. Got some AN lines brazed on the old fuel lines to make use of them and replaced all the rubber hoses and clamps while I was at it.
With the turbo, fuel, and exhaust sorted. I revisited the wiring, I had half-finished the wiring 9 years prior and upon looking over the harness I salvaged what connectors I could and started an entire rewire on the engine side of the car. My wiring experience prior to this was a couple of stereos and other simple auto accessories, I had a lot to learn. Harness took me a couple of months but gave me some peace of mind.
I picked up big chinese W2A intercooler locally for cheap. Was going to need a couple of changes to fit well. Compressor outlet, mounting brackets, water lines to front etc.
Mockup fitting. Made a simple bracket down to the gearbox, fabricated a new compressor outlet pipe. Tidied up a couple of things.
Motor still hasn't run since it was rebuilt, I was getting pretty keen for a first start.
First startup was pretty straight forward, once I had fiddled with the Haltech and dialed in the timing. Very proud I didn't have to troubleshoot the wiring apart from incorrectly wiring the fuel pump relay, everything else was spot on. Gave it a drive around the block and it boosted and drove nicely, even with my hacked together best guess "tune".
The issue I did have was with the distributor, I was having issues with the trigger signal to the Haltech. I was getting false triggering when the distributor was hot, sometimes IGN1 would occur at say 60 degree BTDC, maybe once every 20 cycles. The engine revved out and made boost and after chucking a scope on it I wasn't happy with the condition of the distributor and finding a replacement that was in decent condition proved difficult.
I decided to go with a high resolution 36-1 crank trigger wheel from MRP. Unlucky for me Coronavirus happened, NZ was locked down and my kit was held up for months. In the meantime, I turned my attention to the body.
Overall the car is solid, the paint is oxidized but there is very little rust for a 30-year-old jap car apart from some rust in the windshield and the usual rust in the front bumper area. I began work on the windshield rust.
Somewhat pitted but easily saveable.
Painted it with color-matched rattle cans and some clear and it polished up decent and ready for a new windshield.
Front radiator support was no good. A lot of surface rust on the crash bar and the front lip brackets came off in pieces.
Welder came in handy again! :D You can see the Subaru heat exchanger and pump plumbed up here also.
Trigger wheel kit came and can't speak highly enough of the quality. Within 15 minutes of wiring the hall effect sensor in, it was running perfectly. Timing is rock solid and with a timing light it looks like the crank wheel isn't even moving.
Fixed my interior light. The small rivets holding the terminals in had come loose. I drilled out the old broken rivets and used some small M2 bolts to hold the terminals in place.
Removed the Jap weeb bell and wired resistor in to make the tacho work with the Haltech. I have since learned that you can just bypass the resistor completely. Words cannot describe the pain of putting the speedo cable back in, I am unsure if there is some trick to this? the end of the cable seems to want to hide back into the sheat instead of engaging the speedo mechanism. After an hour cursing, I sorted it.
Modified the original valley cover to mount the 1ZZ coils. I used some Scrap exhaust pipe and some threaded couplers and they mount in nice and solid now.
Recarpeted the boot to neaten everything up, hiding the ECU fuse and relay panel.
Pretty much where the car stands currently.
Lots more to do. Both master cylinders need replacing, brakes need a once over, a couple of leaks, exhaust heatshield, steering rack needs a rebuild etc. I'll be sure to update.