Sheels Turbo LPG Gemini Coupe

[SHEEL]

SHEELS PROJECT TX/TG COUPE

Here is my Gemin-emin-emini.

Its a TX Coupe with a TG front and rear conversion.
I will be using the turbo LPG setup from my gold TF Gemini with a new engine which has the following STUFF:

1600 re-bored to 1750cc
o-ringed
decked
balanced crank and rods
new bearings, rod bolts, oil pump ect
ACL duralite KH TX3 Turbo Pistons fly cut for valve clearance
new rings of unknown origin
TX pre pollution big valve head.
lightly ported, polished and decked
new valves
new double valve springs (outer springs are g200)
WADE camshaft (billet turbo grind)
heavy duty timing chain
g200 tensioner
modified sump and rocker cover.

Turbo kit includes:

T3/T4 Hybrid turbo Built by ATP
custom 34mm tuned length mandrel exhaust manifold
exhaust ports and manifold match ported
30mm SAAB External Wastegate
custom 2.5 inch dump and exhaust

custom inlet manifold and throttle body adapter
match ported to head and ports polished
Gas Research 400 CFM throttle Body
Throttle body meter rod modified for turbo
LG B2 Gas converter hot kitted to suit turbo application
boost balance pipe to gas converter
Galant VR4 intercooler front mounted and polished

other mods:

TE Parker Lenses used for side indicators
Hidden wiring
Alarm/immobiliser
Central locking
VT commodore 300mm front disc brakes
VK commodore rear disc brakes
XB Falcon 1 inch master cylinder
strengthened torque tube
VK commodore LSD centre in gemini housing with VN V8 Shortened axles
pedders shocks and super low king springs
nolathane bushes all round
custom adjustable panhard rod
18 inch BSA 291 Shadow chrome wheels
custom TX dash with factory option Tacho cluster
deleted centre console and ashtray, deleted air vents and custom autometer guage mounts
TG steering column.
Full Cream Leather interior
SAAS front seats
Blaupunkt head unit
Alpine amps
boston rally front splits
eclipse point source rear splits
2x12 inch pheonix gold subs
boxed out boot with dry cell battery in boot, all trimmed in cream vinyl
detailed engine bay and undercarriage.

thats all at the moment I will add more later

when I bought it:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/000_0014.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/000_0013.jpg

Engine Bay:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/100_0187.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/100_0186.jpg

Halfway there:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/greengem.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/100_0197.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/100_0199.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/100_0191.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/greengem15.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/greengem9.jpg

Hidden Wiring:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/greengem5.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/greengem6.jpg

new pics sept '05

Dash is test fitted in the car, I'll soon be sending it off to be trimmed in biege leather along with the rest of the interior.
Diff finished, rear suspension all done, car sits a bit high with nothing in it. should drop an inch or two after the engine, interior and gas tank go in.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/sheelscaryut008.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/sheelscaryut010.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/sheelscaryut003.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/sheelscaryut001.jpg

Rear Brakes

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/sheelscaryut004.jpg

Front Brakes

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/100_0295.jpg

Got 4x4?

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/Geminicoupe014.jpg

update 7th oct. Front end pics

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/sheelscaryut031.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/sheelscaryut026.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/sheelscaryut017.jpg

Gas Filler

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/sheelscaryut028.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/sheelscaryut021.jpg

Update 23/11/05

Thanks to Blake (GEM184) for these alloy shocker tower caps

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/geminicoupe003.jpg

Hoodlinig is half in, still have to get new door rubbers and fit front and rear screens then It'll look sweet

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/geminicoupe004.jpg

Gas tank fitted:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/geminicoupe005.jpg

Engine block ready for final assembly, I'm currrently painting all the bolt ons such as the sump, timing case, water pump ect.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/geminicoupe007.jpg

Exhaust Manifold:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/Manifold.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/Manifold5.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/Manifold4.jpg

couple more pics:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/Geminicoupe012.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/P1190047.jpg

YAY!! Engine is in!!!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/pic005.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/pic007.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC027.jpg

Dash Pics. The colour is actually a bit darker than pics. The flash from the camera makes it almost look white.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC019.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC020.jpg

*Update 3rd Jan 06*

Steering column fitted over xmas. I'm getting the steering wheel trimmed in the same leather as the seats.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC045.jpg

Front seats and door trims.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC124.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC125.jpg

parcel shelf

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC048.jpg

Engine is finished. I just need to get some gas before I can start it up!! I still have to make up a rocker cover with an extra breather hole. The Rocker cover will be silver when I get around to it.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC115.jpg

Here is a shot of all the wiring in the dash. this is with the alarm and central locking wired up also. looks a bit of a mess!!!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC106.jpg

Update 23rd Jan.

