Thanks for the feedback. I'm planning on a bunch of stainless for the exhaust and possibly some other bits, but most of my stuff will be steel after the exhaust. As far as aluminum, I'll have to wait until I'm done with this batch of things, and then purchase the miller spool gun for welding aluminum. I agree with you on where to buy. I bought my equipment at Conroe Welding Supply and they really know their stuff. They're also miller authorized sales & service so I have one place to go for everything I need with the welder. Their pricing was fantastic the welder was within $40-50 from internet pricing I had seen. But the tank/gas pricing they gave me was less than ebay or the internet in general (but then again they had 1000s of tanks in the back).

I have a sawzall but now I'm looking at a metal cutting chopsaw so I can cut angles etc. They recommended this new saw that's out (it's expensive but may be worth it) which uses a metal carbide blade and cuts the metal like butter - no burrs and minimal heat. I didn't have time to look at it (I had to come back home as I'm helping MRJERRY with his harness) , but will look at it next week at some point to make a decision. I'll let you know my impression once I see it/buy it/use it.

We'll see how my welds look once I get going with it

Thanks,
Nick.

Just in case you haven't already seen it, Burns Stainless has some good tech articles on their website talking about the different grades of stainless.

http://www.burnsstainless.com/....html

Tyler have you read any reviews on the chop saw that were negative? Everything I've seen so far has been pretty positive. I must admit though I haven't thoroughly researched it between family things today and trying to unbox the welder.

On the burns stainless that's where I've been looking, as they have some pieces that I can readily use (e.g. Y pipe for the turbo/external wastegate, J-bends etc.) but the price in 321 is pretty expensive. Not sure if anyone has welded 321 or used for manifold purposes and can give their impressions compared to 304.

I'll go take a look at the saw next week and let you guys know.

Thanks,
Nick.

The K value doesn't really reflect any sort of injector size or anything. 198 K being stock lowering it to 132 will be for the 555's. The K value is just a number the ECU uses in it's calculations to determine the pulsewidth of the injectors. Lower K value it will hold the injectors on for a shorter time. Since the larger injectors flow more fuel they need to be on for a shorter time to provide the right amount of fuel. If you don't change the K value it will be rich across the board (except maybe when you are in boost) and may not idle.

Thanks for the information. I need to do some more reading I think. I downloaded Nistune's Nissan ECU Tuning Basics Guide which talks about all this - I had only read the SW user's manual so far.

My in-laws and some other family is still over so I haven't been able to do much on the car.....

Thanks,
Nick.

Once you can get some map trace results you'll know where your TP is hitting and then you can tune the fuel and timing maps from there.

I thought I responded regarding the MAS but couldn't locate my own response I'm planning on going with the Pro-Tube 3.5 inch blow-through MAS (http://www.promracing.com/products.htm) in a single MAS configuration (this MAS can take anything we'll throw at it). The reason I was looking at duals was to re-use my TTZ MAS or figure out a way to use my Q45 MAS.

I think for permanence sake, I may just go with the Pro-Tube from the get go so I don't have to re-fab any part of the intake track later. I thought I would clarify this so you had a better understanding of my direction.

Thanks,
Nick.

My friend with a supercharged 5.0 cobra has one of their MAFs and has been very pleased with it. I haven't spoken to pro-m yet, but am planning to this week. My understanding from speaking with my friend is that they calibrate the MAF any which way you want to set it up. I just need to better understand the types of things that can be calibrated.

I know that if I give them some front-end parameters such as anticipated CFM, injector size, etc. they can calibrate it based on that, but I don't know yet the specific "back-end" parameters (voltage curves, etc.) that are tweakable, and for that matter, what they need to look like for my application. If you have any information on how the existing Q45 one works internally, that would be very helpful for my discussion with them next week.

I'll let you know what I find out after talking with them as this is pretty high on the list along with the manifold fab. On that I found a place locally in Houston that can supply 321 stainless as well as 304 varieties. I'm still tossing around which route to go.

Thanks,
Nick.

We got nailed pretty hard. The area I'm in is 70-80 miles from the coast and IKE came over as a Category 1 storm. Fortunately I fared out ok, my house is pretty new so the construction can handle a cat1/cat2 storm.

The only bummer is that the area I live in has a lot of trees which many snapped or got uprooted and toppled over. I actually saw some pines that are 18-24 inches in diameter that the trunk twisted and snapped (that's pretty major torque). So all the trees fell on power lines and we haven't had power since the storm. I'm using an inverter and my aircard to look at the internet but that's about it. Not sure how Jerry and the others have fared.

I'm ordering a 20-25KW standby generator this week that'll be able to power the whole house, as I refuse to be in this situation again. At least the weather has been cool by Houston standards - 60's for a low and low 80's for a high.

Anyway, I hope to post some progress after we get power back and get back into the groove of things......

Thanks,
Nick.

Hopefully the power will come on soon, but in the meantime I've put an order in for an additional natural gas meter on the other side of the house for the generator. I'm hoping to get some answers today on the automatic transfer switch so I can order the thing tomorrow.

Thanks,
Nick.

