Reese R33 Gtst

[Reese69]

ok well this is my back dated build with lots of ups and downs more downs to be honest..

also this car is my view and the way i wanna build it so pls only positives.. i havnt judged or bagged anyone else views.. thanks.

anyway back in 2008 or 2009 picked her up from fist and only owner in AUS who was a female her partner was a mechanic so was well looked after.

car had carbon fiber bonnet and front bar done with blitz FMI, hsk bov and apexi pod filter.

after a few weeks i ordered my new side skirts and rear bar..

very happy at this point - then i saved my pennies and worked on my sound system and a few gauges.

subs in and very happy

was just as happy with my gauges

i then thought i would take my car to the summernats (sunday and entered the sound off) bit of fun on;y wanted to see wat my subs put out - as i drove in the shed to register they had a look over it and asked me if i wanted to enter the car in the show/installation/ best set up.... um ok i guess so

anyway i won best set in a class, and also won the sound off in the class i was in 137 db cool won a glass, $100 and a trophy.. this was 2009 nats so dont remember classes sorry.

also my parcel shelf speakers where the same speakers imported with the car and same with doors - only subs are the added speakers - yes way over bass

i was stocked i was 18 at the time and know how much imports are hated at the nats so was nice

so after this i went to power cruise in sydney and while there i picked up my new wheels.

anyway while flogging it round eastern creek started hearing a high pitched whislte on boost.. mmmmm

turns out some exhaust stud went on me, so this started talks on 300kw mark.. everything was set and booked in then my mechanic at the time had an accident the weekend before the car was booked in.

so then one of his staff members recommended XYZ seem ok at the time but as the build went on i would get a call once a week oh you also need this and this. i sourced most parts cheap through a friends sponsor.

so parts added are-

Garrett 35/40 ball bearing - oil - water cooled

greedy intake plenum

custom high mount exhaust manifold

sard fuel pressure reg

nismo 740cc injectors

Power fc

80mm throttle body

custom dump pipe

so then off to the tune - had a few issues with BOV apparently the spring was wrong just jap said they sent a 7psi but tuner said was a 10psi.. think back now i dont no what difference this had since the car was gonna run 15psi+

anyway i got a dyno print out saying 289kw at 16psi.. i confirmed this coz i found my facebook post. but have lost the print out - and since this was in 2009 i have learnt more and am not sure how he got that reading when the power fc was using MAF and i only had the pink lable sensor on there.. and have had plenty ppl say the maf would not allow me to get near that..

ANYWAY

maybe 6-8 months later i came down stairs from my unit to find my pride and joy sitting on bricks -

they got through my alarm with out anyone hearing it - these guys where good they took lights out from the car park under the building to make it dark -

they took my chrome wheels which had lock nuts - all my sound system - all my gauges - and my $5 gear nob.

they also took my parcel shelf speakers where the same speakers imported with the car.

they also stole my rear bar.. (Y)

so yes i was gutted - these items where add ons and not covered by my insurance - but if they took the hole thiing i would have got paid my agreed value..

anyway police came did there bit and then a week later i came home from work at 4am found my bonnet up.. well i stayed up till 9 got a car trailer and chucked my track wheels on the car got it on the trailer and over to my olds where it sat from mid 2010 to march 2012.

this is internal photo of car didnt take one of out side

so me and the wife brought a house early 2012 and few of friends i met through work are really into there cars... which i just found out about and hey only found out about my skyline who encouraged me to get it into my fresh xl double garage and get it running -

so jumped started the car made sure it would drive then i went and got a rego pass and new battery -

i looked in the boot and thought oh he batterie lines would fit easier if i turned the batter... fits perfect few sparks ..... stood up from boot and smoke coming up from bonnet..WFT disco battery - called my brother dude wtf... um no idea well didnt take long to notice terminal wrong way round this caused alternator to fry hence the smoke.

so replace that and wont start and pump not working so we tow it to mine and start testing wasnt long to find out my power fc is fried. ouch

so just start on my body work and internal work..

mate and i went to a big sow and shine in sydney cant remember the name but was good - we seen the haltech boys and got reading and were really keen on there gear and the AUS support plus i was sold on the dash.

so then we started the mold for the dash

using parts of dash got the mold

all fitted

ordered some goodies to fill the other holes in my dash

so car is idling and ready for a tune

[Reese69]

so once on the dyno everything was running well untill he started adding PSI - we could hit any psi we wanted through T piece or elec boost controller but then would drop straight back to the spring pressure.. 7 psi -

since wastegate was the cheapest part i put on the car some cheap china thing we ruled out everything bar the waste gate.. so upgrade need - tuned on stock psi to let motr drive in again since it hasnt been driven for 2 years.

so took the car home and started working on prepping body kit.. had a spare bonnet and preped that and tried painting that they colour i wanted to paint the car.

mind you this is the FIRST time i have ever done anything like this - read a lot and a few you tube clips later i gave it ago and it worked out just how i wanted it -

i wanted the car to be black with an electric blue pearl which comes in and out pending on light - you know what i mean.

so was happy with bonnet then started preping the hole car.

ready for paint

results

its a shed job buy a NOVICE lol

i am happy - it aint a show car its my car

so now i am over the 7 psi feeling new wastegate to go on

now fitting the gate was easy putting manifild it where the issues started and bring me to today.

