Chris Welter
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Posts posted by Chris Welter
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Thought of post an update for a few new items and plans. Car is still apart inside garage. I got all my new injectors about a month or so ago, just waiting on good weather to install them. I also got my hands on something I HIGHLY recommend all N54 owners get. I got my RB external PCV kit in the mail last week. I ordered the full kit with head plugs and all. This kit runs dual catch cans (50 micron mishimoto compact at idle and no boost, then transfers over to my BMS can once boost is built. This eliminates any gunk on the valves. Also the head ports are plugged in the process so the factory pcv valves in the head are bypassed and blocked off. This is to keep the valve cover and crankcase under vacuum. I have a friend who lost his engine because one failed and starved the engine of oil, so of rather not take that chance. Ordered the evolution of speed intake with port injection bits so waiting for that to arrive. Also in transmission land, the 4L80E is pushed back to next spring now. Not overly happy about hearing this so I talked to a few people and will most likely go 6MT RWD. Something about less controllers and a proven transmission is a nice thing. I don't drag my car a lot so for roll racing I feel this the better choice. I don't know of anyone here also knows of syvecs? They are releasing a ECU this year for the N54 that is plug and play. Working on getting my hands on one thru group buy. No more piggybacks and tunes fighting the ECU, and more rpms and total control
Gotta be prepared...lol.. planning out 6MT this summer and syvecs next spring. Heck if I can put enough aside I'll even debate getting an ABR punisher to drop in next year Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
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First I have a soft spot for the old Nova. I'd have to have it all black with a 572 big block (twin turbo of course
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Second would be the GTR.. they are just nasty tuned and look pretty cool IMO.
But with all that said I'd like to get my hands on a newer M5.
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I started the Bimmer craze at the Hormel plant in Dubuque. Went from just me to half a dozen for a while.
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Pretty much just me now...
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Just ordered a JB4, flex fuel wires, Fuel-It stage2 LPFP, 3.5 Tmap sensor & adapter, cooler plugs, and fluids for refilling the car when it's all back together. Going to shoot for somewhere in the 60-70% range of E85 and see if I can be at 20-21 psi without meth. Methanol injection is really the only missing piece of the puzzle for the car right now and if I can even approach 500 whp without it, I'll probably leave it off the table. If push comes to shove and I really need it to hit my power goals, I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
FYI no octane benefits over E60. I think I can run close to 20psi with port injection and pump gas FWIW as well. 50-60% e and No meth should be fine I'd think on 20-21 easy..
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Dubuque IA.. Well really East Dubuque IL.. but I claim platteville area for anyone I talk to in wisconsin. I would more than be happy to stop out and meet some new friends!
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PE mod is easy.. either take and disconnect the vacuum line to the exhaust flapper and plug it. Or you can reach on the drivers side in the trunk by the taillight and disconnect the solenoid plug. Works good, only really makes a difference at low speeds and idling.
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You're thinking Golf Tee mod.
Ahh yes, sorry about that one! Just get a circuit werks exhaust off eBay, sounds good, Cheap and stainless!
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Although I'm a bad example since mine went from oem to full retard in about 2 months.
lolol truer words never spoken
I will say after jumping into this turbo swap, I stand by my original statement that understanding how a car is put together and how things work together combined with diligence/patience will allow you to get through most things. However, it is astonishing just how much crap you have to remove to get at anything on newer BMWs. I spent about 6 hours just to clear the area to get to the turbo, and I spent probably 1.5 hours of that time just simply observing and taking stock of everything I was looking at because it's rare that I get an upclose look at the n-series this way.
It's fascinating, but I'm with you - preference still goes to like an E30 or something. I think back to the first car I ever worked on seriously when I was old enough to realize what I was doing (16), which was a 1956 Bel-Air with a 289 v8 that only ran on 7 out of 8 cylinders, and I could literally just stand inside the engine bay with my feet on the cement below.
Lol I am happy someone agrees with me [emoji3]. Yes it is overwhelming at times and you question why you are doing it over and over again in the process, but the end result is so sweet. Installing it is the first challenge, tuning it is the second. I came to a point that I was going to sell my car, then it was a 2jz swap with driveline changes, but after realizing it'd cost more for the same power and a more crappy powerband I decided to stay put in N54 land. Remember if you think about giving up just remember "at least it isn't an xdrive".. lol [emoji23]
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Initially the newer bmw's are a pain to get over the technology hump. Take it from me, I came from the audio world initially and basic engine work on my own domestics or Japanese cars. It took a while to figure out how the N54 works, but I'd never be afraid again. I'd honestly prefer an older bmw like an e30 though for simplicity. The really trying part of these new cars is when something acts up intermittently and you have to diagnose. A good challenge for all and it will test your troubleshooting abilities... Although I'm a bad example since mine went from oem to full retard in about 2 months.
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But that high class bathroom experience!
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There is a couple threads on how to gut the oem muffler and straight pipe the crossover to give it the Performance exhaust sound. That is definitely worth the time.
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PE mod is easy.. either take and disconnect the vacuum line to the exhaust flapper and plug it. Or you can reach on the drivers side in the trunk by the taillight and disconnect the solenoid plug. Works good, only really makes a difference at low speeds and idling.
