97 gsx build
 

Hello my name is Blake, and I am pretty new to style and to the dsm world. I picked up a stock 97 gsx last May with the intention of building a fun dd. My goal is to eventually have a 4-450 awhp gsx running e85 after I put on the finishing touches and get it tuned by shane at db. First off I would like to thank my good friend Mark (mark4g63t) for helping me with the build and letting me use his garage/tools in the process. This is my first build and without his help this build wouldn't be possible. Also I would like to thank Mark (tkrperformance) for giving me advice, building my shortblock, and steering me in the right direction.

The build:

- .020 6 bolt block w/ .020 2g pistons on 1g rods w/ arp rod bolts and acl rod & main bearings assembled by Mark (tkrperformance). Thanks Mark!
- arp head studs
- 2g head
- revised lifters
- felpro composite hg
- autometer boost guage, oil pressure guage
- h&r springs on kyb agx shocks
- itm gasket set
- bse kit
- ss clutch line slave to master cyl.
- ditch the pillar, going with gauge bezel with a gauge in the cigarette lighter location. (trying to keep it sleepy)
- comp fp2 272's
- mhi 20g hybrid (tdo6 comp cover) rebuilt by Justin from tuners
- Punishment racing external dump o2 w/ tial mvs wg
- fic 1600cc injectors (running e85)
- act streetlite flywheel, act 2600 pp, act sprung 6 puck
- 1g tb
- vrsf fmic
- 1g bov
- thermal r&d turbo-back (thanks cornfed2.4!)
- dsmlink v3
- MTX-L wideband
- afpr kit
- fuel lab fuel filter
- wally 255hp
- stm fuel pump rewire kit


I just about gathered all the parts on that list and am currently assembling the head and front case etc. I am currently working 60+ hours a week so finding time to build is becoming a challenge. As you will see I am going with a black theme for the bay. I plan on painting the bay gloss black in the process as well. Here are some pics on my phone (sorry in advance for the horrible quality) that I have of the car and parts. I will take more pics of the parts and process as I make some progress.:wink:

I used to be in the vdub scene. I then quickly got out of the vdub scene because I got sick of dumping endless amounts of money into it. However I guess the dsm scene isn't much different :rollinglaugh:. But anyways this was my gli before I got my gsx:

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...0318121924.jpg[/IMG]

gsx:

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131622_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...r24v/fbpic.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...131620_1-1.jpg[/IMG]

My buddy mark's talon:

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131619_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131613_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131612_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131610_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131609_1.jpg[/IMG]

Do these seats look familiar cornfed2.4? :wink:

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131601_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131557_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131606_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131604_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131558_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131600_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...131607_1-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131616_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131615_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07132134_1.jpg[/IMG]

I got a really good deal on a hybrid 20g that was rebuilt by Justin 300 miles ago. So I ended up going with that rather than running the hx35 which needed a rebuild and bep bolt on housing. The hx35 is currently up for grabs!

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...05131813_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...05131815_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...07131623_1.jpg[/IMG]

Like I said, I am new to dsms and so far have learned everything I know from my friends and lots of reading on the forums. If anyone has any advice for me on the build please let me know. This is my first time building an engine so any advice would be awesome! Thanks for looking and I will include updates as often as I can.

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Looks like a decent mod list, good luck with her.

Re: 97 gsx build
 

^ thanks man

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Solid build for someone who is new to DSM's!

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Nice looking car!! And welcome!!

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Thanks guys! Just ordered a new front case/oil pump with gears, oem belts, pulleys, and timing tensioner. After those arrive and I find a black top cas, I will start assembling everything.

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Agreed. Looks like a solid start and should be fun when finished.

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Anyone have a spare black top cas lying around that they are trying to sell?

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Damn good build since not knowing anything a couple months ago. Time to get this thing outta my garage and into your car.:seeya: I have more pics I can put up once I find them

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Been really busy with work so I haven't had much time to work on it. I received my oem front case oil pump with gears, ss clutch line, itm water pump, and timing belt in mail this weekend. I assembled the front case and was about to put it on when I realized I had the wrong front case/block gasket. Apparently the guy that I bought the itm gasket set from thought it was a 6 bolt gasket set. Apparently not. Heading to Brookdale tonight to grab front case/block gasket and castle plug w/ oring.