Good luck with the build. I just helped my brother install new exhaust and manifolds using 304 mandrel bent on his Z32TT, looks great and was easy peasy to work with.

real glad to hear you made it alright...our house was pretty much unscathed however my back fence is trashed on all sides, half of my swimming pool is gone, liner and shell and all, and worst part is the roof over my back patio ended up on top of my car...after i cleared the debris i was fortunate to find only scratches and no dings or dents...oh and get this...since we were evacuated from our rigs offshore me and a few of my buddies with chain saws have been going around cutting up trees and what not...weve underbid every tree company weve encountered and between 3 of us have cleare $2000 from saturday to monday....they have yet to tell us when we can go back offshore so now were rebuilding fences...sorry to hear you dont have power yet...my wife was bitching about not having it because the neighbors across the street got their power restored sunday morning and we didnt get it back until monday afternoon...i explained to her that theres still 1.4 million people in houston who dont have power so we are very fortunate...i know im all the way across town but if theres anything i can do to help yall out please let me know...i know gas is scarce but if need be i can find some and make my way up there...best of luck to yall
-K

Thanks,
Nick.

Pictures of Oilpan ready to go in

Bottom end cleaned up and new OEM oil pickup installed.

Pics of the modified plenum (not bolted on yet until I get everything done underneath) but it still shows the overall effect

Why did you install a new oil pick-up?

Thanks,
Nick.

Hey Kbflip02 my company may do work for yours, I work for MTN doing sat comm onboard cruise ships and offshore rigs. If your internet on the rig is slow I didn't do it. If it's fast then you're welcome!!! Anyways...

Did you do that to the intake just to get it under the hood?

I have a stock hood for mockup, that is just missing the inner support, and it clears, the one I run, I buldged an inch for extra clearance.

Looks great, hope to get them out on the road together soon. Leme know if you are over this way. You Gotta go for a ride.
craig

Quote, originally posted by T45 »

Hey Kbflip02 my company may do work for yours, I work for MTN doing sat comm onboard cruise ships and offshore rigs. If your internet on the rig is slow I didn't do it. If it's fast then you're welcome!!! Anyways...

LOL im waiting to get a new rig assignment so im just sitting on my @$$ @ home w/my crazy prego wife...according to the office though the 3 rigs i might be placed on all have wireless...if I encounter any problems and cant get my daily NICO fix ill be sure to let you know...

on another note Npez its coming together nicely...everything looks great...unfortunately due to the hurricane damage ive had to push back starting my project with craig but everytime i log on here it makes me want it more and more...

were currently looking for a new house because my wife is unsatisfied with the house we have now(especially the neighbors) and we dont have enough room for an adequate nursery...

anyways GREAT JOB NPEZ! and as far as Craig goes ill give you a call later when i get a moment...since i know what your Z sounds like i can only imagine how npez's will be...

I'll let you know if I'm up in Austin at some point - yeah we'll definitely need to take the cars out.....

Nick.

Good luck with the project and hope you get back on it soon...

Nick.

Nick, Glad to see you have it coming together, Going to be a beauty queen. cant wait to run it. Give me a ring, Craig

Quote, originally posted by jaysol »

Hey nick its jay the guy that works for centerpoint energy i met u on monday when i was out on the field. Anyway man i finally got a good deal on a complete q45 motor. Well a complete car to be exact. Hey im still thinking abt that garage and ur set-up man that sh*t is sweet. Seen the car and the motor with the modify intake in person very nice this is going to be one badass car. anyway u got pm

Thanks for the compliment. It was nice meeting you as well. Small world that a NICO member would remember the car Anyway, look in my profile and send me the PM to that address. For some reason I haven't received it, and looked in my SPAM folder and didn't see anything there either.....

Thanks,
Nick.

The intake looks amazing. For the near $50k price tag Infiniti charged for the Q45 in 1994, I think it should have looked like this from the beginning!

I've wanted a Z32 since they were introduced 18 years ago (OMG that's been awhile ). I'd love to see this thing in person some day. Top notch work so far...and some good ideas from everyone!

1994 Infiniti Q45 - Modified factory air box, Amsoil synthetic fluids
1991 Nissan 240SX SE Coupe --SOLD--

Quote, originally posted by Unnatural1 »

Just wanted to say the project is looking absolutely incredible! The intake looks amazing. For the near $50k price tag Infiniti charged for the Q45 in 1994, I think it should have looked like this from the beginning! I've wanted a Z32 since they were introduced 18 years ago (OMG that's been awhile ). I'd love to see this thing in person some day. Top notch work so far...and some good ideas from everyone!

Thanks again,
Nick.

Quote, originally posted by mychalous »

This project looks absolutely fantastic. I enjoyed every hour it took to go through the 8 pages lol. Sorry to hear about the hurricane ike drama. Anyways keep up the great work I wish there were more car modders out there as thorough as you are. Can't wait to see this baby all buttoned up. YOU'RE MY HERO!!!

I hope I can button this up soon as I'm getting impatient. I have 3 weeks vacation I need to cram in before the end of the year though, so things will pickup very quickly as more time becomes available.

Thanks again,
Nick.

Quote, originally posted by npez »

Thank you for the compliments - I'm trying to do my best to have it come out presentable as well as fast Hopefully some of the things that come out between my project and the others on NICO, will help people looking into something like this with what's involved to get it done. Thanks again, Nick.

Presentable?...that's an understatement. I'm glad the VH45DE is getting some love finally. Before all the engine swappers came along there wasn't much you could do with a VH. It was all undiscovered territory and, to a large extent, it still is.

Most of the people in the Q45 forum are interested in maintaining or VIP-styling their cars. Not so much emphasis on the performance aspect of the VH with a few notable exceptions (such as Shane). I've been following all these engine projects pretty intently. I had been thinking about selling the Q and buying an S14 or Z32 to mod/play with. But, with projects such as yours, and others, I'm excited about what's possible with the VH sitting in my engine bay!

I think all the work will be completely worth it when you are done. I don't see you being disappointed at all. When the boost comes along you should be in horsepower heaven! Keep up the good work!

~Brendan