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The 4l80e swap is being done by a relatively small company. Supposedly there is a Ford 8.8 rear end swap involved as well. I've tried to get more info from them but all I got was the basics so here it goes.... The kit should use a 4l80e (you supply it) but will come with everything you need to get it running. I guess the way the system will function is the car will be reprogrammed to think it's a RWD manual (eliminate s all talking to the other controllers) and a 4l80e standalone controller is used. I believe the kit also adds steering wheel paddles to send shift signals to the trans. The rear end kit comes with all the custom mounts and dss axles/ custom driveshaft to make that work. I have been told the xdrive won't work as the tunnel is too small to hold the trans and fit a driveshaft going forward. So that also leaves me 2 options.. cut front axles and remove the pumpkin ect, or get a $500 rwd front subframe and switch the front end over while removing the xdrive parts. I would like to do the latter option as it involves no ghetto axles. But if it breaks my hands are tied. The other good part about the latter would be the ability to install M3 control arms and suspension bits. I know my rear end will be getting the m3 arms ect.. I was told the reason for the 8.8 was because gearing options and cheap parts availability while keeping the bmw suspension as it is. Combine all this with motiv's closed deck motor and all the tuning advancements made and I think we will see the first 1000+whp N54 this year. As well as the first 8-9second 335i.
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pic where you can see oil cooler lines. Ignore the headlight washer cover, it was being a pain for the first couple weeks after I got it together. Fixed now though.
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6 minutes ago, suspenceful said:
Great build. Like Snap said... don't stop posting!
Are you still auto? If so, I don't think it will last very long. And apparently the Level 10 upgrade hasn't been working too well for the high horsepower folks.
I'd love to see what that thing puts down on the dyno.
It is still an automatic. I'm not overly worried since the 4L80E swap will be out soon, but i've done my research. I have a friend over by chicago that is running the RB's and has close to 600 launches on his xdrive without a single slip. Rumor mill has it there is something different with the programming, but only time will tell if that is true or not. Havent seen a slip yet myself either so my fingers are crossed. Dyno will come once I get it back running right (this spring) and get a trailer to haul it to chicago.
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8 minutes ago, suspenceful said:
Do you have a link to the Bluetooth unit you have?
And thanks! I could probably have 1000whp and still want more...
that one is pretty close to what I have.
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7 minutes ago, Snap said:
The size of that turbo tells me you are trying for 700+hp, is that an accurate assessment?
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Dont
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That would be a valid assessment. Didnt really think it out at the time, but it sure is a lot of fun!
I mean, imagine a FBO car, plus a bunch more power and literally 0 tire slip off the line on the street. Literally feels like a slingsot is hurling you forward. If the car breaks i'm upping the driveline and I could see a precision 68-70 gen2 in my future with a built engine.
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As it stands I've run the car up to 26psi on the turbo (blew out an 02 sensor and havent replaced it yet). I can say even when working out the bugs this thing is an absolute terror stoplight to stoplight. Fun fact: this turbo kit has only been installed on 3 xdrives, one in canada, some guy in arkansas, and me so thats reassuring
This year i'm ironing out the rest of the bugs, adding the new manifold and 4 bar map sensor and anti-lag kit. Going for the xdrive 1/4 record, i mean pick your battles right?
But seriously, it will break a record, or Im gonna break it trying. 4L80E swap is supposed to arrive this year, so if the driveline breaks i'm going that route.
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It was at this point (turbo mocked in and ready to tighten) that I remembered I didnt have an oil cooler from the factory. No big deal though, went and found a blown engine and bought the housing off it. However here is where the controversy starts, I installed a low temp therostat. Now the thermostat isnt the issue, its the cooler mounting people have issues with. I mounted my mishimoto behind the grille (drivers kidney). Some people say it blocks the radiator (it kinda does) and its an issue, however I havent seen any problems with it as of yet and as an added bonus if I throw my JB4 in MAX COOL mode I can pull the oil temp down from 230 after a good hard long couple pulls to 180 in under 5 minutes. With that being installed I'll toss up the pic of the turbo mounted as the car was pretty much finished minus the programming part.
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Here was a random pic I found comparing the OEM snails to the new Snail..
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One tool I got that I HIGHLY reccomend is the harbor freight engine support bar. If you are planning on dropping a subframe this thing is awesome! Here is a pic of my engine hoisted up, and prepped for subframe removal.
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Once that kit was coated, I had all the parts and was ready to start surgery on the car. (below is random starting pic I took) Unfortunately working mostly by myself I didnt get around to taking very many pictures (I was really excited to get it installed).
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By accompanying parts I mean the PI kit, stage 3 fuel pumps, VRSF 7" FMIC, MHD back end, and all the other requirements to go full e85 with a big single. As for the turbo size, I went with a 6467 comp. The original kit came with a 6465 but I was worried about back pressure and new the engine would need more flow on that end to perform well, so I opted for the bigger size turbine. Once the kit arrived I went and had some ceramic coating done from a family member on the headers.
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However, while in japan on some military duties I tossed the idea around of upgrading said rattles to RB or vargas. The big problem for me was realizing how far I wanted to take this. I saw a lot of stuff online about how the xdrives are slow and garbage, so it was disheartening considering this is what my little unicorn was. So this led me to what I like to call the "F**k It!" phase where I just decided that in order to be fast I'd have to manual swap and go RWD. Since that was gonna cost a small fortune I went and bought the biggest turbo setup I could fit on an Xdrive with all the accompanying parts.
My life in the slow lane: Turning a z71 4x4 335I into something respectable.
in Members BMWs
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Tossing in a update.. was able to pull a 1.6X 60 foot on the car at the track. Installed the EOS intake and new JB4 port injection controller module as well. This setup reliably got me up to 28 psi (did this once as I was scared, and dailies @25 psi on e85 no issues). This new jb4 controller is truly remarkable. However the car is getting parted out now and everything is for sale. Check the classifieds for sale posting.
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