Despite a few niggling issues to start with after the 3S-GTE upgrade, the car passed the 1000km mark without any problems and had its first oil change. About 300ks later we played around some more with the TPS, ignition and idle control valve and the car is now running a lot better - especially up to 5k rpm.
So, tonight, after a few light runs yesterday taking the revs up to 6k, went for a decent blat along some lovely country roads with a fellow GT4 WRC owner as a passenger.
All I can say is "Holy ****". With boost still 'restricted' to a maximum of 8psi, even my mate had to concede that the car felt faster than his 4 which has some 220bhp @ wheels with 17psi and an Apexi Power FC. It is almost frightening to think what the car will be like when it's been fully modded.
The engine has been totally transformed with the 20cc larger capacity, 8.7:1 CR, HKS 264 cams and fully worked head. It feels so tight and smooth and keeps pulling all the way up to the red line with no noticeable drop off in power. It just keeps pulling and pulling. I am looking forward to getting the new ECU and upping the red line to 8k :)
I'd also been telling Frank how much better the car was handling too with the new front uprated ARB. To say he was gobsmacked was an understatement. This was also the first time I'd been able to really put the car through its paces and its road holding ability was unbelievable.
Frank had a turn at the wheel and I literally had to prise him out of the seat with a crow bar at the end. He wasn't looking forward to driving his 4 back home
So, all in all, at this stage of proceedings I am a very happy man. And if anyone is rebuilding their engine, all I can say is spend the $ and get it done properly. It really does make all the difference between a good engine and a great one!
Gary