Got heaps done of late, Had the car out for a drive a few times. I haven't made up the cooler piping yet so its N/A at the moment. Drives very well. The Brakes are absolutely awesome. I haven't re-flushed the lines yet and I still need a bracket to the master cylinder but I am VERY happy with the brakes. I recommend the Hoppers Stoppers upgrade to anyone thinking of brake upgrades.

The rear of the car is sitting a bit High still but I've decided to leave it as is until its been engineered, then I'll chop a coil of the back springs.

I also have put in the front seats with modified rails, the dash is now fitted and all the gauges and lights are now working and fitted. the door trims are also in and the carpet is in too. The interior is beginning to look VERY nice indeed. I am very happy with the project at the moment. Unfortunately I have almost finished but ran out of money. This means the car will be sitting in the garage for possibly a few months before I get enough money to get it registered :(

heres a pic of the car after I had the wheel alignment.
I'll post more of the interior in the next few days.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/P1210050.jpg

UPDATE Jan 25th. Interior pics, still have to neaten up the edges of the carpet. I also am yet to get the backseat from the trim shop. But you get the general idea of what it will look like.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC123.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC124.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC125.jpg

Update 3rd March 2006

Haven't done much lately but I did pick up my back seat from the trim shop. I have also taken a pic of the engine bay with the cooler piping on. I still have to pull it back out to put some more paint on it.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC360.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC361.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC371.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/PIC363.jpg

March 14th...
I changed the rear springs for some lower pedders springs. handles and looks much better now.
Exterior is pretty much finished. things left to do are:
fit front indicators on the bumper
chrome strips in the front & rear windscreens
window seal on drivers side
exhaust tip
boot lock
clean and wax.

here are some pics.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/Picture005.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/Picture012.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/Picture011.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/Picture009.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/Picture007.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/Picture001.jpg

Had my torque tube strengthened last week. simply had it lathed and a 4mm mild steel tube pressed and welded over it. came out really well.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/Picture019.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/Picture018.jpg

Here are some pis from easternats. As you can see the car is almost complete. It went very well but I still have some more tuning to do and a few other bits of the interior, engine bay and boot need to be done.
I was going to enter into the show and shine but decided to stick to the driving events as I am not really happy to compete in show and shine's until the car is completely finished.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/easternats%2006/easternats06_11.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/easternats%2006/engine1.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/easternats%2006/easternats06_3.jpg

Haven't Updated the pics for a while. I haven't done much to the coupe lately Coz I've been moving house and trying to save some cash to pay for the engineers cert.

Here is some work I've done lately...

Dyed the Steering wheel to match the seats. It will be properly re-trimmed one day I just wanted to see how it would look.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/gemini015.jpg

Finished off the Exhaust, 2.5 inch Mandrel bent, all welded up in my Dad's garage:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/gemini003.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/gemini014.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/gemini002.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/gemini010.jpg

Pics added 25-09-06

A mate of mine were bored on the weekend so he brought over his 8MP SLR Camera and assortment of lenses and we had a liitle photo shoot....

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/IMG_9007.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/IMG_9010.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/IMG_9020.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/IMG_9031.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/IMG_9056.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/IMG_9062.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/IMG_9076.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/IMG_9084.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/IMG_9089.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/IMG_9096.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/IMG_9103.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/IMG_9105.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/IMG_9113.jpg

Pics from Sandown Sprints:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/sandown%20sprints%2011-06/Sandownsprints002.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/sandown%20sprints%2011-06/Sandownsprints001.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/sandown%20sprints%2011-06/IMG_9965.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/sandown%20sprints%2011-06/IMG_0066.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/sandown%20sprints%2011-06/IMG_0041.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/sandown%20sprints%2011-06/IMG_0027.jpg

[Smashed S15 Bloke]

fcuking awesome little car. :D

[phee]

How long did it take from buying it to finishing?

