Tuesday, November 29, 2011

wiring






Getting back to work on the car. One thing I could care less to do is wiring, not because it is hard but just time consuming. The last time I did a wire tuck on the street car it took me about a week.

This time it was much different.

After enjoy a beautiful morning in Tucson then Kelly Banks barbecue it was time to get to work. Alex and I had been running ideas back and forth for a few days. We each had a completely different mental picture when considering the wire tuck.

Less talk and more work we de-loomed and stripped the stock harness removing all unnecessary wires and relays. This week I will place the wiring in the car before cutting, shortening, and re-looming the wiring.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Missing Link....


the custom drive shaft has arrived

350z input shaft

Nissan rear

All custom

Chevy style 3/4ton u-joints
(easy to replace if they ever go bad)

Thanks Suspicious Garage

Saturday, October 1, 2011

All nighter

yesterday I woke at 5am to prepare for work.
Worked 7:30-4:30
Ate dinner
Played with Dion
Started working on the car
Finished at 6am and have been up ever since....

Sometimes you just need to pull an all-nighter to get work done!

motor finally mated with tranny


transplant complete






Last week got the windows installed....

Monday, September 26, 2011

Home stretch..

If you have never been in a situation being overwhelmingly occupied with balancing many priorities at once you may not have realized the importance on friends and or acquaintances.

Trying to build two cars at the same time as well as manage work, school, family, and friends can be quite the task.

When short for time especially during a build all the little things add up. Personally I feel both cars should have been completed months ago.

Oh I must add the unnecessary stress such as relying on unreliable people is definitely a set back and detrimental to the progress of the build. Fortunately but unfortunately my progress set backs are always due to one person/progress of the build; paint and body.

The track car should have been painted two years ago after the paint job was purchased in full, however I have been dealing with the horrible business ethics or the lack thereof from one individual.

Jump up to speed many headaches and evil thoughts later work is finally being done. I'm apologetic for the lack of updates for those who follow, but I promise the progress of both cars seem to be nearing the completing stages.

September 17 ended the drift season here locally in Arizona, so this means I have some time to finish the car and make it track ready. However, I missed two entire seasons since I began the build of the track car.

If there is anything you listen to as an inspiring driver never replace track time with down time if not necessary.

Having an awesome looking car will NOT make you a better driver!

Being 25 I feel this quarter century has taught me a lot!!!

Being human we are known for learning from our individual mistakes, situations, etc. I'm now a firm believer in the lack of effort put forth by the government and educational entities to assist today's youth in understanding the importance in the decisions made after graduating high school, but that is another debate all in itself.

Long story short I have learned from many mistakes over the past 8 years, but PROGRESS continues.

To-date;
The street car remains torn down with the door-jams, trunk already painted. This weekend the exterior of the car should see its first coat of paint. The weekend after will begin the cut and buff stage. Then finally the car will return home for the installation process.

The motor to the street car has been prepped and is ready for install. With a new competition clutch kit, resurfaced fly wheel, and transmission the transplant should make some fun street driving. That makes me think of an issue I read in one of my subscribed car magazines this week. The guy builds his 98 Nissan not to drift or drag but as his ideal of the perfect street car. For my street car if feel the same way a balance of performance, handling, and oem accessories is the ultimate driving experience.

So yes the motor for the street car is ready! I had a definite plan for brakes, however the plan is not working as planned so I'm researching alternative big brake kits and will decide when I have enough money to purchase one.

On to the track car, I finally put some time in and prepared the engine bay for the install of the transplant. I updated the engine bay with an awesome power by Maxx intercooler kit, brake line delete kit, power steering cooler system, and possible an oil cooling system as well but we'll see. We always manage to find ways to dump unnecessary money into these cars we build for the love of the sport whether it's the competition, adrenaline, or a tactic to combat the OCD.... It doesn't matter why it just feels good to create something you can call your own.

As for the motor of the track car it too has been updated with a new competition clutch kit which I hope will hold up for the abusive driving... they say it will but for how long I do not know. Everyone has their own opinions based off their experience so this will be my experience and I'll write reviews once tested. With the clutch upgrade and transmission upgrade it only makes sense to replace all the OEM parts that are known for wearing out so this week the throw-out release bearing should arrive to complete the list of required parts. Then the install happens hopefully Saturday.

Back to the main purpose of this rant I would like to thank all those who have made the little things that add up manageable!

Seriously you have no idea how important the little items are in such an extensive, intensive, and time consuming build.

SHOUT OUT!

