Autocross Project: Moving from DSP to SM

[nissanman04]

So, I got bored and I have decided to throw a turbo on the KADE that I swapped into my S13 last spring. I originally was building the car to D Street Prepared specs for SCCA Solo2 use. (Build thread here: zer...age=1)



I'll still be autocrossing this as well as using it as a DD since I will be selling my S14 in the spring. The turbo will throw me into the Street Modified class where it will not be remotely competitive. This doesn't matter to me so much since I will be out of my region for most of the events anyway, plus I'll still be running on street tires. I'm just looking for a little fun, and I've missed having a turbo car since I wrecked my other hatch. I'll be happy with around 250whp, but the turbo is probably good for a bit more.

List of parts to be installed:

-Pulsar GTiR T28 .86 a/r turbine with S14 T04B compressor-Nistune-Innovate LC-1 wideband-SSAC manifold and turbo dump-No name SR20 downpipe (still have this laying around from my RB20, hope it fits ) -480cc S15 SR20DET injectors (rebuilt)-CX Racing S13 SR20DET intercooler kit-1st gen DSM bypass valve-Walbro 255lph fuel pump-N60 MAF-Oil Cooler w/ thermostat-Mishimoto aluminum radiator-Taurus electric fan

I'm considering running a blow through MAF setup to reduce clutter on the exhaust side of the engine bay, but I'm not sure yet. I have the Nistune installed already...It's pretty cool to play around with. I'm guessing the worst part of this will be getting the cheap IC kit to fit properly, but it wouldn't be fun if everything just bolted together now, would it?

Aside from the engine stuff, there were a few issues with my suspension setup last year. One of these was that the Whiteline sway bar end links did not allow me to eliminate sway bar preload. I'm getting some PDM adjustable links. Also, I'll be backing my alignment off a little bit to around 2 degrees in the front and 1.5 in the rear. The 3*/2* setup from last year was done to accommodate R-comps, which I never ended up getting. A less aggressive alignment will be better for street tires, along with tire wear since I will be driving this every day. I will be running zero toe front and rear to reduce tire wear. I can't achieve zero toe with the stock arms in the rear for some reason, it's actually toed out. I obviously need adjustable rear upper control arms and toe arms (or something is bent, haha). I'm going to run significantly softer springs so I can stand driving around town, plus the street tires don't like the super stiff springs. I'll also be swapping the Nismo LSD for an S15 helical unit for better streetability, plus it will be better for an autocross application. I'll need to get rid of my hockey puck engine mounts and throw some stock or Nismo mounts in there instead since the car shakes like crazy with those things in.

I just picked up some 255/40R17 RE-01Rs for $360 shipped, so I need to find some 17x9s and some 5 lug hubs to go along with those. I'm considering MB Competitions, FN01s, and RPF1s. I'd like to go with the Enkei's, but we'll see what my wallet has to say about that.

I don't want to do a whole lot more to this chassis since it is pretty rusty underneath (not dangerously rusty, just too much work to justify keeping the chassis). I plan on finding a clean shell once I graduate and find a job/place to work on the car (big variable right now with this awesome economy). Then I can really go all out and make an actual track car to do HPDEs and eventually time trials with.

I'll update the thread once it is above 20 degrees here so I can actually do some work...
Modified by nissanman04 at 3:58 PM 2/24/2009

[Automato]

good stuff man. are you still in rochester? its kind of funny, because i'll be running the same turbo once it gets warmer out too. i'm excited to see what this gtir t28 with the s14 compressor housing will put out on my sr. just wishful thinking, but i'm hoping to make 300whp or a little over that. well if you are in roc still, i guess i'll see you in the spring when the season starts again. oh yea, if you want to go see what that ka can do in the 1/4, hit me up.

good luck with the build, i'm sure you'll enjoy the extra power.

[nissanman04]

good stuff man. are you still in rochester? its kind of funny, because i'll be running the same turbo once it gets warmer out too. i'm excited to see what this gtir t28 with the s14 compressor housing will put out on my sr. just wishful thinking, but i'm hoping to make 300whp or a little over that. well if you are in roc still, i guess i'll see you in the spring when the season starts again. oh yea, if you want to go see what that ka can do in the 1/4, hit me up.

good luck with the build, i'm sure you'll enjoy the extra power.

Cool...you'll be able to run more boost on the SR than I can on the stock KA due to compression ratio, so 300 should be attainable.

Yeah I'm still up here until june, moving back to Indiana for 3 months, then I don't know exactly what will happen as far as my job situation goes after graduation...so...yeah. I wouldn't mind taking a trip to the track to she what she can do in the 1/4.

[hbpignosePA]

always loved your car man, should be nice when your finished

[nissanman04]

Thanks...yep, should be fun.