I commend anyone who has the patience to complete a project like that, well done!

[SHEEL]

hehe its still not finished!!

I'm still yet to get the Engineers cert and rego it. Allthough It's pretty much ready whenever I decide to take it to the engineers shop.

I bought the shell in Nov 2004, So i guess you could say its a 2 year build.

Allthough I haven't done stuff all to it in the last 8-10 months. I keep getting distracted by other projects/work/ect.

plus I'm just Lazy :)

[phee]

Well it looks great, and you should be proud of yourself for what you have accomplished!!

[2ofdem]

Damn thats alot of work looks good congrats.,

[MickyD]

That's awesome. restecp :)

[FatBoy]

Farking love it !! First car was a Gemini coupe - yours is 8,000 times better... :)

[08ESE]

ive owned 9 geminis, only one coupe, similar colour to that, by far far far crappier than yours!

ITS SWEET AS!

[YBS1OW]

great car, my first car was a TF. worthy of any magazine.

[ScortFreak]

Once again, looks awesome. Colour's great, I'd love to get a shot of it next to my Escort. :D

[SHEEL]

Thanks for the comments guys....

pics with the Esky could probably be arranged:cool:

[F|sh]

Sheel

top work mate!!!!

[Fondles]

outstanding im impressed A+++++++ great ebayer

[Sir Revalot]

Top job Sheel. You must have the patience of a saint! It all paid off though in the end that's fo sho!

[SHEEL]

outstanding im impressed A+++++++ great ebayer

great ebayer?

please explain...

[Sir Revalot]

:lol: Sheel - it's one of the many many PF 'in' jokes. Hang around for a while and you'll pick up on 'em.

[SHEEL]

join date july 2004,

I've been around. I must have missed that one.

[Fondles]

yeah nothing implied with the A++++ ebayer sheel me just bein an idjigot on my 5th 9 hour stint at work this week doing fark all and am getting real bored only 1 more day to go then i get my superb 1 day weekend :knock:

farkkkkk i hate working 6 days a week:mad2:

[SHEEL]

its was the ebay bit i didn't get, I thought you were saying I bought it or something....

I knew you were joking though.

I know the A+++++ will post again joke

[Grunt]

possibly one of the best posts in the forevah!

well done. and a great little car. my 1st a gemini rally car. i love em!

[SHEEL]

Hi everyone. I STILL haven't registered the car...bloody lazy...

But I have been taking it to a few events, easternats, sprints, drift practice, drags, ect.

yet to run it on the 1/4 mile but I did run an 8.7 on the 1/8th on low boost (about 12PSI)

here are some various pics:

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/1485/eaternats011cw6.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/Winton%20Drift%20may%2007/slide7.jpg
http://www.fullboost.com.au/content/features/shows/2007/easternats_070408/easternats_070408_119b.jpg
http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/9607/drags174ug7.jpg
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4555/drags108fe8.jpg

[KanaL]

Still my favourite gemini coupe.

You gotta take me for a spin soon mate!

[Guido]

Very tidy!! I like the fact that you are not afraid to use it too.

[SHEEL]

Seeing Nismogem's recent update made me realise I haven't updated mine for ages...

It's been all done for a while now, Engineered, Registered and insured as you see in the pics...100% street legal...
Allthough in typical fashion I have done it all by the book and am yet to be pulled over by the police in the 2 years I've had it on the road!

It will never really be finished, there will always be something upgraded or changed every once in a while.

enjoy!

edit* sorry about the massive pics...

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/ZGemini10.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/ZGemini1.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/ZGemini2.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/ZGemini3.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/ZGemini4.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/ZGemini5.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/ZGemini6.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/ZGemini7.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/ZGemini8.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/sheel2/My%20Coupe/ZGemini9.jpg

Fast fours feature:

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v253/88/84/671041475/n671041475_649397_1617.jpg
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v253/88/84/671041475/n671041475_649398_1917.jpg
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v253/88/84/671041475/n671041475_649399_2210.jpg

[sriver]

nice! whole car is done so neatly from top to bottom.

[millsi]

fuckn win!