well

to start off with i have taken the dump pipe turbo and manifold off to replace waste gate,

have since refitted everything, whilst doing up the manifold nuts two slipped... tightened up again thought i had this right now, only to start the car with a massive leak.. i freaked hadn't heard anything like that before, my mate came over and confirmed massive leak somewhere could smell the exhaust,,

so stripped it again - once i got to the manifold alot of the bolts where loose (finger tight) i thought i done then up.

now this is the disappointing part i went to my tuners work shop and asked how much to replace studs/thread then re fit manifold and turbo and dump pipe, and confirmed if this would actually cause a leak, just so loud was had to process.. as mention i aint a mechanic

i was quoted approx $2000 approx 8 hours works..

lucky my tuner is very good other wise i wouldnt go back .

i am not a mechanic i just have a few tools and slowly pulled my set up out and now refitting which i can re fit in 2 hours so you cant tell me the threading and new bolts will take 4 hours?

i instantly called a mobile thread guy - will be doing the lot including new studs 150 - 200.. then i will put it back together my self.

i got the thread guy to help out (very good bloke)

100 bucks later ready to re fit - then the manifold hardly went on took us ages - never had this issue - anyway it has warped some how - which is the reason why another bolt threaded its self (the warped end would not tighten up would just - sorry it would slowly then to go anyfurther we need more torque then of course failed)

so manifold is off... going to find someone to shim it or what ever plus another new stud.. then try again.......

so phillip heads cant do it to much work - recommended Queanbeyan engines

looking at about $300 buck they are gonna try heat and re bend the manifold then cut off the rest to fix - so another set back - cant win really

plus need to call the thread guy to fix the bolt

now i wait

[Captain Natro]

Nice looking paint/car man, post up some more pics of the paint if you get a chance

[Reese69]

hahah thanks hopefully i can have to turbo side back on soon and then get it out and wash it, then have a few snaps - only wish i had the money for wheels again lol -

[Reese69]

little update - car survived the dyno pulled 314.5kw running e85 nice solid safe tune on 20psi - tuner was happy to push it further, said car was running really really clean and well, but i was happy and was a solid and safe tune.

[34GeeTeeTee]

Nice work mate! Very different to most builds, good to see another approach I want your Haltech dash! At least you know you wont need any other gauges with that thing hooked up!

[Reese69]

should try drive it at night lol little regret with the dash stuff but i was 18 lol thats my excuss and sticking with it...

haltech dash is ok at night the others are so bright -

bit of fun anyway

[34GeeTeeTee]

should try drive it at night lol little regret with the dash stuff but i was 18 lol thats my excuss and sticking with it...

haltech dash is ok at night the others are so bright -

bit of fun anyway

Yeah well one day ill step up to a Haltech dash

As for the others, you should be able to wire them into your dimmer switch?

[Reese69]

really? mmmmmm defenatly will look into that (they do need dimming of a night)

racepack dash was what sealed me to go with haltech - was looking round and round for power fc but then seen haltech set up and how there ecu and gare works and was sold - plus being australian was a bounus they have been great to deal with.

[Adz2332]

how much was the haltech ecu and dash?

[Reese69]

i paid about 1800 -

but get this - no one in Australia will give you a discount so i brought it from a haltech USA dealer in USA - saved close to $500

but i still get all the warrently and service from Aus -

[Albus]

Car, Paint, Guages, Speakers. Everything about this looks awesome man. For your speedo, how much was that and where did you get it? I love it.

[AngryRB]

Nice build story, pretty gutsy to start respraying the car like that and having the gauges in the dash, looks good though, unique..

Your tuner sounds expensive, I thought with 20psi you'd be up around 340kw mark but maybe its super safe..

interested in seeing pics of the paint job, I struggle with paint jobs myself..

[Reese69]

thanks guys -

pics make it look much better lol

get up close and you will see little bits n pieces - only got one run in it -

it aint show and shine quality - i had half a go with a spare bonnet (first time i have touched a spray gun and or paint ) looked ok, cut n buff came up ow i wanted it - neext week car was pulled apart and started sanding lol

was a bit of fun -

if i ever did it again i will hire a booth - happy to paint my self but would use a booth, no matter how clean the shed looks it aint

i spent $1000 on paint and gun and things - but like i said if i wanted it to be show n shine i would have paid for a pro,

if i re do it ill go Matte black next time

[Reese69]

little yeah but has a good profile plus i know he has lot of experience with e85

and was a very safe tune i said just crack 300kw after 3 pulls on 16 psi he said mate ill crack 320 easy car is running really well - he is normally really honest and i have never seen him excited but he was suprised how well it was running -

so he said ill put it to 20 psi and tweak it nice and safe (i thought 320 was really pushing the line)

first day and clutch slips 4th n 3rd so off the road doing clutch as we speak -

just wanna have some funn with it been off the road so long and had one thing after another stuff up - planned on few drift days end of the year so just want the motor to survive so i can star my next motor - (have a rb30 bottom and 25 head sittin in the shed)

Your tuner sounds expensive, I thought with 20psi you'd be up around 340kw mark but maybe its super safe..

interested in seeing pics of the paint job, I struggle with paint jobs myself..