After two years waiting, I have taken some steps forward!!!

Going back to December 2004, I had a complete engine failure due to oil pump problem. Oil pressure was hardly reaching the 3 bar on startup and at zero when car is at idle and almost 2 bar when cruising. On one day, I was speeding (almost 180 km/h ) when the engine gone booooom… below photos describe the mess:

Block 1

Block 2

Crank 1

Crank 2

Head

Piston

Pistons

Oil Sump

Crank + Turbo

I decided to restore the Coupé within the next couple of months. By beginning of this December, I went to the Fiat Dealer and paid 50% of the cost of a new 20VT engine . It is expected to arrive in here within mid of January 2007 or so.

My plan for the Coupé is as follows:

- Engine: New as above
- Spark Plugs: NGK BKUR7ET – I have ordered them

- Turbo: GT28R and necessary accessories (from ATP Turbo or Himni Racing)
- Induction: ProAlloy straight induction pipe (SIP)(Received) & APEXi cone filter (ordered)
- Dump Valve: HKS SSQV

- Exhaust Manifold: Standard – New
- Downpipe: H&S 3” Downpipe
- Exhaust: Standard from cat to backbox (might replace the backbox only)
- Lambda Sensor: Standard - New

- Oil Cooler & Pipes: Standard – New
- Intercooler: ProAlloy FMIC (I’ve got it in December 2005, Thanks Highwayman )
- Radiator: Uprated ProAlloy large core (I’ve just received, Thanks Omran )

- Fuel Pump: Walbro 255 lph (which one GSS340 or GSS341)

- Chip: which one: G-Tech 1 or G-Tech 2
- Boost Controller: APEXi AVCR

I still have the intake manifold, alternator, starter at the Fiat agent garage and I guess these can be fit and will suit the above setup.

My concern is that: although the above setup seems to be familiar with many mates here in the forum, it was not done on a brand new engine (I presume) and I am monitoring the various posts regarding the fueling issues of modified Coupès

The only rolling road place we have here can not control the fueling or the air/fuel ratio!!!

My aim is to reach the 300-320 hp with this setup safely and running a moderate boost.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this setup and possible problems, cautions, installation problems

Keep in mind that we have a wonderful whether overhere with temperatures reaching 50 deg.C in the summer.. but it is too cold these days (15 deg.C) and would be perfect for the Coupè and I think I will miss it because the car will be ready by begining of summer

Thanks for reading upto here and waiting your replies

Happy new year to everybody…

Regards,
Hani

Hello Hani - your intended setup is virtually identical to mine and I think you'll be very pleased with it. A couple of things - I know the Walbro I have is the GSS340 model, although this is not to say that the 341 is not suitable, I just don't know if it is or not !!

Re. the fuelling issue - I would recommend getting a wideband air/fuel gauge fitted. You can use the Apexi as the boost gauge anyway, if it isn't mounted in the ashtray, and can fit the gauge in the dash. Maybe a Blitz like mine would be better, as you can mount this on the painted strip on the dash, as the control unit is really small ?

If you are really going to get serious, I know companies here that do full Motec installations and mapping - but you'll need to be rich to consider it

Good luck mate

yeah James, although I did not have the Coupé for the last two years, I was following the forum and I liked your setup..

I came to know that the Walbro GSS341 is the high pressure version of the GSS340 and the filter is a quite different and I am confused about which one to get.. there are some posts regarding this as well..

I have ordered a boost gauge from Defi (amber red which meets our Coupé gauges ) along with its control unit.. I can connect some other gauges in the future..

Yeah, tell me about the Motec in UAE.. everybody here (Supras, Evos, Skylines and even Landcruisers and Patrols )goes to there for tuning.. but it is real expensive for me at this stage..

As I said, my concern is the new engine and this setup.. but I am not that worried because I feel the OEM setup for the Coupé is wrong due to the weak turbo, restrictive intercooler,... and this is clear through the problems of the Coupé which are always the same here in the Gulf or there in Europe (this is just my feeling of Coupé and it is the paranoia )

Regards,
Hani

How about unichip and aquamist to help with the charge temps and also ensure spot on fuelling?

i think youll need to leave the country to get another mapping solution sorted tbh. Live mapping seems a good way to go at the minute adn the unichips do well in that power area as well

Get a base chip which "best" fits and then an adjustable fuel regulator to help fine tune with a wideband lambda. It's not a perfect solution but it should certainly help create a setup that is reliable.

well, im very happy for you hani, your coupe will be certainly a beast...

as im falling into a lake of problems recently with my car (as nigle did), i think that the livmaping is the best way to go. but as no one can do it here, I think go first for HF Gtec1 then do check your fuel on RR or wideband

You waited for a long time mate to get your car back, but i think we will forget all this once you take it back to roads..

Just keep us updated mate

omran

Thanks Omran.. and I hope you sort your car's problem soon so we can surprise and eat many cars here

Yeah its been a long time and I had the chance to buy other cars but NO.. Only Coupé..

I am also afraid about the fueling issues but I hope to sort it out.. I will get the high fuel Gtech1 from GrahamL soon and proceed.

Regards,
Hani

Here is the first

Which Walbro to get: GSS340 or GSS341???