[Sir Revalot]

Top work on teh beast. Finished product is great and as someone has already said, good to see you're not afraid to use it! :)

[nine2nine]

Beautiful car, awesome work. Admire the patience that must have been put into it.
Did you end up taking it down the full quarter yet?

[SHEEL]

haha kinda... one run at heathcote... 10psi with the old turbo ( I now have a gt2871rs ) and ran a 14.0 @ 106 I think it was... not sure about the mph...

that was on the 18's skating all over the shop.... then I put some 15in et's on and blew the diff on launch..haha

since then I've blown the diff 2 more times on the street...

So one day... when I put a bigger diff in it.. I'll put the boost up to about 20psi and go back... I reckon it has a mid 12 in it. Not the quickest...but definately respectable.

[Greg Rust]

Great build and good to see another fellow LPG man,

In the track pics you had 'LPG' on the flanks and my question is related to the use of that fuel and race track usage as I will likely end up trying to have a crack on track.

I have played around with my GRA gear heavily, made billet annular venturis, modded the convertors, one of the best improvements was to shorten the vapour hose from the convertor to TB as that picked up the response quite a bit.

[SHEEL]

yeh they made me put LPG stickers (electrical tape) so the firey's knew what they were dealing with in the event of an accident. I tried to explain that its actually safer than petrol in many ways but they chose to stick with the myth that LPG spontaniously combusts at the drop of a hat...

I go to track days with a few mates that have skylines and clubsports and the like...nothing flash mostly stock or close to...
I manage to keep up with them and in some cases even better their lap times. Its awesome fun to drive side by side with an LS1 commodore and see the look on there face when I just stay next to them all the way down the straight.

Regarding the vapour line, my convertor is just underneath the TB and the vapour line would be no longer than 20cm I reckon... heaps short.
There is about 5 years and maybe 5 different setups that contributed to the current arrangement...Plus I used to actually fit gas, allthough not really in performance applictions I'll admit. I've got it pretty much sorted I reckon.

I found for me the biggest difference was in the boost reference hose back to the secondary chamber of the convertor. GRA recommend 13mm hose but I put 19mm in and it made a huge improvement.

[Greg Rust]

Ah cool I could see the convertor under the manifold but from the pics it looked further.

Glad to heat that you can punt on the track with LPG!!

I sat down with a dremel and ported the inside passages of the LPG transfer from HP liquid to LP gas which made improvments also, I hadn't actually played with any forced induction GRA gear but will keep the enlarged dia of the boost reference line in mind for any future plans as I would have probably just used the same dia as the fittings that screw into the top of the convertor.

What did you do to the enrichment jet? I took mine out as they became unneccesary.

[SHEEL]

Yeh I drilled the cruise jet and the idle jet out a bit... I think they are both 2.2mm now. biggest stqandard jet I could get was 2mm but it was still too lean.

also machined the metering rod down so it progressivly gives more gas with more throttle.

I have heard of people drilling out their shut off valves and all sorts of things to get more flow... but apparantly you only need to do that when you are pushin over the 300HP mark...

I am still around 170rwHP on low boost... I reckon even with the boost up I won't make 250HP so I should have no flow issues...even if I make say 220rwHP with more boost, with the car weighing dead on 1000kgs it'll go well enough for me I think.

[Greg Rust]

Yea had to drill out my tank valves from 2.4mm to 4.2mm as it was really lean over 5000,

but as you said you're running a pretty light car so should be plenty quick as is...except more power is never a bad thing..hehe

[Greg Rust]

Hey I remember speaking with you about your GRA throttle body, I have previously spent quite a bit of time modifiying mine on the XW, I have just started making some billet annular discharge venturi's for these to replace the crappy GRA ones,

If you're interested I can post up some pics and flow data?

[SHEEL]

yep always interested! post away....

[Greg Rust]

Ok cool!!

Basically the GRA original venturi's suck wang and don't flow anywhere near the reported figures ie S440 supposedly flows 440CFM which is actually closer to 298 to 306CFM.

Enter me and came up with this CNC annular discharge venturi that can flow 380CFM and fits in place of the GRA.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w85/xwgasaxe/DSCN0253-Copy.jpg

Should look like this when installed.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w85/xwgasaxe/IMG_0352.jpg

[ChrisS]

Hey nice build up and nice Gem! :)