LEMHEAD16's VH45DE --> s13 Project!

[LEMHEAD16]

Runs like a champ. It feels like there is a dead spot in the power band though. in Second and third gear about 35-4500 rpm. Above and below that it pulls like a train.

[Carl H]

yup, thats the factory tune...gotta love it, i think i got most of that 'deadness' out with the tune I developed.pretty impressive high rpm performance from the vh, i was floored by the power past 5k.

[LEMHEAD16]

Did you do a rom tune? Were you tuning with a wideband on a dyno?

I'd be interested in you doing one for me.

[Carl H]

yes, rom tune on a dyno then road tested...works well.

[gs14racer]

how much power did you pick up finally?

[LEMHEAD16]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...epage

Random video of my car I found on youtube. Didn't even know somebody was filming.

[hannibal]

Nice vid. The VH sounds so good!

[1WheelWonder]

Awesome video

[LEMHEAD16]

Some updates now that I have a little more time to work on things.

Finally finished the powder coating my intake plenum:



Planning on doing the emblem in dormant red, and the valve covers in wrinkle red.

Started building some proper exhaust manifolds. Start of the passenger side



Hoping to have everything done by 3/31

[Yellow4g63]

Are you going to use a merged collector or just a regular slip on one?

[LEMHEAD16]

Merged, I go them in today but, jeggs sent the wrong size, so it will be another week before i get them back.

[Yellow4g63]

I thought they only sold the slip fit on type of collector.
does it look kinda like this one?

[LEMHEAD16]

More like this, except smaller inlet.

[darktalon2gnt]

Been thinking of doing this for a WHILE since I own a Q and and an s13, and have a parts car for the Q.... my question is kinda dumb though, where did you find a filter adapter for the Qs MAF? I've looked EVERYWHERE!..

[IggyEGuana]

great idea with the tri-y collectors, thx. looks like they're exactly what i need to keep the exhaust away from the ground. Also theyre good for torque

[LEMHEAD16]

Valve covers done. I ended up passing these on to a local pro powder coater because a bunch of family and work stuff fell in my lap and it would have been a loong time before I could finish these. I'm glad I did because he said it took him hours upon hours to strip clean and tape these up.

I think they look pretty bad a**, and will look even better when I get the coil covers cleaned up and put on.

[klh6686]

That looks awesome man, I can't wait to get mine powder coated! What do you have in mind for the coil covers, just a cleaning or are ya going to paint them or anything?

[IggyEGuana]

siiiiiiiiiiick!

[DRFTBLD]

Any updates on this yet?

[LEMHEAD16]

Still waiting for the company I ordered my collectors from to get me the right part. They shipped me the wrong size.

I'll post more pics when I can make more progress with it.

[theramz]

Some stainless steel or black oxide allen screws would finish those off real nice.

[klh6686]

Some stainless steel or black oxide allen screws would finish those off real nice.

+1 on the black!

[LEMHEAD16]

I've been working on it whenever I get a chance. Here is what the installed VC looks like. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic. I'll get some proper photos when I have it complete.

[LEMHEAD16]

[LEMHEAD16]

So I had to pull the engine again to fix a flywheel issue. While it was out I figured I would fix the chunk of the frame that I cut out many moons ago. This is the LAST time I plan on having the engine out for a while.

Here's what the frame looked like before. I decided to cut it out to make room for the factory alternator mount. I've since gone with the Xcessive mount and no longer need this space. Plus I'm not sure how safe it was, I did go back and box everything in, but still that's a big hole.


I used some 1/8" angle iron and some weld steel I had left over from another project.


Welded up and ready to fit


After an hour or so of test fitting and dressing the welds


Tacked in place.


All welded up, the unibody metal is pretty thin. I blew through it in a few places and had to play with the welder settings quite a bit. Not all pretty welds, but they will do.


Welds as dressed as they are gonna get. I ran out of flap wheels, and decided to say "Good enough for government work"


A little paint, and good as new. The rest of the frame may crumple in an accident but this section with be straight as an arrow.


I'll feel better knowing this is fixed, if I ever get this back on the road again.