first build: 1990 GSX

[StarFawkes]

Ok so, I've been in to DSMs since I bought my first car. To me nothing can compare to the feel and the power of a DSM which is why I want to do a build and I want to do it right the first time. I'm looking to make 500whp or more so any advice will be helpful.

So far I have a plethora of new parts,
Manley rods
Wiseco 9:1 pistons
stock crank polished and balanced
balance shaft eliminated
+.040" bore
Cometic top and bottom gasket kits w/ metal head gasket
ARP main studs
Brian Crower 280 cams
Brian Crower valves, valve springs, retainers, guides
ARP head studs
Precision 1000cc injectors
Walbro 400 fuel pump
AEM fuel rail
AEM cam gears
Gates timing belt, tensioner, tensioner pulley, idler pulley
DNP exhaust manifold
full 3" exhaust from turbo back
Precision 6262 turbo w/ internal wastegate rated 18-30psi
FMIC w/ custom 2.5" pipe
aluminum radiator
Buschur coil-on-plug ignition
Dynatek arc-2
AEM EMS 2
OEM oil pump and water pump
Shephed stage 3 trans w/ evo III first gear and input shaft
I am probably forgetting quite a few items but this is most of the important stuff.

What I really need to know is about how much boost can you run on pump gas? I live in Hawaii and I don't have access to e85.

What problems, if any, will I run in to with the ignition? I read that setting up a Dynatek on a 90s DSM is more difficult but would that be remedied by the AEM EMS?

My new car

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Some of the parts I ordered

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Block back from the shop with rotating assembly installed

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head back from the shop and on the block

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[99 gs iowa]

Ok so, I've been in to DSMs since I bought my first car. To me nothing can compare to the feel and the power of a DSM which is why I want to do a build and I want to do it right the first time. I'm looking to make 500whp or more so any advice will be helpful.

So far I have a plethora of new parts,
Manley rods
Wiseco 9:1 pistons
stock crank polished and balanced
balance shaft eliminated
+.040" bore
Cometic top and bottom gasket kits w/ metal head gasket
ARP main studs
Brian Crower 280 cams
Brian Crower valves, valve springs, retainers, guides
ARP head studs
Precision 1000cc injectors
Walbro 400 fuel pump
AEM fuel rail
AEM cam gears
Gates timing belt, tensioner, tensioner pulley, idler pulley
DNP exhaust manifold
full 3" exhaust from turbo back
Precision 6262 turbo w/ internal wastegate rated 18-30psi
FMIC w/ custom 2.5" pipe
aluminum radiator
Buschur coil-on-plug ignition
Dynatek arc-2
AEM EMS 2
OEM oil pump and water pump
Shephed stage 3 trans w/ evo III first gear and input shaft
I am probably forgetting quite a few items but this is most of the important stuff.

What I really need to know is about how much boost can you run on pump gas? I live in Hawaii and I don't have access to e85.

What problems, if any, will I run in to with the ignition? I read that setting up a Dynatek on a 90s DSM is more difficult but would that be remedied by the AEM EMS?

My new car

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Some of the parts I ordered

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Block back from the shop with rotating assembly installed

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head back from the shop and on the block

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looking good!

 

[blucas1984]

Its hard to say what pressure you can run on pump gas cause every set and tune is different.

 

[ZeGaNe69]

I would say: assemble everything and GO for it

 

[StarFawkes]

Well my trans won't be back until later this week so I have some time to do a lot more research. I'm going to try running 25-28psi on 92 octane. I have an appointment with Chris from AMS in May, just gotta have the car on the road with a good amount of miles.

 

[Aproductions]

That is one beautiful car. Seriously.

 

[dsmGSTtuner]

1st i gotta say really really nice build bro!! with that said i pretty sure you might have this already but if you dont then get a EPROM computer and DSMlink. Then you can adjust you ignition timing if thats what you are worried about. That car should run like a raped ape when you are done!!

 

[StarFawkes]

From what Chris told me the AEM EMS is better for tuning so that's what I'll be running. Since he will be the one tuning my car I went with what he suggested. I hope this isn't a mistake because I already bought it and let me tell you it was not cheap.

 

[allwheelTSI]

Looks like the machine shop assembled your block. Did they by chance give you specs on clearances? When looking to make 500hp, you need to make sure your engine is up to the task, and just doing an OEM build with aftermarket parts doesn't mean your engine is going to handle that kinda power. Ring gap and piston to wall clearances are very important when building a high performance engine.

 

[StarFawkes]

So I found a couple write ups on how to wire a Dynatek Arc 2 to a 1990 DSM. I think if I'm just patient and follow these guides closely it won't be a problem, and I can always trash the stock tach interface and run an aftermarket tach or get the signal from somewhere else.

