Steve

tN, check the BBQ poll post, and register your interest:D

Kit 01J, it does seem that perhaps you need to relax a bit, as Enrico suggested. I didnt think BOOSTDs post required that sort of response, as I didnt think Enricos did either. A bit of friendly banter isnt an attack - where all friends here (or at least I hope so). I do hope you are right that this will be sorted in an acceptable manner, time will tell. I wish Mark well, and only hope that all his customers are as happy with his work as you are. Anyways, take it easy Steve

If you want a car that is cheap to insure and hasnt been thrashed, wont attract attention.....buy a gemini, or a stock commodore You may personalise your car if you have the money. You dont buy a skyline to own a car that wont attract attention, wont get thrashed (thats what they are built for) and you definately dont buy a skyline if you want cheap insurance. You could build a fully customised 12 sec VH commodore for under 10K, cos they are cheap to mod. A skyline costs a bloody fortune to mod, and if you dont have the money buy it done for you and you will save thousands of dollars.

You can buy the HKS 2835 with a t3 flange, or a gt25 and internal gate. If GT25, you would need adaptor plates to fit it to the stock manifold (mine for 3037 cost $80) and of course, different bolts. You would have to do oil feed and drain lines, water feed, about $300. Also pipe to AFM and turbo to cooler - cost me $180 for both. Then there is silicone joiners, I am not sure how much, probalby $50odd. Lastly dump. I had one made from stainless and it cost me $350. Roughly. You can get a new HKS 2835 for about $3500 new in aust, over the shelf with HKS wastegate acutator (thats t3 flange to suit skyline, not sure if you would need to do the dump, but it is always a good idea)

Jimbo 2000, externa wastegates arent illegal per say, screamer pipes are for the reasons GTS-t VSPEC pointed out.

Havent approached Mark yet, there is no point until he has the plenum back. It will probably be a couple of weeks before it comes off. When I originally got the plenum, it wasnt what I ordered (ie didnt fit) I was also under the impression that it was different to what was supplied (note to self get things in writing) - I wont say what it was, because that is heresay as I didnt get anything in writing, and some perhaps lines were crossed. I wasnt happy with it then, and asked for a refund, but that wasnt going to happen (Mark just kept saying to return it and they would fix it - as per my original post) so I put it down to bad luck on my behalf and thought as long as its a good thing, no probs. Since then other issues arised, like the throttle body flange not being flat, and the lack of vacuum lines. Also, I was aware when I took delivery it would be hard to adjust the AAC valve, but only when fitted was it apparent that the brake boost vacuum line needed to be removed, and only then with a small screwdriver could you adjust the valve - far from standard funciton, far from satisfactory. I have just had enough - I am quite sure that with enough tooing and frowing the issue could be sorted, but the bottom line is I do not believe that the contract has been fulfilled, as what was promised was not delivered - ie working plenum with throttle body to suit RB25. This has cost me in more ways than one, freight, vacuum block, intercooler pipework, adapting throttle body to CAS, several hours trying to get the idle stable and searching for the vacuum leak, and now days with the car off the road. I want a working plenum that is going to fit properly and work properly. I have, in my opinion, gone to some lenghts to get this plenum to work, it doesnt work, and I therefore believe it is appropriate that my costs be reimbursed. I dont think it appropriate that I should be put out any further. I will, when I return the plenum, let Mark know exactly what the problem is. If I felt ringing him and talking to him now would achieve anything more than a 'send it back to us and we will take a look' I would ring him. But due to speaking to him last time, refunding was not something he wanted to do. This time, I intend to photograph the plenum, so I have evidence, and if I dont get reimbursed, legal action WILL follow - enough farking around. I could post sooo many other things that I am not happy with, but most relate to telephone conversations, and therefore once again arent appropriate here. Does that explain Kit 01J? It wasnt my intention to post up here to try and inform Mark of anything, just using the forum for what it is intended - the sharing of knowledge and experiences, and if this post prevents only one other person from going through this drama, then it has served its purpose. If you are here for any other purpose, you shouldnt be here.

Enrico, its a bbq, you dont have to be good, just make sure you get the gear off before it bursts into flames:D or at the very least, soon after.

Dean, thanks for your support mate, hopefully I can get a happy outcome without going down that path:D (dont really need a holiday at govt expense;)) sidewaymambo, I wont know until I have the other plenum on. Or at least the current one off and sent to Hills. I would never expect someone (Hills) to just turn around and volunteer a refund until they could see the plenum and see what is wrong. They run a business so cant just go around giving people their money back without a good reason. the car is in getting a rear bar done, I had it booked in so just got it towed there. Once that is done, I will be organising the removal of the plenum to be forwarded. I still havent got a trust plenum to go on yet, but once it does I will have an idea of additional costs to fit it. Then it is time to talk to Hills. I believe that you have to give people the opportunity to do the right thing. If there is a disagreement, let the legal system sort it out that is what its there for, and I happen to have the free services of an excellent lawyer (contact can be handy:)) that is why I wanted to keep this thread objective as possible. Hoping it wont come to that. Kit-01J, you may know mark, but you dont know Enrico or myself, lets keep away from school yard antics, its just not necessary. Otherwise this will just deteriorate into a slagging match and this thread it merely to make people aware of my, and anybody elses experiences. If you have something positive to add, please do. JimX, I realise that you have dealt a bit with hills, but getting angry on here probably wont get positive results. That said, I agree with the vain of your post, but if you get emotive, doesnt that put you in the same league as those you are pointing your finger at??? this thread is here as a heads up for others that may find themselves in a similar situation as mine - meant purely so that people can make informed decisions Once again, if anybody has good experiences with Hills, let em post up and we can look at the whole rather than 1 part. Peace dudes.

