[Supras] New Lex, 550 startup status, 91T

[berniek at technicaldevelop.com]

Jeff, Jim, Dan, and everyone who responded to my first rebuilt JDM 
startup email:

Blocking off most of the Lex bypass passage was a mistake, despite 
anything Reg may have tried to convince us of.  What Jeff Corbat stated 
seemed to work best, the stock screw about halfway in after removing the 
extension I had fabricated and resetting the ECU.  The engine ran better 
with perhaps 35 PSI fuel pressure (measured at idle with vacuum).  
However, it does not idle when cold.  After about five minutes of 
warmup, gently backing off the throttle, the ISC seemed to adjust the 
idle to about 600-700 RPM.  From then on, it did not stall as long as it 
was kept running.  The story was the same each time I started it after 
it cooled a little.  The car is still up on stands so I can't drive it 
yet, notwithstanding the fact that the master brake cylinder is off (had 
to remove it and the EGR valve to reach in to connect the hose, a PITA). 


However, it does not have the really quick throttle response that my 
'90T stocker did (before the BHG) when blipping the throttle without a 
load.  Need to check spark advance later, but the bolt and washer marks 
on the spark timer slot are slightly above where they were on the JDM 
engine before I tore it down, so if anything the spark should be 
slightly advanced, although it does not kick back against the starter.  
It could be off by one tooth, but that implies an awful lot of retard.  
One more item to be checked later tonight. 


There remains much to do including boost controller installation, A/F 
indicator installation, and the damned gas door actuator repair (may 
just remove the flat spring and use Velcro to hold the door closed, at 
least at first).  Have another dashboard here to install, since the 
Texas sun shrunk the original (bought a southern car to avoid rust.  The 
car is solid). 


Also, I do not quite know what to expect with the 57 trim turbo, other 
than later onset of boost but more of a kick in the pants at higher 
RPM.  The Porsche/Saab blowoff valve was easy to install, epoxying the 
accordian hose tubular insert into the discharge, and connecting the 
pressure end with a piece of spare crankcase to head vent hose with just 
the right bend (duplicate of the hose just behind the alternator).  
Also, a Lipp elbow, Random Technologies 3" downpipe and cat are on the 
way to replace the stock elbow and two cats.  The exhaust is already an 
HKS 80 mm quiet system. 


One other item of interest:  I also installed essentially a new radiator 
(out of my '90, installed a month before the BHG).  After running the 
car for about 15 minutes, I went in the house, only to find the garage 
floor covered with antifreeze five minutes later.  The lower radiator 
hose had blown off at the radiator during heat soak.  I put a screw type 
clamp on it pretty tight.  Now it seems OK. 


Finally, although the car has an HKS air filter, the outlet end support 
for the AFM is stock, which tilts it so getting to the screw is not 
easy.  Taking off the bracket and rotating the AFM so the electronic 
module is horizontal makes adjustment much easier.  So, a new or 
modified bracket is in the works.  The HKS filter is far from the best, 
from test reports I've seen (sorry, did not save the URL).  In fact, you 
can see through the foam in addition to the fact that it is oiled, bad 
for the Karman sensor.  So, I'm considering a Green element, or even an 
open stock element fastened to the HKS "venturi" (not really a venturi) 
base. 


As always, any comments and suggestions would be appreciated.  Thanks.

       BernieK