Looks like the machine shop assembled your block. Did they by chance give you specs on clearances? When looking to make 500hp, you need to make sure your engine is up to the task, and just doing an OEM build with aftermarket parts doesn't mean your engine is going to handle that kinda power. Ring gap and piston to wall clearances are very important when building a high performance engine.

This I am not sure. I let them know what I was doing with the car and left it up to them to work with the engine. The reason I did this is because my friends that are helping me with the build went the same route because they will back what they build. So lets say a couple months down the line I have any type of problem I can go back to them and they will fix it at their expense or investigate if there was a defect in a part from the manufacturer. In which case they would handle the warranty process. One friend is daily driving a 420whp Evo X and the other has a 370whp Honda.
After dumping more than $15,000 into this car I don't really have the money to repair anything myself so it's nice to have someone that will back what they work on.

 

[StarFawkes]

Unboxing my Stage 3 Shep Trans w/ Evo III first gear and input shaft.

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[pj91gsx]

The port job on the head is rediculous. I would say its overkill. Who ported that?

 

[mattasi]

Wow that is some serious porting.

 

[StarFawkes]

I don't know who ported the head, it was like that when I bought it. The previous owner had no idea about the car and it turned out that it was already semi built. It had Ross pistons and rods and +.030" bore.

On a side note I will be starting to throw everything back together and I would like to confirm that an AWD manual trans takes only 3 quarts and the transfer takes 1 quart. If someone who knows for sure could chime in that would be great.

 

[dsm92gsx]

I don't know who ported the head, it was like that when I bought it. The previous owner had no idea about the car and it turned out that it was already semi built. It had Ross pistons and rods and +.030" bore.

On a side note I will be starting to throw everything back together and I would like to confirm that an AWD manual trans takes only 3 quarts and the transfer takes 1 quart. If someone who knows for sure could chime in that would be great.

i think i had 2.5 quarts for the tranny and 1 for the t-case if i remember correctly.

 

[Spector5]

Oh wow way to kick me in balls. I thought my build was above normal. Just giving you grief, amazing building it looks like you have really sat down planned and thought this one out. Keep at it!

 

[Rexwagon1909]

Nice build!!! Good luck with tune

 

[IrishBeatdown]

Wow I wish I could order a stack of new parts all at once. I dropped a couple thousand on my dsm in a week or two but that doesn't even come close to what you've put into that thing. I'm jealous.

 

[dalesmitsu]

Nice find. Saved it from the crusher.

What machine shop in Stark county, did your block? I notice you're from my area.

 

[StarFawkes]

Oh wow way to kick me in balls. I thought my build was above normal. Just giving you grief, amazing building it looks like you have really sat down planned and thought this one out. Keep at it!

It took me about a month to find the right car, so I had a lot of time to prepare. I even left myself some room for unexpected purchases, and there were plenty of those.

Nice find. Saved it from the crusher.

What machine shop in Stark county, did your block? I notice you're from my area.

I had it done at Snyders Machine Works in Hawaii. I'm in the military stationed here but I'm from Ohio, sorry for the confusion.

Anyway I got a little more work done today, bolted everything up to the engine. Still waiting on STM to ship my timing belt, I don't know what the hell is wrong with them, I've called twice now and they just put in the electronic confirmation but it doesn't show it as actually shipped.

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[GsxAZman]

Wow great job on building that beast on the island. The wait time on parts must be rediculous. I know it takes at least a week to get parts from the east coast to my door in AZ.

 

[dsm92gsx]

love the build and colors you chose. How long until you can get it installed in the car?

 

[StarFawkes]

Wow great job on building that beast on the island. The wait time on parts must be rediculous. I know it takes at least a week to get parts from the east coast to my door in AZ.

Well since everything has to be flown out to me, everything I order gets here in three days.

love the build and colors you chose. How long until you can get it installed in the car?

Waiting on timing belt from STM, if it comes in today or Monday then it will be on the road the same day. If not then it will have to wait for next weekend.

 

[91boostedgst]

great build

 

[Jason023]

Ok so the higher compression you go the less hp you will beable to get off of pump gas, sence u went 9:1 i belive u will only beable to hit about 380-400hp someone correct me if im wrong but i am pretty sure im correct about this one, me and my buddys were just talking about this at our meet the other day sence 3 of us own 1g. my buddy has a rebuild he just did with 9:1 and a 50trim nice pick up and torque but not sure what his whp is, i will ask him and get back to you. my other buddy went 7.5:1 because he wants to run more boost hp and u can do with pump gas and lower compression. i belive it has something to do witht the ignition of the fuel with the high compression. I hope this answers your question GL and beautiful job.