Have they been crack tested? Are they new or second?

Pics of oil cooler (and all bits) please to [email protected] Any parts/bits missing? Does it have a thermostat? What car did it come off? Why are you selling? All/any info would be good Cheers Steve

2nd hand 2530 in very good condition, you can pick them up for under 2k, new under 3k - locally (by the way 176000yen is 2378AUD as of today, the AUD is currently low). Fitting, $600. Sell RB25 turbo in good condtion $500-600, if it needs reco, 3-400. Basically, you pay $2-2.5k for a recon, or 2.5 to 3k for a HKS 2530, and as pointed out, you will get a much better resale for a HKS turbo. The above figures are conservative, because if you hunt around you can pick up a good HKS 2530 for well under 2k second hand. I have seen them for as little as $1200 in good condition. Hunt around and see what you can get? you wont be disappointed. As for turbo to suit an RB25, if you want close to stock lag with a good midrange, top end and will make boost quickly - get a HKS 2835 - perfect all round street turbo;) Should make around 230rwkw at 1bar based on what a 3037 and 2530 will do anyways. HKS turbos that I have had experience with (2530 and 3037) will hit hard as f*ck, boost when it comes on is like throwing a switch so the difference in lag between 1 bar and 1.2 bar would only be a couple of hundred rpm if that. (with correctly matched turbine AR) - would that describe twin 2530s on a GTR sydneykid? I am a big fan of HKS turbos. They are the sh#t.

Joel, looks pretty sweet. Too nice to be bolting up to a block:p Those cams look a bit lumpy for a stocker????

Actually the really confusing part is when they suddenly change name. Come up to an intersection, look left - steet name a, look right - street name b - WTF End drain down, I'll get above the line now:D Nightcrawler, where is the Manor? Sounds fancy:)

At this stage, I dont think money will be necessary - but a beer for the cook never goes astray;) Joel, good try.

Well I think its called bridge road, I have to go down the bloody thing every day???? goes through the intersection where port wakefield road and main north road join - that farked up 5 way thingy. EDIT: OK its not bridge rd, its bloody grand junction..... too many new streets to learn:D....who said adelaide isnt that big?????? sorry to those from the west that I confused:(

I still have the Gemini:D:D:D If you have a spare seat that would be great Thanks again.

I bought mine stock, an exra 30K later and I still havent finished. Once bitten its hard to stop:D

Isnt the RB25DET NEO rated at 208kw from the factory? or thereabouts?

And noise, 044 doesnt make much noise at all in tank, so I would expect a 910 would make less.

Remove stock pump, lay the pump and metal bracket on a piece of cardboard and trace around it. This is very important, as it will make sure you get the stock pickup in the same spot with the aftermarket pump. Next remove the pickup from the stock pump (small circlip), and remove the pump from the bracket. Trim the plastic that is used to secure the pickup to the pump via the circlip. Use a short piece of fuel line (8mm? from memory) to secure the 910 to the pickup, use hose clamps to secure the hose. Get two small round crimp type connectors for the fuel pump to connect the wires to the pump. I am not sure if it is a banjo fitting for the 910 or hosetail, but you will need a connector for the top of the pump (I did a 044 not 910). You may need slightly larger fuel line, depending on the size of the connector. From here you connect the supply line to the pump. Once again use hose clamps Attach the pump to the bracket. Place a large (3") hose clamp around the pump and bracket. Make sure the pickup is in the same spot as the stock one was - using the traced outline on the cardboard. Tighten the clamp (or 2 clamps if you are paranoid about the pump coming loose. And now you are right to replace the whole assembly into the tank - easy:)

Thanks sydneykid, interesting reading. Paul, thats insane from a stock turbo, what boost?

Dean, think I'll have to take you up on the offer of a ride if its still open, looks like the plenum will take longer than I was hoping. Cheers Steve

Sydneykid, fair cop on the boost point. I would agree with you that if you havent done other things first, do them. I have seen flow bench comparisons that show a slight difference between the trust and stock down low and midrange - the trust item lost a few cfm, where it did win was up top. Have never driven a before/after comparison myself, flow bench testing wouldnt really be able to take into account the reduction of pipwork volume/restriction unfortuneately. I think it is a bit unfair to compare stock RB20 intercooler piping with GTR piping. More accurate if you were to consider how much volume would be lost JUST by reducing the pipework. Consider though too, would they put a front facing plenum on GTR if the standard one was so superior at the stock GTR target hp level? Too many people I have spoken too says it doesnt make a huge difference, in power, but they get a crisper throttle response. I cant ignore the voice of many.

Finally got the good oil. All food is ok, snags are in, rissoles, eggs, bacon whatever - so maybe rissoles, eggs and bacon for breaky, onions, snags, rissoles and eggs for lunch????. BBQ is only allowed in the car park, so it will be a case of find somewhere up wind, park cars to section off an area and bbq on. This is cos the park are doing a sausage sizzle during the day.

Fluffy Dice, perfect;)