Thank you Ralph @ RJ's Auto for all the help offered.
Thank you Efrian @ Suspicious Garage for the list of help and advice too long to pen.
Thank you Patrick for the late night advice while all others are fast asleep or drunk.
Huge Thanks to my partner Dan @ Boost Junkyz for all the welding and making turbo'd dreams possible again and again and again..... Thx
And (TF) TeamTopFlight for all the support and encouragement to Get err Done...

Now for pics of the said progress report...


















Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Saturday, July 16, 2011

We'll miss the great Big Papa ( Rich Spohr)

My apologies for the lack of updates, a lot has happened within this past month somethings more serious than others.

All those in the Arizona Nissan community we'll continue to pay our respects to Rich Spohr's family for their loss.

We all lost a piece of ourselves when we lost Big Papa Rich Spohr. He has impacted the Arizona automotive community especially the Nissan, 350z, 240sx, and drift scene far more than anyone living to date.

Prayers go out to Rich's family and friends.

You are missed!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Time to refresh

There are a few items I have been meaning to upgrade on the street car so now its time for a start the make over...

The physical look may or may not change, a few more JDM pieces as pictured below.

Time to upgrade the 1997 subframe bushings with the PowerbyMax sold bushings $100.00
http://www.gtfactory.jp/cms/

With the sub frame removed it's time to upgrade the rear braking system.

Adding BC 264 cams to the sr power plant.

more updates soon.







Friday, June 3, 2011

Moving along...

Yesterday I arrived to the shop to drop off the remaining suspension links I purchased from AceUp Motorsports. I walk in to see Daniel hacking away at the 11 year old stock subframe bushings....

I had planned on returning to the shop after completing the assignment I was working on at home. However, Daniel texted me the final result before I was able to return.

Thanks again D!




Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Hopefully soon....

Man almost there.... Did not get to attack the track car this weekend as planned but last night we dropped the subframe. This week we'll add the new rear links as well as the solid subframe bushings.

From there I'll install the transmission, drive shaft, differential, turbo kit, and project Sunkist should be ready for wiring!

Plan is to make the June 18th drift event in the track car... we'll see.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

New Project

As if I'm not busy enough... reassembling the track car, disassembling the daily driver, doing the foot work trying to get the 73 GMC running, and now the 68 restore project...

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Drift and Drag





Thank you Charles Siritho!

One of Arizona's BEST photographers for sure.

He literally snapped a few quick pics while driving nothing special, but the picture quality is always superb.

Need a photo shoot?... Charles is proven, find him on Face Book.


Monday, May 9, 2011

Few steps away...

Just received notice from Daniel (BoostJunkyz) today after work of the progress made to the track car!

Turbo kit in house waiting on head flange

Progress in the cabin!

Yay! Car will be done before summer for sure!!!

Last week I ordered all suspension components, solid subframe bushings, drive shaft, coilovers, caliper brackets, e-brake lever, Brake and clutch line delete kit,

Once all items are received we have intercooler, wiring, and install glass and DONE!

Almost there.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Dyno Time


I know many people have been waiting and requesting to see "numbers" on the new BorgWarner 67/58.

As you know everything comes with a price which includes dyno time.

Finally found time to spend to get to the dyno this week. Every time we tap into this new turbo it continues to amaze me!

First the incline of horse power is smooth but steady.

Second once the turbo hits 20psi it truly comes alive.

We didn't get to see much of the 20psi range as time was limited and the motor is stock, however when we watched the turbo hit 20psi the gain in instant horse power was phenomenal.

The true tuning isn't complete just yet, we will need more than an hour on the fine tune and truly tap into this new set up. The next step is to upgrade the external wastegate this week.

So far we are sitting at full boot at 3800 rpm creating 337whp & 302 lb/ft @ 14psi.

With a few changes we will definately realease dyno sheets soon.

XDC (Xtreme Drift Circuit) 2011



Last week Daniel and I were crazy busy trying prepare the s14 to show off the first BorgWarner 67/58 Sr20 Top Mount turbo kit at the XDC Round2 XDC / REMIX Car Show & Concert at the Firebird International Raceway.

What an awesome time!

Jared representing Team Top Flight "winning" *Charlie Sheen voice*



in the HardParking categorey of the Best JDM, thank you for entering *Alex Simpson*










Really the event was AWESOME all around; the drifting performance has risen to another level.

Congratulations to all the local drivers and especially George Marstanovic for bringing his A game!





Some pics of the fun we had at the event...











Jared, George, Damien, Alex, and Dionte






- XDC pics from local photographers -