* UPDATED PICS* Sneak Preview! NICO's Project Vert KA-t Build!!!

[AZhitman]

After several long months, she's finally coming together... No effort has been spared, and this one should be damn near bulletproof.

Machine shop went nuts on it, and my builder is getting all tolerances accurate down to the TEN-THOUSANDTH. By the way, I love tulips...

Here's some preview pics of where it stands right now:

[DammitBobby]

Hey Greg,Wow that looks like a lot of detail work. I like the valve cover a lot. Did you hand paint the lettering? What color is the engine, I can`t tell if it is orange or red? Dam do you ever sleep?

[TurboChargedSE-R]

Looking absolutely beautiful!

Small-block Chevy orange? I dig it!

[9sec240]

Looks great Greg... I cant believe you actually had time to post up some pictures... Everybody is SOOOooo busy these days...

[Edub1]

Looking good!

[AZhitman]

It's actually a bright red... pictures look orange.

Next weekend: valve shims, head install, oil pump, crank scraper, windage tray, and button up the bottom end, install the manifolds.

[veilside180sx]

Great work Greg. Good to see it coming together.

[240sxHitman]

Pure sexiness!!! love it man. cant wait to see it complete

[S14tat]

i love the nice touches by adding the black on to the lettering on the block.

[Jookmasta]

agreed, the black lettering on the block does it for me also. its one of those things u might never see on a daily basis when u look under the hood, but u know its there........................

[audtatious]

You rule! That is awesome!!!

[Florida240sx]

Very clean and nice.Can't wait for finished product.

[phuphyter]

No effort has been spared, and this one should be damn near bulletproof.

That's what I like to hear

Beautiful engine pics Greg. What's your initial target hp gonna be?

[AZhitman]

We've built it to handle 500+, but it'll likely never see more than 300.

I want reliability and low maintenance, I'm not one of these "number-chasers".

99% of people can't drive an S-chassis with 250rwhp to its full potential, so....

[j-z]

cool! i know what youve been going through as i just finished doing the exact same! everything looks really good. what kinda intake manifold is that? is that a diy kit or custom? shes gonna be purty sitting in the vert. yeah i was thinking about painting the raised nissan lettering on my block as well to stand out, but damn the starter sits right there. also, you running A/C? that bung is right under where the compressor sits.

[pr240sx]

I hope that you are using a Fram filter just for the color combination.You guys have too much damn spare time in your hands. I barely have time to give some love to my car, even so, even the simplest thing takes me a good amount of time!!

Good pics, looks like a "testors" plastic engine!!!Too bad that it will be damaged by oil, crap and road dirt.....oh well!!

[AZhitman]

I hope that you are using a Fram filter just for the color combination.You guys have too much damn spare time in your hands. I barely have time to give some love to my car, even so, even the simplest thing takes me a good amount of time!!

Good pics, looks like a "testors" plastic engine!!!Too bad that it will be damaged by oil, crap and road dirt.....oh well!!

That filter is one of about 10 we'll go through during the initial startup and break-in... Then I'll switch to OEM or K&N.

Spare time? Pffft. Try finding time for car stuff with 3 kids, wife sick, a FT job, running a business, taking care of a home and 4 cars - I get 4 or 5 hours every Saturday to spend in the garage (so I don't "go postal").

There won't be any oil, crap or "road dirt" on this motor - Factory belly pan will be in place, and I don't anticipate any leaks.

[hannibal]

I like the red/black/polished combo! Nice detail on the lettering on the block. Valve cover looks great too.

+1 on the intake manifold. Ive heard great things about it. j-z, I'm pretty sure its an Xcessive mani from GroundZero.

Greg, please assure me the vert will be at NOPI Atlanta this year...

[Tulsa_S-13]

That is the Xcessive intake manifold with the Groundzero exhaust manifold. Nice
Modified by Tulsa_S-13 at 10:37 AM 5/22/2006

[AZhitman]

Xcessive intake manifold, Ground Zero turbo mani.

This turbo mani is INSANE. I'll post some more detailed pics - It's easily the nicest one I've EVER seen for our cars.

[AZhitman]

By the way, HUGE thanks to Ivan at AMS Performance (Turbo240), as well as GroundZero and Xcessive, and Intense Motorsports for all their help with this project.

More pics coming soon, engine should be finished in a week or so and preparations for installation / tuning are planned for the following 2 weeks.

[WI_S14_Goldie]

Damn! i like it. What kind of pistons are those??

[NateDogg]

Greg..I can echo the adoration of my fellow members but I thought I would try to contribute something towards your reliability campaign for this motor.

1) From the pictures it looks like the oil return bung is welded too low. This will prevent oil from draining sufficiently out of the turbo (plug the end of a straw) and will nuke your turbo. See the FAQ for proper location..should be ask close as possible to the oil pan mating flange to the block, or better yet, tap a hole in the block.

2) If I were to get a block totally done out I would have the machine shop tap in a couple ports for a crankcase ventilation setup to reduce windage losses and combustion contamination which would significantly increase the life expectancy of a built engine.

Toss those ideas at the machine shop and let us know what they come up with.

[AZhitman]

Good info Nate...

The pic is deceiving - It's less than 3/4 below the flange, which was as close as we could go, given that this car is retaining A/C.

As regards the crankcase contamination matters, we're addressing that with windage tray, crank scraper, and modification of the OEM PCV system - no return of any noxious gases / atomized oil into the intake.

Also, adding approximately 2.5 quarts oil capacity via a remote filter, thermostatically controlled oil cooler, and lines.

[GEO]

sounds like an operation..

[j-z]

yeah you def want to move that return bung if youre keeping ac. 2.25'' to the right of the farthest right holes on the actual A/C bracket is the sweet spot. thatll put you right in the middle of the compressor, and motor mount. i just did mine and measured it out perfectly and thats the spot. you can check the pics out in my thread, or atleast try and make them out as there was shltty lighting and cant really see that side of the motor that good. it does look to be at the right height. its just the angle of the pic. mines at the same height, just in the sweet spot i mentioned.

[klattr1]

looks pretty badass so far Greg...gotta love high quality parts...makes a world of difference in the long run...

[steve s14]

damn, the attention to detail is really evident! looks really good.the pictures are great too. keep up the good work and picture taking.

[AZhitman]

The location of the return bung was right on the money - Remember, this was in the car and running (for a VERY short time)...

Goldie: They're CP Pistons.

[j-z]

actually i dont remember. never new the vert ever saw boost. so did you run a 45 or a 30 off of that nipple?