92TT Project

[SaletOn4Wheels]

Hows it goin guys. So I just bought a 1992 300ZX twin turbo thats in great shape and runs great. I also bought a 91 car for parts. On the parts car it has Dual Stillin intercoolers, Stillen full exhaust and down pipes, HKS electronic boost controller, and a few other odds and ends. I also have ordered a dual Turbo Xs BOV set up that is currently in the mail. Im lookin to run 400-500 HP by november (when I plan on putting the car into storage) My budget for the rest of the build is $3,000 absolute tops. Where should I go from here? JWT dual pop charger and ECU?? What else?
Links to specific parts and any advice is very much appreciated. Teach me the ways of the Z

[vulcanrush]

i'd say get upgraded turbo's...jwt550's, and call it a day.

you can also get sz dp's or mike smith performance manifolds, also, they're both good.

[Z31toZ32]

jwt pop charger (or another intake) is essential. you dont need a dual unless you have a goal for over 500 whp. if you have a boost controller already, you probably are already running an upgraded ecu. you might want to check that before you buy one.

if you are running 15psi with intake, full exhaust, and intercoolers you should be somewhere around 360-385-whp. if you throw on some pulleys you might hit 400. if you want to bump to the next level you will need upgraded turbos AND injectors. injectors and a fuel rail adapter will run $1k and big new turbos will run around 3k. intalling this stuff is not easy, you will need to pull the engine. you should be able to safely hit about 480-500 whp on the stock internals with these upgrades. any more than that and you will need upgraded internals and a real "build."

also bov's are useless and actually decrease performance below 500whp. the car has stock re-circulation valves that out perform and bov under 500hp. ricey.

[marty1mc]

Always start with maintenance. Has the timing belt, idler pulleys, tensioner, cam and crank shaft seals been replaced? If not, don't bother upgrading until that has been done.

[vulcanrush]

Always start with maintenance. Has the timing belt, idler pulleys, tensioner, cam and crank shaft seals been replaced? If not, don't bother upgrading until that has been done.

you're a very smart person.

[SaletOn4Wheels]

Maintenance will be addressed this week hopefully by Nissan. BOV's will hurt my performance under 500hp??!!

[Z31toZ32]

mx by nissan? i hope you have some dough in the bank.

and potentially yes on the reduced performance. there are stock re circulation valves in place which were designed with the car - which instead of blowing the extra air out to make a cool sound like bovs do, they literally keep the pressured air so that when the intake manifolds open again, there is the pressurized air ready to go. installing a bov not only potentially screws up the air/fuel mixture because the ecu already calculated the right amount of fuel based on the air that already went through but was just blown out to make a cool sound, but the turbo has to re-suck in air and pressurize it again, essentially leading to lag. the stock re circulation valves can handle 500 hp. any more than that, they get overloaded which could lead to compressor surge, which is when bovs could actually benefit. so essentially they are a bit of a "ricer" mod because they serve no purpose other than trying to look cool below 500hp.

[SaletOn4Wheels]

Well I do plan on making it up to 500hp eventually so might as well install them they're already ordered. I was under the impression that BOV's improve the lifetime of your turbos... If I get an upgraded ECU and some tuning can I make the BOV's work for me?

Also, I have noticed that especially when my car is cold the power steering feels like its grinding and it makes a whining noise...is this just low power steering fluid or is there something more? My HICA light is on as well.

Is there any other words of advice or knowledge you can pass my way?

[Z31toZ32]

bov's do improve the lifetime of your turbos. when you switch gears and the intake manifolds close, there is still air rushing in from the turbos. instead of that air literally going back to the turbos and slowing them down, it leads to compressor surge which breaks them over time. the bovs just blow that extra air out in a cool sound. but, like i previously described in decent detail to you, instead of blowing that extra air out, the re-circulation valves actually keep that pressurized air for when you lay into it again. the bovs only start to benefit when you are pushing more air than the stock re-circulation valves can handle - at approximately 500 rwhp.

do whatever you'd like, but given your strict $3k budget and what you want to do for 500 hp, you aren't going to get it done. i'd advise selling the bovs, which of course are expensive ($500), and putting it to the fund since you are going to need more than 3k to reach your 500 hp goal. new turbos and downpipes (your current 4 bolt downpipes won't bolt up to bigger turbos with a 5 bolt setup) are going to be $2400. http://www.z1motorsports.com/product_in ... ts_id=1451 new injectors and a required fuel rail are going to be $1k. http://www.z1motorsports.com/product_in ... ts_id=3088. since you have a boost controller, im going to assume you already have an ECU. If not, that's another coin drop. also an intake, but that's only $100. Are you going to do the work yourself? You will have to pull out the entire engine to throw those new turbos on. That's a huge $1500 job if you pay someone to do it. the good news is you already have an exhaust, boost controller, and intercoolers.

other words of advice - dont take it to the nissan dealership. they will probably want to do 3k of mx alone on it. find a local z guy to help you out. when is the last timing belt done? do you know? if not, you'd probably want to get that replaced before you upgrade all this crap. secondly, follow the 6 ps before upgrading too - http://twinturbo.net/nissan/300zx/forum ... mance.html.

im going golfing now, hope i was of some assistance.

[Z31toZ32]

oh and check your power steering fluid. it is probably low with that hicas light on. remember it takes ATF (auto transmission fluid) dextron NOT actual power steering fluid. I believe dextron III is what you want alough they all will work.

[SaletOn4Wheels]

Well thats bad news on the fluid I already put power steering fluid in it (Auto Zone said it was all the same except for Honda's) ...it did solve the whining problem but the HICAS light is still on, but I think the lines have a class 1 leak somewhere.
I will most likely hold off on installing the BOVs until this winter while in the garage and I will absolutely do my best to follow your advice you seem very knowledgable...I wish you were local, it seems like the only car Nissan imported to KY was a 240sx. I see just as many of them as I do civics...
To answer, yes I will be doing as much work as possible by myself...today I pulled the goodies off the parts Z and the guy threw in a brand new set of down pipes with it. O and my $3,000 budget isnt really a budget more like a goal? I suck at saving money lol. JWT pop charger or maybe the dual pop charger will be ordered soon and I do not have an ECU upgrade YET im still researching. Ive heard the JWT is good but the NisTune board is better/more programmable?
Z31toZ32 - How would you like to visit the Northern Ky/Greater Cincinnati area?

[Z31toZ32]

thanks for the compliments. im not really a master of the z by any means... i just learned by spending too much time on here.

well, ive got some good news and bad news for you. the bad news is that your new project is completely draining your power steering fluid. you need to buy a mechanics syringe or something of the likd and suck it all out and replace it with the correct dextron ATF. You will spring leaks like crazy and your whole system will F up if you leave the PS fluid in.

the good news is that there are two former nissan master techs that tool around with the z32 just because they love it.. right in the cincinatti area. their names are tim davis and brett ramey. if you type in a search with their names, you can leaf through their stuff on here. heres a thread with tim's contact info: post4721413.html?hilit=brett%20ramey#p4721413. make sure to tell him that brent from columbus referred you! im actually headed to rameys shop later this month and am looking forward to it.

[SaletOn4Wheels]

Thanks for the good news! f*** my life on the bad news...