A small bummer of an update on the Goblin...
While I was doing the double oil change before installing the freshly rebuilt turbo, I found a significant amount of metallic particles in the filter and oil from the ~450 miles it has been driven. I decided not to immediately install the turbo, so I capped the oil feed and drain with AN plugs and warmed the engine up. When I drained the fresh oil and removed the new filter, it was already showing signs of contaminates after about 15 minutes of idling. I put a new filter and oil back in, and let it idle for about 15 minutes, idled it around the driveway a couple times, revved it up a few time, albeit poorly running with no turbo and subsequent vacuum leak. This totaled around 30 minutes of running. Upon draining the oil and removing the filter, it was a glittery mess again. I pulled the valve cover and timing cover/oil pump just to take a look. I found the balance shaft tensioner completely limp. No tension or spring pressure on the guide. I removed it and could slide the plunger in and out with no resistance. The chain, guides, and main timing chain looked fair. However, the engine is obviously not happy at this point after pumping metal through it for an unknown amount of time. I opened up the oil pump to find that the gears themselves are grooved and worn. This is no doubt the root cause of the turbo issue as well.
So at this point, the engine is coming out and getting a top to bottom overhaul. I am honestly thinking of just waiting until Black Friday to see if ZZP runs any deals like they did last year to potentially save a couple bucks. Moral of the story, I had planned to open it up and refresh the engine this winter, but it looks like the schedule has been pushed up a bit! On a funny note, I had made peace with myself when I bought the donor (203k miles) that I was on borrowed time, so I am not totally heartbroken. A new chapter of the Goblin begins!