Exhaust leak on an SR20det

[sirkus]

I just bought a 240 coupe today, wondering about the exhaust leak on it. It has the redtop sr. I was wondering where would be a good place to take it to have it looked at. I was thinking that I can't just take it to any random place around here, they won't know what the hell kind of engine it is. I just need to find a place that would have the gaskets, know how to work on SR's.

I'm really just trying to find a place that is good with SR's... mods, turning, and what not. This car seems like it pulls hard as hell, but you can hear the hell out of the leak when in high rpms. Seems kind of loud period, too much loudness from the engine bay. I had a similar problem with a mk3 supra last year, that was REALLY fun to fix.

I also need to find someone who can talk SR20's with me for a few days, answer a ton of my various questions. AIM @ sirkus34 if you think you could answer my 2000 questions :P

[mp5o]

www.mainstreamperformance.com or just look in the sponsor section.

[sirkus]

Thanks for the fast reply man... I'll check them out.

[mp5o]

^Definatly do that man. A good friend of mine and I had some work done by them and we couldnt be happier with the results.

[§treet_§peed]

MAINSTREAM PERFORMANCE FTMFW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[green91]

Just take a flash light and look for traces of a leak. Check your turbo bolts, they are notorious for loosening themselves on a SR.

[sirkus]

I will be taking it to them sometime, I'll probably have to get someone to follow me so I can leave the 240. Need the gasket and what not... and the clutch looked at.

Are all 240's clutches the same? Like... whenever you press it, do you always have to move your foot like you're stepping. It's like having to stomp on something thats 3 ft in the air. I'm starting to get used to it, but I was wonderin if they can get tighter.. I've noticed I've been stompin on my clutch in the mazda and shiftin really fast..

[sirkus]

Just take a flash light and look for traces of a leak. Check your turbo bolts, they are notorious for loosening themselves on a SR.

I pulled the heat shield off and checked a lot of the bolts (the ones I could get too atleast) and they all seemed pretty tight. I'll wait for it to cool off again and check them. It seems like it only makes the noise when the car is cool too, once it warms up it only makes the noise when you're boostin. How much of a pain is it pulling the downpipe off?

[green91]

Thats very normal for most mild leaks to only leak when cold. The dp is a piece of cake to remove. 3 bolts at the turbo outlet and 2 bolts at the cat/test pipe.

[sirkus]

Alright, I got it all apart now.. I noticed that I'm missing a couple bolts
Which is really freakin awesome. So, now I have to go and buy some bolts to replace them. (Anyone know what the exact size is for the bolts on turbo and downpipe? so i can go to napa in the morning and buy them) I recieved my gaskets today also.. Which I just want someone to tell me that I have the right ones before I pull all of this crap apart.
It wasnt really easy pulling my heatshield off, don't understand why. I spent most of my time getting that pos off, and when I finally did, I realized that I could have pulled the first IC pipe off and easily snaked it out.

Is there anyway that I can drop the downpipe and elbow without disconnecting the dp, from the exhaust? I realized that I don't have the gasket for the downpipe, which, I could use one if anyone knows where I can pick one up really fast. 3" :P

I really just wanted to know how hard it is to take this turbo off, is it really a pain.. I'm not really that experienced with pulling such parts off but I have the time to learn with this car. I was wondering if there are 4 studs that come from the bottom of the turbo, and 5 that go thru the downpipe? And what HAS to be removed to put the turbo inlet gasket on? I don't really want to get into the "This has to come off so pull it off" mode. I wind up with a big ass pile of nuts and bolts and no idea where the hell they came from.

I just really need someone to supervise me with some of this. Maybe talk me thru it. I don't want to mess this car up.

[§treet_§peed]

that was another thing i was fixing to suggest you might try getting some new gasket's...just be sure to use a good gasket sealer with them... be sure to let it sit atleast 12 hours before cranking it again so that the sealer can cure fully...

[yudalicious]

gasket... any that looks like it will fit will work. as far as finding the missing bolt, if you can take one of the bolt/studs off just take it to a hardware store and match it up, easy. clutch, clutch engagement can be adjusted. All of this is pretty common sense, you should be fine.

[sirkus]

I got all the parts off, I'm taking them to work tomorrow to clean them with the parts cleaner. I checked the turbo, it appears as if it's still in great shape. Anyone know why the hell these bolts work their way off? and would it hurt to put loctite on them? (I know a lot of people hate loctite.)

[§treet_§peed]

the reason that they come loosei would have to sayit's from the pressure, the vibrations, and or jaring (sp?) but anyways i wouldn't see anything worng with using loctite but just becareful how much you use...

[green91]

loctite helps very little on these bolts, best option is locking nuts (have bendable tabs)

[HiPSI]

I got all the parts off, I'm taking them to work tomorrow to clean them with the parts cleaner. I checked the turbo, it appears as if it's still in great shape. Anyone know why the hell these bolts work their way off? and would it hurt to put loctite on them? (I know a lot of people hate loctite.)

from the factory nissan has some locking tabs that help a little, you tighten the bolts down and then bend them over to help them stay put. i've tried everything from various lockwashers, all metal locknuts, and a few other unorthodox attempts at keeping them tight.... none seemed to help. loctite won't do anything due to the heat.

[sirkus]

I didn't think about how hot those bolts got :P Well thanks guys. I got all the parts cleaned up and ready to go back on tomorrow, went to ACE and got me 30 bolts... I like to plan ahead.

And I hate to jack my own thread.. But does anyone know if the powersteering pump is actually from an SR20? Or do you use stock 240 ps? It feels as if the steering may be going out. Getting really choppy and makin that damn squeelin noise at start up, and makes the windy noise while turnin at low speeds.. I figure I just need to replace it. So if anyone knows.. sweet

[§treet_§peed]

i would say forget power steering... who needs it lol...my car came stock without it lol

[sirkus]

I can't stand not having it though, I drove a damn geo storm with no power steering. Whenever I got my rx7 I was so amazed it was easy to turn the wheel

[yudalicious]

But does anyone know if the powersteering pump is actually from an SR20? Or do you use stock 240 ps? It feels as if the steering may be going out. Getting really choppy and makin that damn squeelin noise at start up, and makes the windy noise while turnin at low speeds.. I figure I just need to replace it. So if anyone knows.. sweet

Good question about the PS pump, never worked on an SR so.. no answer from me. But, IIRC all Nissan PS pumps use automatic transmission fluid, not generic PS fluid. Do a PS system flush and fill it w/ the proper fluid before you replace the pump, very easy to do and could save you some time and money.

[sirkus]

Good question about the PS pump, never worked on an SR so.. no answer from me. But, IIRC all Nissan PS pumps use automatic transmission fluid, not generic PS fluid. Do a PS system flush and fill it w/ the proper fluid before you replace the pump, very easy to do and could save you some time and money.

I'll try that tomorrow. I got the turbo and downpipe going back on it right now. Come in here to get me somethin to drink :P I can't wait to start this thing up... and it actually be quiet. Just an exhaust pur and bov is what I love to hear.