Short update

Picked up another trans from a place in Kalamazoo.  It has a 90 day warranty so here's hoping it works this time.  This week we will be taking everything apart, pulling the engine/trans (again), and installing the new (used) transmission. 

Sad face :(

Consensus is that my no-shift issue on the transmission is a broken shift fork.   This is an internal problem on the transmission and cannot be fixed easily.  Since M56 gearboxes have a separate shifter fork for the 1/2 gear pack, it makes sense that 1/2 aren't engaging while the rest of the gears are.  Time to find another transmission. 

Pic update

Updated pics...well, it doesn't look like this right now while I still sort out my transmission issue but gives you an idea:

Intercooler routing, tons more pics but these are the interesting ones

 Wiring for boost gauge, wideband hidden:

EST intake

EST exhaust shortened to fit, about 4" of extra pipe needs to be cut for a trim fit

It lives!

IT RUNS!  Started on the first try.

But (of course there's a but) 1st and 2nd gear aren't engaging now that we dropped the car off jackstands.  3rd, 4th, 5th, and R all "click" when they engage but first and second don't feel like they're connecting.  The shifter feels like jelly and not slotting into place.  I'm really hoping that the cables need to be loosened or something simple like that.  Seems to be a semi common issue for those who do manual swaps that the cables get too tight and out of alignment.

And for some reason during the swap my amplifier/radio harness stopped working? This is why I keep spares around, I guess.

Have many pictures and a video of the first start, but left the camera at the car.  Will try and get those up over the weekend.

Almost there!

Amazingly, the contents of that box were not damaged. 

Got the sheared bolt removed (Thanks again Chuckran Auto Parts) and the downpipe now attached
All intercooler piping routed/cut to fit
Electronic Boost Controller, Air/Fuel wideband, and boost gauge have all been wired and installed

Watch for video of the first start shortly!

Siliconeintakes made right on their screwup and has overnighted me the right parts...intercooler should be run tomorrow, shooting for a Wednesday fire up.

And got this today too, love the Postal Service...I guess they played kickball with my package?

Setbacks :(

Well, this weekend's goal of a fire up didn't materialize.

It turns out that Chuckran Auto Parts (Bridgewater, MA), the place I bought the engine from, removed the stock turbo downpipe incorrectly.  They sheared off a bolt inside the turbo housing and we just discovered this today.  This sheared bolt is preventing my downpipe from being bolted on.  This is exactly the kind of problem I didn't need right now.

On Friday, I also discovered that the intercooler I bought is about 1.5" to tall to be used without cutting the frame support.  Luckily I found another smaller intercooler on the local ricer forum.  It's an Ebay special and the quality is really nothing compared with my Treadstone.  For now it'll do, but I'll definitely be replacing this sometime in the future.

Finally, big thanks to silicone intakes(.com) for sending me the wrong silicone coupler. 

While progress is temporarily stopped for these problems to be dealt with, here's a progress pic for those of you following along.  Hopefully more updates this week.