[ZX88]

ives seen your car a few times at the RIT autocross events. glad to see you have more power now.

[breadbox]

That sounds like a good time.

[r34 gtr]

You are going to get raped in SM man. Ive seen the cars that run in SM, you'll be going up against 600whp M3s and whatnot.

EDIT: I'm just angry, I'm in SM too....

[nissanman04]

You are going to get raped in SM man. Ive seen the cars that run in SM, you'll be going up against 600whp M3s and whatnot.

EDIT: I'm just angry, I'm in SM too....

Yeah, I know, I said that in my post...not really concerned with being competitive since I'm not in the same region for the whole season

it will not be remotely competitive

[hai1206vn]

sounds like a plan! This spring break should be decent to start work. Sad thing is i'm too broke for this season. if you need an s15 lsd deal let me know.

and good luck with finals first.

[nissanman04]

sounds like a plan! This spring break should be decent to start work. Sad thing is i'm too broke for this season. if you need an s15 lsd deal let me know.

and good luck with finals first.

Yeah I hope it doesn't snow a whole lot. I guess entry fees for the RIT events are going to go up to $40 which sucks. Hopefully we'll get more runs due to a lower turnout.

The LSD is already on its way, thanks though. I got one with brand new output shafts and new 13mm ring gear bolts for a pretty decent price.

I have one final left at 6pm tonight. Hoping for a 4.0 for the first time lol.

[nissanman04]

small update:

Turbo, O2 housing, manifold all tightened up, sealed plumbing connections

UPS guy brought me a couple things:

MB Competition 17x9 +17 (x4)



S15 Helical LSD w/ new output shafts and 13mm bolts

I plan on fitting the exhaust side stuff today, I'll post with more pics...

[nissanman04]

So i test-fit the exhaust side stuff and it turns out I have a few issues (to be expected). The first is that the downpipe that I used for my RB20 is too long and the flange needs to be rotated in order for it to fit. I'm debating cutting it down and rotating the flange on this one, or just buying an SR pipe off ebay. I'd like to get a pipe with a flex section to reduce fatigue on the manifold. The second issue is my power steering lines (also borrowed form my RB setup, lol) are in the way of where my intake piping will go. I need to shorten the line and get a 90* fitting to go on the pump. Not the greatest news, but it's stuff that can be easily fixed. Since it is 16* outside, and only slightly warmer in the garage, I'm calling it a day. Maybe I'll make my gauge panel and throw the S15 differential in my spare pumpkin tomorrow. It's still supposed to be freaking cold.

Excuse the dirty bay, the car has been sitting for like 8 months...

[rob912]

what do you mean dirty bay that thing looks pretty clean

and as for the build its looking pretty god keep it up

[destroyyourmind]

just swap your powersteering line for a steel braided line I got one from autozone 20$ and bought the right fittings and length of line and it works great haven't had a leak or problem yet.

[nissanman04]

what do you mean dirty bay that thing looks pretty clean

and as for the build its looking pretty god keep it up

I cropped out most of the dirt

just swap your powersteering line for a steel braided line I got one from autozone 20$ and bought the right fittings and length of line and it works great haven't had a leak or problem yet.

I'm using Earl's power steering line with -AN fittings. The fitting I need is like $15...easy fix. Thanks, though.

[captainfalco]

I have the same MB competitions as you, and I just ordered some RE01R's as well from the tire rack special. The Bridgestones are going on my RPF1's though.

I'm also kind of looking into the Nistune. I have, or in the near future, will have a mildly tuned sr (S14 motor, S15 turbo, injectors, more boost, Z32 maf). Would you recommend a Nistune for this kind of setup?

[nissanman04]

I have the same MB competitions as you, and I just ordered some RE01R's as well from the tire rack special. The Bridgestones are going on my RPF1's though.

I'm also kind of looking into the Nistune. I have, or in the near future, will have a mildly tuned sr (S14 motor, S15 turbo, injectors, more boost, Z32 maf). Would you recommend a Nistune for this kind of setup?

Nice, wish I had RPF1s, haha...

For the price, I don't think there is a better option for tuning our cars. Full timing control and fuel maps that can be edited in real time is awesome. Many other factors can be controlled as well. Changing MAFs and injector sizes is real easy, too.

[captainfalco]

I'm just thinking the Nistune might be an overkill for what i'm doing right now. The price is nice though, cheaper than a enthalpy rom tune. Do you have a Nistune dealer/tuner local to you? Are you doing everything yourself? Sorry for all of the questions.

[nissanman04]

I'm just thinking the Nistune might be an overkill for what i'm doing right now. The price is nice though, cheaper than a enthalpy rom tune. Do you have a Nistune dealer/tuner local to you? Are you doing everything yourself? Sorry for all of the questions.

