Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

So I bought a 96 VR4 with wrist pin noise, bought a good used engine on ebay, and just picked up a couple TD04HL-15gs. I have a 1g MAF Translator, I'm not sure if that will work or not with a harness splice, and if so, would it be worth using over a different tuning option?

Otherwise, I was thinking something like this:

TD04HL-15g turbos
550cc Injectors
Downpipes and catback
Stock metal intercooler piping
Stock intercoolers
Dejon MAF Adaptor piping
1G BOV
Walboro 255
New Clutch (not sure if necessary)
Boost gauge
Wideband
Emanage Blue

Thoughts?

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

I'm not on the up and up with the 15gs but I'd just do twin E316G probably the billet ones.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Well the 15gs are a direct bolt on, plus they were only $80 a piece. It takes a little more work to get a pair of evos installed.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

ah, ok.

From the little I know, you will need that clutch upgrade. I've seen a few clutches give up with just boost turned up and a downpipe!

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Alright, thanks for the info. Anyone know if I can make that 1g translator work?

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

MAFT is a crappy tuning option regardless. 3S's are not as forgiving with poor tuning systems and upgraded injectors as DSMs either.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Even when coupled with an Emanage blue? What kind of piggyback would you recommend?

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Maf-t and S-AFC isn't to bad, but you have to be careful. Another option is a MAf-T + Emanage. Being a 2g 3/s, you can adapt a 99 ecu as flashing is finally being unlocked (chroming the ecu)

I'd do 15g's in a heartbeat, but make sure the car is healthy first. The stock MAS is good for around 400-450awhp, so you could start with the E-manage and go from there.

A solid clutch setup is needed as the car is heavy and adding torque can put some stress, something full face is recommended.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Yeah, I was planning on doing the MAF-T and emanage. The engine I bought should be healthy, any checks I should do on it while it is out of the car?

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Why are you pulling the motor?

I'd check the timing belt stuff, vacuum lines, intercooler piping, etc.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Wrist pin noise from the one that is in it now, I already bought a 95 replacement motor minus turbos and tranny.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

I have never heard a 3/S with wrist pin noise. The factory rod is a press fit on the wrist pin. They are well known for rod bearing issues and lifter tick. I would confirm the noise before swapping motors.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

It has both a lower end noise as well as lifter tick. I have put ~1500 miles on it so far, oil pressure is good. What would you recommend to check the noise, I initially thought it was a rod bearing, brought it to a mechanic and he claimed it was wrist pin noise.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Pull the pan and visually check the bearings.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

If it was something you could fix with out swapping motors there would be less down time and you would have a back up motor to sell or build.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

If it was me, I might hold off on buying the hard pipes and save the money towards a front mount set-up. Modified dsm side mounts would be another option.

Swanny remember my emanage/emanage ultimate /15g set up? Haha

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

yah easy bake ovens can stay in the hands of kids, they have no place in a car, let a lone a 3/S.

~John

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Yeah...while they work (emanage), well work sometimes, not my most favorite option to use on those cars. :rollinglaugh:

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

So I had the car up on a lift this weekend, and there is a large dent in the pan. Now I know why a rod bearing went out. Also, I am noticing the car is hitting a wall at 5k in 3rd, it is worse the colder out it is, safe to say I have a boost leak somewhere and am maxing out the MAF sensor?

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Did you ever fix that problem?

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Dented oil pan is the number one killer of 6g72 engines. The "Wall" you may be hitting is a drop in boost on the 9b's, they don't hold boost to redline. I doubt you are maxing out the MAF, but if your intake sucks you could be choking off airflow. (or if your intake doesn't suck properly :rollinglaugh:).

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

It feels like fuel cut actually, complete cut out.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Probably spark blowout, how are your plugs?

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

A boost leak test never hurts. But a gear dependent load based issue in a land yacht like a 3/s I would agree it might be ignition related. Unless your car has some crazy boost gain only in 3rd gear +.... plugs and wires is always a good idea. Also does it mater on fuel tank level? Could it be a fuel pump pickup or fuel filter issue?

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Well, the I am afraid the engine is on it's way out. Accelerating in 4th today, I looked in my rearview and saw I was just about blinding everyone behind me with a cloud of white smoke. Thought it was possibly just a turbo, but upon getting home I had low oil pressure and the car took about 5 tries to turn over after sitting and smoked while idling. At least I bought an extra engine and some 15gs :score006:

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Also, since I will purchasing parts soon, what tuning device would you guys recommend? I was interested in using a 98+ ecu (probably a Montero ecu) due to it's retaining of many stock features, but it looks like info on that type of setup is still fairly limited.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

seems like AEM is the only thing worth a shit on these things if you wanna make power isn't it?

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

After doing some more research I decided I am going to go with the Apex'i NEO for tuning, since they fixed the firmware problem with 3/s MAFs. Overall I think the setup will be something like this:

15gs
510cc Injectors (Possibly just DSM 450s, looking for 400-450 awhp)
NEO
Turbo back exhaust
New plugs, wires, timing belt, tensioner, etc..
1g BOV
Wideband
Datalogger
Stronger clutch

When I get a little more cash I will go with a full FMIC setup.

As far as preventative maintainence goes, should I replace the rod bearings on the replacement engine? Anything else I should replace on the engine ahead of time (gaskets, etc.)?

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

I'd recommend going with a MAF-T in blow-thru setup with that NEO to pull out some intake restrictions.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Alright, will I be able to wire up my 1g translator or is the circuitry different vs the 2g/3s model?

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

May just have to go with that MAF-T Pro. I didn't realize it had that many features.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

The documents on that website show that the 1g translator is different than the 2g & 3/s translator (same type).

This has to do with the difference in airflow sensor.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

What are your thoughts on speed density with the Translator Pro? I am considering just eliminating a MAF altogether.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

I haven't had much luck with the Pro, but the last time I used one was over 4 years ago, maybe there has been software updates since then.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

What issues did you have with it? From what I have been reading, a lot of people on 3si seem to love it, even over eManage ultimate.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Not sure if it was install error, but I had one come in that didn't seem to do shit, it was pretty much a brick when it came to trying adjust items :rollinglaugh:, actually it may have been easier to tune that car WITH a brick.

The installed seemed okay, but who knows if they toasted the translator with an improper install, then fixed it.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Haha alright, well that sounds like a fairly isolated issue.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Update: Decided to go speed density with the MAFT-Pro. Got a boomslang harness made and the translator unit for $250 total. Engine is out right now, seems like rings went out on a piston, car smoked very badly even at idle. Just have to get a few more parts purchased (including repurchasing 550 injectors, got scammed on 3Si). Will probably make a project thread at some point.

Re: Building a 15g 3KGT VR4, need opinions
 

Get the ignition timing harness stuff in there too, so you can pull timing with the MAFT Pro.