vancottt’s blog

My current major project is working on this site for the Galant tuning community:

Galant Forums

Just installed Joomla 1.5 with a custom-integrated copy of phpBB3. Have done all kinds of hardcore modifications to both systems to just get it working seamlessly. The major project on the site is the Garage, which is based off phpBBGarage, but it seems as though I've fixed more bugs in their codebase in the last few weeks than they have in over a year. I'll get around to backmerging my fixes some day... right haha!

Other than that, same old for me. Working as a J2EE Developer specializing in Security/Authentication/Authorization for Fidelity Investments... that's usually good fun as I get to work on some fairly high-profile stuff for Fidelity. But 90% of my free-time is still devoted to working on my car and other car-related nonsense. =)

As you may already know, I've been doing a lot of work on the TorrentVolve project along with Matt Kruskamp.  Basically, it's a web-based BitTorrent client that supports multiple users that is written in PHP.  It's currently in the beta phase of development, with a final release hopefully sometime before spring.

Any way, I've written a guide for installing TorrentVolve on Ubuntu.  It covers everything except the installation of Ubuntu itself - which is really just a few keystrokes.

Happy New Year!

Well, it seems as though I've finally blown a cylinder on the old 6G72 :(  I lost about 20 psi of compression (155 down from 175) on #4 (which is ~5 psi out of spec) after smashing a plug twice on that cylinder.  I've yet to tear the top-end down, but I expect that piston's ring land is chipped.

Needless to say, I'll be tearing down the top-end and bottom-end to replace the pistons.  I ordered new forged aluminum pistons from Tearstone; they are custom CP Pistons designed for the stock bore spec of the 6G72 (91.1 mm).  I need to pick up some tools such as a new torque wrench, hex/allen-drive sockets, and a cylinder hone.  Also, I need to buy a gasket set for the top-end along with a new timing belt.

Not boring the block should be okay, since I only have 60,000 miles on this engine.  I'll just give the cylinders a nice new cross-hatch and check the ring gaps with a feeler gauge.

After replacing these pistons, the block should easily hold 15+ psi, above which the intake manifold and heads start to limit the 6G72's horsepower potential.  So, my next step is to replace my supercharger pulley to bring the boost up to 12-14 psi; this will be done in tandem with the installation of a methanol/water boost cooler from Snow Performance.  I guess I'll have to get used to filling up my methanol tank every few weeks or so; good thing methanol is cheap!

This is my supercharged Mitsu Galant.  I hope to add methanol/water injection soon accompanied with 12 psi of boost.

Base specs:
    3.0L 24 valve 6G72 V6
    195 bhp
    205 ft-lb torque

RIPP Mods Supercharger Drive System Stage 1
    Vortech V-5 G-Trim Supercharger
GReddy e-Manage Ultimate
AEM Gauge-Type Wideband UEGO Controller
Walbro 255 lph fuel pump
Ford Motorsports 440cc injectors
RPW Shorty Tube Headers

Dyno'd at 231 whp/216 ft-lb torque on a Mustang Dyno - approx 310-320 bhp.  Boosting about 6 psi @ 4400 ft.

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