The nice thing about nistune is that if you change your setup at all, you can just go in and change things yourself. You don't have to send an ECU back to someone to get a reflash. I wouldn't say it is overkill for even a mild setup like mine or yours.

I bought mine from a place in Tennessee (autovaughnperformance.com). I also had them install the daughterboard for me since I am no good with electrical stuff. Customer service has been great so far.

I plan on getting the thing running by myself (calibrate for MAF and injector changes) using the wideband, then I will have it tuned for boost on a dyno. I don't think my dyno guy has ever used the program before, but as long as he's only messing with the fuel and timing maps, I don't see how it would be any different from any other tuning program.

[Drifting10]

I'm debating cutting it down and rotating the flange on this one, or just buying an SR pipe off ebay. I'd like to get a pipe with a flex section to reduce fatigue on the manifold.

i got a megan racing turbo down pipe for sale and it has a flex section in it as well.........

[nissanman04]

i got a megan racing turbo down pipe for sale and it has a flex section in it as well.........

Thanks, but I already ordered one

[hai1206vn]

Yeah I hope it doesn't snow a whole lot. I guess entry fees for the RIT events are going to go up to $40 which sucks. Hopefully we'll get more runs due to a lower turnout.

Schedule's up. $40 for guests, $25 members

Be sure to check your ring & pinion backlash. I did have a transmission shop look at it last year after my HLSD swap, who said it was OK, but I was pretty certain it wasn't (I could see about 1mm of lash while the FSM says 0.1mm). The clunking's driven me nuts for 4 months, now it's being reshimmed at a different place.

[nissanman04]

Schedule's up. $40 for guests, $25 members

Be sure to check your ring & pinion backlash. I did have a transmission shop look at it last year after my HLSD swap, who said it was OK, but I was pretty certain it wasn't (I could see about 1mm of lash while the FSM says 0.1mm). The clunking's driven me nuts for 4 months, now it's being reshimmed at a different place.

Thanks for the heads up! Where are you taking yours?

[Onizuka]

You are going to get raped in SM man. Ive seen the cars that run in SM, you'll be going up against 600whp M3s and whatnot.

EDIT: I'm just angry, I'm in SM too....

I've never seen a 600hp car do well in autocross, although i hear you on the bimmers man. Same guy always got 1st place in this M3 engine swapped 318i where i run. Investment in suspension and tires always gets you better times than horsepower.

[hai1206vn]

If you have a dial gauge and vernier, just do it yourself.

I dropped mine at Transmission Clinic and the guy there is so lazy & slow. First he said he'd order a shim kit, so I was glad cuz Nissan dealers sell those for pretty crappy prices. Turned out that he couldn't find any, then he said he'd get a shop to machine some shims, that didn't work out either. I gave up and decided to get a couple shims from Courtesy parts (90 bux for 6 ), after he measured the ones I had given him (took him 3 days to measure 4 shims). I should be picking it up in a day or 2. Slow, unreliable dude. Don't go there.

Don't go to Eagle Transmission either. Those guys didn't even want to look at it. They simply told me the lash is fine by feel the first time (last year). This year when I took it back the 2nd, time they put some dye on the gears to check mesh but still wouldn't measure the lash. Shop owner dude was like, 'I've been doing this for 20 years, don't worry.' At least they did all for free.

[nissanman04]

So I got a little bit done today. The intercooler is mounted and all the piping is okay except for the hot pipe which I have to shorten a bit. It went a lot more smoothly than I thought it would. I should finish the intercooler stuff, aside from mounting my MAF, tomorrow. I'm going to need to order a few more couplers/clamps to get everything completely finished. I plan on dropping the oil pan to have the return and oil temperature bungs welded.
Modified by nissanman04 at 5:07 PM 3/6/2009

[nissanman04]

I got most of the hard work done, now I'm just waiting on some couplers and tubing and a few other miscellaneous things. I've already burned a base tune into the ECU. It should be safe until I get on a dyno.

Things left to do:

-Wire gauges-Put together intake-Wire MAF-EGR blockoff-Install fuel pump-Re-route power steering lines-Add coolant and oil

One of my biggest concerns is the turbo oil drain bung on the oil pan. I think it is going to be too low. I told the guy to weld it as high as possible, but it is probably below the oil line. I bought another pan with a bung already welded on just in case...damn I wish I had a welder. I really don't want to pull the pan again, but it'll be worth it. I only have a couple pics, I'll have more when I'm finished.

I need to get rid of that ugly hood insulation

The duct tape was just temporary

[heartofaskyline]

holy crap! i think you just saved my life. ive been looking for someone to setup my nistune, and the company you bought yours from is located in my home town thanks and im diggin the build

[safin]

oh yeah! this pic is t1ts!Good luck!