I just traded a guy a 7 bolt valve cover for a black top cas so that should be here tomorrow. I came to the conclusion that I will not be attending pg this weekend, and instead I am going to finish assembling the block & head. Also going to remove actuator & flapper from the 20g and port the flapper hole to match the PR o2 housing. If i receive the arp washers this weekend I will bolt my head on as well. Hoping to make a lot of progress this weekend.

I will include updates with pics

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Well, change of plans as of yesterday. Last night I picked up a black 98 2gb awd spyder with 65k on the body (rust free) from bigboostingst. Currently it has a 2.3 stroker w/ wiseco pistons on crower rods with 5k on it, mhi 20g, vrsf fmic, and a 255.

Tachyon came over this morning to help me change my lifters, timing belt, and swap in my 272's. I am going to be swapping over my wheels, suspension, and link from my gsx into the spyder. Also I am going to be putting on my rebuilt 20g w/ pr o2 housing and tial wg, afpr, stm rewire kit, and bm 1650's.

I will update soon with some pics of the new ride!

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Woo. You will have to bring it buy

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Will do, hopefully I can start her up today. Finished the timing belt job and installed the 272's yesterday. Took the day off from work today to: pull turbo, port the new 20g and install the wastegate setup, install link, plasti dip gsx wheels, swap suspension, and bl test.
I will post some pics today

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Finished putting her together yesterday. Fp2 272's, 3g lifters, link, new mhi 20g, pr wg setup, afpr, springs & struts, timing belt, gsx wheels, thermal r&d turbo back, bm 1650cc injectors, fp intake, and some more goodies. Plasti dipped the trunk because paint was faded.

This is how she looked when I picked her up last Friday:
[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...02131337_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...02131338_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...02131334_1.jpg[/IMG]

Now:
[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...-07_162814.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...7_162909-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...0_094121-2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...-07_162750.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...-07_162720.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...-07_162631.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...-07_162624.jpg[/IMG]

I will take some updated engine pics when I get home. It is having trouble holding boost when I blt it. The compressor is set to 28 psi and when I blt it the boost gauge only reads 2 psi. I spent 3 hours fixing small boost leaks but nothing major and the boost gauge still reads 2psi. It's at 30* past tdc. For some reason a ton of air is exiting the exhaust during the test. After doing some reading I am going to go check the pcv, egr, and leak down test it after I get off work. Anyone else experience this problem?

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Egr was still on the car with the the emissions lines deleted. The valve was stuck open which was causing air to exit the #4 exhaust port in the head, thus allowing air to enter exhaust when doing a blt. Just ordered a block off plate and it should be here either today or tomorrow.

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Looks good. Glad you swapped the tailights out. Car looks sweet!

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Ah okay the egr makes sense! Car looks good!

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Thanks guys, I am hoping the block off plate fixes the issue. All I need to do is install the block off plate, tighten suspension, do a final blt, and fill some tanks with e85 and dial in my injectors and I should be ready to go.

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Here are some updated pics. Sorry I do not own a camera so I am forced to use my cell phone.

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...10131120_1.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...10131117_1.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...10131118_1.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...10131115_1.jpg[/IMG]


This will be my speed density setup once I am ready. I am going to my running the maf for a while since I am new to tuning and e85. However, if anyone would be willing to lend me a hand tuning sd I would give them some $ and rock it.

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...10131114_1.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...10131116_1.jpg[/IMG]


I am hoping this was the problem and why the car wouldn't go into boost. I will find out tonight after I install the block off plate.

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...10131112_1.jpg[/IMG]


90* boost leak tester :)

[IMG]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...10131113_1.jpg[/IMG]

Re: 97 gsx build
 

Good news, the egr was the issue. I installed the block off plate and was able to build 12lbs during a blt before the cap on my boost leak tester flew off. I think I have the line for the external wg setup wrong because I have to cover the top nipple in order to build boost. I will be fixing that and some small boost leaks after work, and hopefully starting the car for the first time tonight! I just put 13 gallons of e85 in last night :)