Have you ever noticed that when your race or project car isn't going well, that you stop writing for a bit! That's been the case this summer. I've just had one problem after another. A human error mis-shift (3rd to 2nd when it should've been 4th) broke a rocker and damaged the intake cam. Put it back together and the next outing we discovered that the timing chain should have been replaced too! Ouch! The motor will be worked on this winter, but this fall here are a couple of things that are in progress.
First of all, a VRS stainless steel 3" cat back exhaust, including a Magnaflow oval muffler and a magnaflow cat. I think Jere pointed out earlier that the 2" exhaust I kept from my 1.6 litre days was limiting the engine.

Then there's the issue of restriction from the turbo:

So I went to my friend Aaron's shop

(if you've read about Will Chan's twin-charged Honda Civic in One Lap of America, Aaron at Weirtech is the artist who created all of his plumbing!) and he's building me a custom downpipe - divorced wastegate - with a 3 inch flow.



The engine hasn't been rebuilt yet, but when it is, I'll have the exhaust to handle the necessary flow!

Wow.... that DP is very nice!

Thanks guys. I can only take credit for getting Weir-Tech involved and then allowing him to build me this beautiful DP. I am really looking forward to next season. FYI, Weir-Tech is only an hour north of Niagara Falls, NY so easily accessed if you're in that area.

Posted By Chris H on 12-01-2011 11:47 PM
Nice to see another NX being put to good use instead of the junkyard...

I drove this car new off of the dealer's lot. I'm planning on it being around for a long time to come!

 Great build, and yes that divorced wastegate DP very nice. What are you running for brakes?

A bit (maybe a lot) off topic but I currently have a nx2000 with an avenir swap GTiR T28 turbo about ready to go in. However unlike yourself I do not have a lot of track experience and was wondering would it be a sever hindrance to my driver development to jusmp straight to a turbo NX instead of keeping it NA for another year. ( I have only 4 AutoX and 1 HPDE under my belt). While I have almost everything for the swap I don't want to rush it if it is going to be a stumbling block to my driving development.

That DP is a real nice piece!

Last season the car was over-revved on the track and #1 rocker broke; damaging the intake cam. This was repaired but we didn't see the hidden damage. The timing chain was stressed and the next weekend out, right after passing a Corvette, the timing chain broke. This caused extensive damage.
 

I had a second engine, so my friend Dave and I rebuilt the head with a combination of new and used components.
 

We stripped down the block, installed ACL bearings. Lightly honed the cylinders and, after installing new rings, installed pistons from the second engine into the first block. Three of the pistons had been 'kissed' by the valves.
 

We used shrink wrap on the rod bolts to ensure we didn't scratch the crank during the installation.

New timing chain, guides and tensioner. Tore down and checked out the oil pump; water pump is only 10 months old so it's in great shape. Kitchener Nissan was a great help in getting parts and supplies.

You can see the plate that Scott at Can-Alignment created for the car to secure the axle. The bolts were lengthened and strenghtened to ensure reliability this season. New seals in the transmission and a new release bearing to smooth things out; clutch is a Bully Stage 4 4 puck system with an Aasco lightweight flywheel.

Greg at G-Spec is absolutely an invaluable resource during any Nissan build. I've got his water pump pulley (to reduce cavitation) and his crank pulley (not in stock but I found a used one). Just a huge inventory of parts from G-Spec went into this build. His knowledge and customer service is number one. ARP head studs went in with an OEM head gasket.

Dropping the engine and transmission into the car. We put the alternator on once it was half-way in, otherwise everything was bolted up. You can see the additional openings cut into the front previously for enhanced cooling. The mesh was added to protect the intercooler and the rad.

Dave admiring the work. Everything under the hood has been buttoned up and preparing to start it up.

Pic of WeirTech's downpipe from under the car.

Pic of the downpipe - 3" stainless - clearing the Whiteline 4 point brace (with the help of a hammer to increase clearance).

Up and running; oil pressure gauge the proof.

There are lots of things that I don't have pictures of during this project. Installed ES steering rack bushings, an ES bushing at the back of the shifter bars to further stabalize shifts, urethane exhaust hangers and so on. Now I'm looking forward to a great season ahead. An oil cooler will be added soon, I'm just trying to find a decent spot to locate it!