Gixxer's Rebuild....again

gixxer750

2jzget comingsoon!
Mar 30, 2005
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Ok.... Where to start.

1. Bought 2 supras for $1000, fixed the no firing problem, then a bad turbo. Got that fixed, devolped rodknock, and tore into it.

2 got block hottanked, new crankshaft and bearings, and had rods resized.

3 checked all clearances and assembled shortblock. Up to almost $2k in the engine now.

4 Will be up and running by this weekened :)

* I want to post pics, but by the time they get small enough on lowest quality, you can't even see them.....
 
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gixxer750

2jzget comingsoon!
Mar 30, 2005
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The engine is in and the motor mounts are bolted up. All the accessories are on the engine. I will be test driving it tommorow night! Everyone wish me luck, pray for me...do something! I want it to run right.
 

gixxer750

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Mar 30, 2005
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Sorry, been a few days since an update. Well, I've been super busy with this for the past few days and the outcome seems to be good. Its in, it runs, its smooth and sounds great. I have 26 psi of oil pressure at idle(warm) and at 2000 rpm going down the road I have 41 psi. That sound good? My valve cover gaskets are leaking just a hair, I'll fix that in the morning. I went out in it about two hours ago and eased around for 50 miles. I let it idle while I put the interior together, fixed the tail lights, and checked my tire pressures. (about 45 minutes.) Temp gauge never went up over 1/4 of the way. Heater works, A/C works, cruise works. Everything in the car works except for the lights up by the targa on the inside. It runs beautifully, no hesitations or anything. I got an awesome turbo it seems, because I could not keep it from boosting 1-2 psi up hills. I tried downshifting to 4th and being really light on the gas while letting it slow speed going up the hill and it still boosted. I guess that will be ok. I'll be driving it the 25 miles to work tommorrow(although, I will be leaving early.) My only problems seem to be the valve cover gasket leak and I have a bad wire in my harness going to the ECU giving me a code 11 if I wiggle the wires. I'm already loving this car. It rides silently with the windows up, the shifter is firm with excellent shift quality, it handles great, and the engine is super smooth! I think the targa will be out on the way to work tommorow so I can experience that. I know I won't be accelerating hard, so no worry about body flex. Thanks for all the help through this IJ, and I'll have to put some pics and maybe a video up soon. Wish me luck everyone!
 

IJ.

Grumpy Old Man
Mar 30, 2005
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Gixxer: Great news and funny my interior lights don't always work as well!

I was glad to give even the small assistance I did you've done well! :D

Congrats <golf clap>

(I wouldn't let it idle for so long till the rings seat a bit though)
 

gixxer750

2jzget comingsoon!
Mar 30, 2005
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The reason I let it idle for so long is in the past I've heard the first time that lets the bearings seat well before they are loaded. It won't be doing any idling anymore other than a short warm up period. The engine was a lot harder to get reinstalled than I thought. If there ever is a next time, I know of some things that I will put back on before putting the engine in. I had a scare when I put coolant in it the first time. (forgot to put the nuts on the coolant pipe that comes out of the back of the water pump!!!) Can't believe that I did that. I also have to pull my cps back out, as it is out a notch. The lowest I can get my base timing is 11 deg.
 

IJ.

Grumpy Old Man
Mar 30, 2005
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LOL I forgot to put the whole tube on! DOH!
(caught it just as I was about to drop it in)

The block in the 7M has to be some of the hardest cast iron known to man and tends to glaze the rings if idled with fresh rings, this slows down the seating process and in extreme cases may prevent them ever seating (same reason why you don't break in a new motor on synthetic or oils with friction modifiers)
 

gixxer750

2jzget comingsoon!
Mar 30, 2005
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My rebuild has 117.8 miles on it now after the commute to work and back. Still have to fix my valve cover gasket leak, as it seems to be getting worse. I'm not gonna drive it again until I get that fixed and the oil changed. It still runs silently, has the same oil pressure as the first time I started it yesterday. Have had no problems yet. The aftermarket clutch that the previous owner had put in it during his rebuild is kind of harsh. Its still an organic sprung disk, but it engages pretty hard anyhow. My flex pipe seems to be replaced, but there will be a 3 inch downpipe and 3 inch exhaust fitted after break in is over. I'm scared of boost right now, even the little bit I get going up steep hills. That turbo just makes boost soooooo easily. Only 900 miles to go before I can boost!!!! So, in about a week and a half, it'll be ready.

Couple of questions. My fuel gauge is non functional. How much fuel with the supra tank hold? How many miles per gallon is the average? How many miles to tank do you get? I guess this is mainly for the commuters. I don't plan on boosting on it for a while, so I just need to know this to make sure I don't run out of gas. The gauge worked when I bought the car, as it was at 1/4 tank. Now it doesn't move off of E. The fuel light however, does work. I'll get around to fixing it before long. I guess I'll try to change the gauge itself first. I guess thats all for now. I'll be back with another update soon.
 

IJ.

Grumpy Old Man
Mar 30, 2005
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Tank holds about 75L and I used to get around 50 KM's once the light was on but I wouldn't take that as gospel! ;) (I have a 2nd tank of LPG on board so if it runs dry I can switch)
 

7MGTEJoe

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Mar 31, 2005
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It's good to see that this thread came back.

I get around 20 mpg around town and have seen 28 on long trips with the cruise control set.
 

gixxer750

2jzget comingsoon!
Mar 30, 2005
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well, just changed my oil, also fixed my valve cover gasket leaks. My oil had some matter in it, or maybe it was just from the drain pan. I took the oil filter, and cut it open. Then I pulled all of the filter element apart and layed it down flat. Found 1 piece of copper(must have missed that in the cleaning somehow) and what looked like a little bit of bearing material, along with a fleck of red paint(from the engine stand I believe). Its amazing what you can still miss when you think the thing is spotless. Still seems to be running alright. After the oil change, I pulled the EFI fuse, and fired her over until it built oil pressure. I didn't like the long wait for it to fill the filter completly. I normally fill my filters with oil, but I don't see how I could on this car. Its near impossible to change that oil filter. I see an oil filter relocation kit in the near future.( should have changed that while it was off.

I'm getting a code 11. The TRSM says this code doesn't exist, but the haynes manual says "ECU power source" No details other than that. What's it mean? Also, since I got that code, my idle has dropped to 500 rpm instead of the 750 or so that it was. I think this is related to my wire problem. If I wiggle the ecu wires, the car dies, but that will be fixed shortly. Any other thoughs on a code 11?

Anyhow, thanks for all the support! Thus far, all is going well. I just hope my luck holds.
 

gixxer750

2jzget comingsoon!
Mar 30, 2005
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Today's update!

255 miles since rebuild. Still runs perfect(engine wise anyhow), same oil pressure as the first time I fired it up, and no funny noises. I have seen 1-3 psi of boost on steep hills, and it seems to take it just fine!

Still, no answers on my code 11?

I think I figured out my surging problem. If I cut the key off, while coasting down the road for about 15-30 seconds, I find that when I turn it back on it runs fine for about 5-6 more miles. It seems to be worse on bumpy roads. It doesn't do it for about 5-6 miles when I first crank it up after its been sitting for a few minutes or a while. My theory is that I have some rust in my tank, and it is stopping up the fuel pump strainer. Turn the pump off, trash falls back out of the screen, allowing fuel flow again. The surge is kind of a lean surge stumble, and seems to be engine load related.
Anyone agree with this? Its not throwing any codes other than the 11.

I'm just glad the thing is running good. How many more miles should I be really really easy on it? I was thinking about 1000 miles total was fully broken in? I want to hear lots of opinions on this! That is all for tonight!