Project Scarlett: 94 GT4 WRC Options

[punkxrckprincess]

@Sixgentoyota and I finally got ourselves a real GT4

After he had severe envy over our friends getting one, Jacob spent night and day and night and day and work and free time looking for a GT4. When this one came up (shout out to @enderswift on the assist) the deal could not be passed. So we hopped on the car before our importer even paid the auction bill back in June. The car got on a boat in Japan on 7-4 and docked in Tacoma, Washington July 18th. The car cleared customs in an incredible only 24 hours, and we flew out to Seattle the night of the 24th to pick it up.
We put her on a lift thanks to, again, our amazing importer (Sodo Moto if you ever want a suggestion!) and did a quick oil change, replaced the rear differential bushing, and were off for leg one of our journey home.
Seattle - Denver. Over 1,700 miles between the pit stops and the fuel ups. 1PM local time Thursday the 25th, got to our destination just after 7PM local time the 26th. Lost about 4 hours to sleep and an extra hour and a half to brief friend visit along the way. Thanks to @richee3 we were able to do a few other small 'repairs' to the car - including replace the Japanese radio and toss the fouled spark plugs so we had boost. We did some mountain driving on the 26th with their GT4, as well as two Supras on Squaw Pass southwest of the Denver area.


We left a little after 3AM local time for the last leg of our journey home- 985 miles (plus stops!) back toward Chicagoland. Rolled into our driveway just before 7PM CST the 28th.
The car held up under all the stress of over 3K miles in the span of 80 hours flawlessly. We don't know how long it sat for before we got it, but it's in excellent shape. No rust at all, clean undercarriage, minor paint fade and front fender has a little ding/crease but nothing serious.

Since we got it home we've buffed it and already taken it out for it's first play date (with @enderswift)


There will be a lot of love going into this car.

[Bitter]

I hadn't imagined boost pushing into the drain either, since oil pressure is always way higher than boost (usually). I suggested capping the turbo inlet and outlet and pressure testing the turbo, listening at the oil pan and oil filler for the tell tale bong hit sound of pressure bleeding into the crank case through the drain. A couple pipe caps, couple big worm clamps, and a tire stem should build an easy boost leak/turbo pressure tester. I usually use a smoke tester at work but that only pushes about 1 psi and wouldn't do any good for this situation. I was still suspicious of some kind of wrong hose routing letting boost into the crank case.

[enderswift]

Damn thats a good check. It would be interesting to take it even further and actually start the car. That wsy you can try to overcome the cartridge oil pressure with ~12 psi pumped into the capped compressor housing. If the dipstick pops you have your culprit

[punkxrckprincess]

I hadn't imagined boost pushing into the drain either, since oil pressure is always way higher than boost (usually). I suggested capping the turbo inlet and outlet and pressure testing the turbo, listening at the oil pan and oil filler for the tell tale bong hit sound of pressure bleeding into the crank case through the drain. A couple pipe caps, couple big worm clamps, and a tire stem should build an easy boost leak/turbo pressure tester. I usually use a smoke tester at work but that only pushes about 1 psi and wouldn't do any good for this situation. I was still suspicious of some kind of wrong hose routing letting boost into the crank case.

From Jacob:
"I don't know how TF to do that so I would need help"

[Bitter]

I thought I explained it fairly well. Just google how to build a boost leak tester and apply that to JUST the compressor side of the turbo.
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/evo-how-t...ter-5-02-a.html
https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?...ost-Leak-Tester
If those Evo and VW guys can do it, anyone can do it. Just put that on one side of the turbo cold side and cap the other side of the turbo, apply 15 psi to the turbo, listen for your engine taking a big bong rip in the oil pan or listen for hissing from the oil fill cap.

This post has been edited by Bitter: Sep 6, 2019 - 7:50 AM

[punkxrckprincess]

I thought I explained it fairly well. Just google how to build a boost leak tester and apply that to JUST the compressor side of the turbo.
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/evo-how-t...ter-5-02-a.html
https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?...ost-Leak-Tester
If those Evo and VW guys can do it, anyone can do it. Just put that on one side of the turbo cold side and cap the other side of the turbo, apply 15 psi to the turbo, listen for your engine taking a big bong rip in the oil pan or listen for hissing from the oil fill cap.

I think he's just super worried (like me) about doing something wrong and potentially making things worse. The 'normal' stuff we do all the time on 'regular' cars is nothing, this seems daunting at least in my opinion because if I break something I will be insanely mad at myself.

[Bitter]

I understand, but it's not that weird of a car. Just treat the different parts as separate systems. The blowy parts, the spinny parts, and the farty bits. Take it one section at a time and consult the internet frequently. Maybe stay at a Holiday Inn Express.

[jim7564]

why dont you simply disconnect the vacumn hose to the AC which will stop the turbo from boosting and see how it runs

[Bitter]

This threads needs an update, with pictures.

[narly_charley]

This threads needs an update, with pictures.

Ditto.

[punkxrckprincess]

Long time no update

We (mostly Jake, though I did help drop the old engine and with some minor assists here and there) completely overhauled the engine, and FINALLY got it to a competent tuner in April. We got it all dialed in after only one additional tweak and took Scarlett on a run to the Tail of the Dragon last weekend and she did not disappoint one bit.


The mount on the rear diff is at the end of it's life now, but we already knew it was going to need replacement soon.


Can't wait to go back again!

[Bitter]

Pictures are 2 years over due. I can't even remember what the car looks like anymore!