Another new TIG member

[Turbo Gav]

Its nice to come back when you get time!
Updates

Built a runaround van as the mrs has nicked my car now 90% of the time as our little girl was born on 19th Sept

Teach them young eh

Anyone ever done 130+ in a Combo PMSL

****** so many people off its great The rest of the van is going Fujifilm green when I get time LOL

Finally run out of my first bottle of gas! had it since Feb

This is some of the bits ive been working on

Started a twin scroll manifold for an Evo turbo

Built a manifold for a local drift guy as the EGAY ones kept failing.... its been to many drift days since and is still sweet!

Started one for my friends Tigra

Just waiting on the wastegates and a fresh bottle of gas to get that one welded up! the weldings not great but I feel like im getting better its all great practice to me

Started an inlet for the van as im turboing it over the Christmas break

This was the idea whilst sitting in my van one day whilst it ****** down!

second time welding alloy properly I swear!!

Hope you enjoy the update as much as I enjoy messing around in the workshop!

 

[pedrobedro]

Is that like a Kawasaki green? You'll definitely see it coming if it is. I've got a tig torch with remote coming on Tuesday then I have to get some aluminium to practise on. I see you've found a use for used head bolts

 

[Turbo Gav]

Yeah nearly the same.

 

[Wayne.]

some outstanding work there you seem to have picked TIG up very very quickly i hope i pick it up as quick

 

[ngt]

Just a note for this manifold.
No4 cylinder may experience less intake charge due to the fact that its near the short turn radius where the flow may shape a counterclockwise vortex giving a slilght opposite direction of flow at the runner path entry.
Veeeery good welding !
What thickness is this aluminium ????

 

[pedrobedro]

The aluminium looks thick, is it 5mm everywhere or just the flange?

 

[Turbo Gav]

some outstanding work there you seem to have picked TIG up very very quickly i hope i pick it up as quick

It feels like its taken a long while. Wish I had time to do more but its been a busy year! New house next year with a double garage I think then I can be at home with the girls more and crack on.

Make sure you stick some pictures up when you get started..... none of us will laugh as we know much patience it requires.

Just a note for this manifold.
No4 cylinder may experience less intake charge due to the fact that its near the short turn radius where the flow may shape a counterclockwise vortex giving a slilght opposite direction of flow at the runner path entry.
Veeeery good welding !
What thickness is this aluminium ????

Thanks for your input.... I hope it works ok. Im Turboing a stock Vauxhall XE engine high compression with aftermarket management etc so it will have to be kept on the safe side anyway

The top,bottom and strip round the back are 3mm the base plate is 4mm and the TB plate is 5mm, I used 4mm for the base as the velocity stacks im using are cnc from billet and are going to take some fair amps to weld in. 5mm on the TB plate as its being tapped to M8 for the TB fixing

You seem interested so I will share

Im looking to find someone to do some CNC headflanges? but for now I have had to utilise the stock manifold headflange and injector ports

Next I ported and polished the insides right out and polished the outside as best as possible to aid clean welding

Stacks fitted

Runners

The aim Does not fit the headflange perfect but it will have to do for now

The aluminium looks thick, is it 5mm everywhere or just the flange?

As above

Cheers all

 

[Wayne.]

That van is a propper sleeper i would love something like that but i dont have your skills

 

[Turbo Gav]

That van is a propper sleeper i would love something like that but i dont have your skills

The intercooler,wideband and turbo are here..... im just waiting on a few more bits and its going to get a whold lot better

Where are you from? id give anyone a hand if they were close enough

 

[Wayne.]

i'm in sunny Blackpool so a bit far from you thanks for the offer though very good of you,may be getting the R Tech 250 amp Tig after xmas if i can sell some of my stuff to raise enough funds then i will practice like mad lol pls put some pic's up when you have turbo fitted i love stuff like this

 

[Wayne.]

hows the turbo build going ? any updates

 

[Turbo Gav]

Started doing abit.....stripped all the XE engine parts and looms, Had the fuel tank out and fitted a 255ltr pump ...Lowered it tonight by doing an axle flip on the back and now its slammed Cant really tell how low its gone until your next to it
Before

After

Yes I know there are 3 wheelnuts im waiting for the locking ones

Had a look at the intercooler fit tonight too and it all fits behind the bumper with no cutting this time (much smaller turbo) unlike my other Corsa hahahaha

Its a little cold up there at the moment so will take about a week I would think as it needs a full exhaust system making and the battery is being moved out of the bay as its a little tight for space. Updates soon.

 

[rodofgod]

Hi All!

Turbo Gav!
I'm not much of a car man, but your TIG skills are very very good!
Some very good photos and explanations of what is going on!

Excellent!

Regards

 

[Turbo Gav]

Thanks

I have been doing a little more today

The leaf springs used to sit on top of the axle

They were very soft and the vans never going to carry much weight and is going on track too so I had a scout about in the workshop and came up with the sprung-spring setup hahahaha

It cost nothing but time and its loads better already and im yet to drive it.

This morning I started by rescuing a loom from the bin and repairing it......wiring not being my strong point it took around 4 hours as it had piggy back chips bodged in etc but its all sorted now and saved another £100

This is one of the worst ive had to do it had bits added all over done by a firm called engine advantages....... no longer trading....funny that

The coolant temp sensor and airflow meter wiring were also missing???? very odd but all sorted now and fitted to the van

This is about as sleeper as I could get it.... what you all reckon? Few more bits to do like exhaust etc this week and il grab some pics.

 

[Wayne.]

i think thats going to be mental youve some good skills i run a mile from wiring even stereo's lol just cant seem to get my head round it

 

[Charred fingers]

I see this thread started early last year so are there any issues with
the R-Tech kit, I've been looking at these and it would be good to
know what a user thinks before I shell out some hard earned cash.
Thanks.

 

[rodofgod]

Nice Set up!

I think we can all see how well your doing! Very Impressive stuff!

On a professional level regards your TIG gear, given the photo's I'm even more impressed!
A WP26 and 1.6mm Tungsten are a complete miss match! Get yourself a nice WP9 or even a WP17 torch and your welding skills will increase dramatically!
WP26 are industrial workhorses and a swine to move around piping like your doing! They are meant to weld 12 hour shifts at 150+ amps! Your machine would be burnt out before you got one of these torches hot!

Regards

 

[Turbo Gav]

Yeah the torch is kinda big and gives me wrist ache!
My TIG set has done everything iv wanted it to do for the last 11 months....I have nothing to compare it to mind you.

The van ran perfect straight away and is very very fun now! I will do some vids when I can find somewhere quiet and its light.

Charge pipe welded up

Used an old 200sx backbox and made it into a new centre box as im a tight **** haha

Its quite hard to hold stuff still on your own and tack it

I forgot to take any more as I was just getting on with it...... next big thing is the 6 speed gearbox and ATB diff then the anti roll bar can go back on.

My friend has a Saab 2.3 turbo engine in a mk 3 Astra van and we/he are doing a manifold and inlet over at mine this week so I will update with some pictures soon.

 

[crxdave]

Looking good mate. I'd paint the intercooler on the combo black - it's a bit more stealth!

 

[tungsten]

tig

Oh and after setting fire to the bench several times on Wednesday night I thought I best sort that before we have an accident

Should do for now

i think you are using high amps and when you purging pipe make shure taped end is got about 2 mill hole in it and you need a flow metre on purge which means using a y piece on your guage