Also, would the high fuel G-Tech1 suit above setup?

well, now I know..

Thanks mate..

so what to choose, GSS340 or GSS341!!!

I've ordered the pump today.. it is GSS340 with the fitting kit from Flat4online delivered to me..

I hope it will fit easily and will be matching my above setup..

Any thoughts???

well, nothing new.. the engine will take about a month to arrive..

I received some parts and I thought to post some pics:

Defi Gauges Controller 1

Defi Gauges Controller 2

Defi Boost Gauge 1

Defi Boost Gauge 2

Defi Boost Gauge 3

Sparco Hand Brake

Sparco Gear Knob (Lift Reverse )

Sparco Pedal Set

NGK Spark Plug BKUR7ET 1

NGK Spark Plug BKUR7ET 2

ProAlloy Straight Induction Pipe

Samco Straight Coupling Hoses for Induction

APEXi Power Intake Filter

3" Adaptor for the APEXi Filter

APEXi Filter Part No.....

I ordered the 500-A022 by mistake.. it has a diameter of 75cm rather than the 500-A021 which is 80cm in daimeter..

I am not sure to keep it or order the larger one.. I am afraid of less air going into the GT28R although the difference is too small.. any thoughts??

ProAlloy Uprated Radiator

ProAlloy FMIC since December 2005

The fuel pump is on its way to me and expected to arrive within this week

The next step is the GT28R and the accessories.. and then the installation headache

cool hani,
all parts will be soo coool on the car

hope to see it again soon...

Edit : hani, you forget the H&S DP

Thanks Omran..

No.. I did not foget it.. I am considering it with the turbo and the acceossories..

Its been a long time.. Fiat agent has driven me crazy!!!!!!

Finally, the engine will be dispatched from Italy by 15-March-2007 by air freight.. I hope they are right this time..

hope to hani, just you dont have anything other than hope with them!

Guess what mates.. noting was dispatched on 15-March and they know nothing about status with Fiat Italy!!!!

I am really considering a modified engine from Torque Italia that will have: TI head with ported & polished, plus 3 angle seats, balanced OE rods & forged pistons and I already got the quote from Barbz.. price is almost the same of Fiat price but does not include the shipping which I will arrange for

Now confused what to do..

That would seem like a fairly straight forward choice?

Go Barbz..
Go Barbz..
Go Barbz..



This is my choice always mate

Hani,

I really don't see the point of discussing it.
Get the Barbz option ASAP and sod Fiat!
If prices are similar there is no comparison.
Shipping is an issue, but would be either way in your case

BTW, I know if a good company doing freight to Greece/Cyprus twice a week (trucks take 6 days to arrive to Cyprus I think)
If you have a cheap way of getting stuff from Cyprus I'd recommend them!

Thanks mates..

I think I will do stick to Barbz option..

I would like to see the faces of Fiat people when I cancel ordering their engine.. how bad is me..

Hani

You won't regret it. Torque Italia are the business.

Update..

Engine order is cancelled from Fiat and will go with Barbz modified engine.. I could not resist

Now, is it more benficial to have the GT28RS (0.64 A/R) rather than GT28R with the above modified engine .. I know the RS is more laggy than the R..

Hani

I guess it depends where you want your powerband to start and finish, I would imagine the RS will push your torque curve around 400 rpm to the right. There's also the RSR that Barbz does that is somewhere in between (RS Compressor, R Turbine).

Its been long time..

Here are some updates..

The exhaust system is shipped & available with me now: 3" H&S Downpipe , SuperSprint decat & 2.5" BlueFlame cat-back .

Engine wise, and after Barbz advisse, he is now considering forged rods to the engine specification above.. I think it is good to do it both once (forged pistons & rods) to avoid bending rods in case of future increase of power.. here some photos as received from Barbz :

Block

Piston Set - 1

Piston Set - 2

Hopefully, the engine will be ready by end of July and waiting the turbo (GT28RS, 0.64 A/R) & accessories purchase (depending on money off course ) the clutch will be Helix paddle.. the budget really gone over my abilities at the moment..

Also, I had to buy this one for daily use as I do not think I can use the coupe dail any more

Coupé paranoia

Hani

Nice one! Hang in there, it will be worth it when it's back.

hey hani,
i think you made the right choice by adding all these pits and wait for sometime. You will be very happy when you get it back

omran

Well, It's been a long time.. almost a year!!! It's really busy world and it's really hard to finish anything on time

I had a meeting with the nice Barbz in Dubai this week and discussed many stuff (he was so kind to answer my tons of questions )

Engine is being worked on and will be assembled soon in Dubai by Barbz.. hopefully it will be finished within August-September for my colection to be installed in Fiat dealer here

Initially, I was thinking to go with the GT2871R but decided to go for the GT28RS with 0.64 A/R to avoid changing the injectors and going into complicated mapping issues especially with the lack of experienced people in Qatar.. when I get the engine installed on thecar in here, I might take the car to Dubai for final touches by Barbz.

Expecting a solid 370hp @ 1.2-1.4 bar with my setup which will be enough for me as a begining. At least, I will have fully forged internals in the engine ready in case I decide to be mad and go for 500hp or above