Jumbo's Silver FX - 2nd custom build

[jumbosrule]

Ever tweaking!

I've had a slow leak from the diff seal over the past 2 years. When it comes time to drop the pumpkin, inspect and do seals, I'm looking at a swapping in Quaife LSD. According to my shop it is quiet and never needs rebuilding, and provides much better traction. We would replace all the seals, crush collar, and bearings when we go in there as well. Roughly $2K for the whole job.

While my catch can setup has always done it's job, the storage capacity means I have to check the cans more often than I would like. Maybe some new engine bay bling by way of Radium would be an improvement. Looking into a Catch can setup (using dual competition extended cans from the GTR line).

And finally, a tweak to the intake. Right now the piping comes off the turbo in a symmetrical way - which was done entirely for looks. In making improvements with both form and function in mind, I plan to massively shorten the intake pipe, which is about 6 feet long right now. Instead of going down to the bottom of the rad and then back up again, the filter and pipe will be less than 2.5 feet from the turbo, and come straight across the top of the engine bay.

 

[95maxrider]

That engine bay is NSFW!! Good god I need to find that grille and install it in my FX....

 

[porkandbeans]

Damn! Always looking good!

 

[jumbosrule]

It struck me that my car is 15 years old now. Certain plastic parts on this car are starting to go. I've had some ideas as to how to address the cracking, de-laminating window trim. I have this issue above and below all four side windows.



This past weekend I decided to try to do something about it. My plan was to sand off the cracking layer, then use a trim paint to cover everything I had sanded. As it turns out, sanding alone seems to give me a result I'm happy with. Its still not perfect, but so much better than before and you really have to get closer than 12" to see the fine sanding marks.

Started with 800 grit sandpaper, after masking everything around the trim.


Then moved to red scotchbrite, to smooth out the visible sanding scratches. I followed that with ScratchX 2.0, which is pretty much just a polishing compound.


The final layer was a dressing of Meguire's back to black, which darkened it up a little and made it appear very uniform. As long as it stays like this, I'm happy.


Used that same back to black dressing on all the trim, including the rockers, wheel arches, front and rear lower bumper trim.


I didnt attempt doing this above the window yet, or on the other side of the car for that matter... but now that I know how to do it, the rest of the car should be pretty easy. I dont have to prep like Im going to paint anymore, so just a couple peices of masking tape should be all the prep I need.

 

[jptshadow]

Dude~~. You TAKE CARE of your cars! Thaz awesome

 

[jumbosrule]

Last weekend I ran into a guy that does tint jobs at a cars and coffee meet. He was hanging around with the Nissfiniti crew - and they came by to check out my FX. Anyway, we did some coordination and he came over last night and knocked out a tint upgrade on my FX. The tint on the car was there when I bought it from the PO in 2012. Over the years the driver's window tint has taken some dings, and started getting some noticable discoloration. The old window tint was removed.



I also decided to get a clear film on the windshield - shields UV and IR sun/heat. THis is the stuff that keeps the car cool in direct sunlight.



And all done - just needs 2-3 days to fully cure.



First photo in sunlight at work.

 

[Old Blue]

That’s the ceramic tint, right?

 

[jumbosrule]

That’s the ceramic tint, right?

The company is called DUB iR

Here is the website:

Home

I went with the 70% on the windshield.

 

[Old Blue]

The company is called DUB iR

Here is the website:

Home

I went with the 70% on the windshield.

Same stuff, different brand. It’s all good.

 

[PELON]

Purist Group (Private)

 

[PELON]

Purist Group (Private)

Not sure if that link works...your car at track

 

[jumbosrule]

Well... I finally got a LSD installed. Been on the open differential since I got the car in 2004 and never serviced it. Some of the seals have been failing over time, so I have had to periodically refill diff oil. The bushings were all packed out as well - I pulled the trigger on the Quaife LSD and a rebuild kit - all new bushings and seals.

I also picked up a new high flow, no bypass racing oil filter from Canton. It uses replaceable filter cartridges.



The Canton was installed using a filter relocation kit, so that it is accessible under the car. I dont even have to jack it up to change the filter. Before the relocation kit, I had to jack up the car, remove the belly pan, and remove some charge piping by removing a couple v-band clamps. Took 90 minutes to change the filter. Now it takes 15 minutes. Here is the remote filter location, about an inch higher than the cross brace.



And no way to see the diff, but here you can see the new blue bushing installed.


And of course neither of these mods do anything to mess up the sleeper vibe.

Right off the lot, I could tell my bushing situation was making the ride more harsh because even before the new differential locked at higher speeds, the whole car seems more stable. Launches are a little less exciting now. I dont notice as much tirespin when goosing the throttle but in general, the car seems, "smoother" now. Again, I think that's bushings, not a new diff. And after driving around for a few days... I think my MPGs went up a bit. The old setup must have really been out of line to reduce efficiency like that.

Finally, I had both in-tank fuel sending units replaced with new factory units. My fuel level had been inconsistent and weird for a while now - I had actually been tracking my tanks by miles rather than using the gauge. Hopefully that is gone now - so far so good!

 

[95maxrider]

Wow, a real LSD in an FX, very nice! Your FX is RWD, right? I would love to see a video of this thing at an auto-x or something, must be a ton of fun!

 

[Eduardo L Alvarez]

Just found this thread, read it from beginning to end. I'm loving every second of it. Keep it up!

 

[gto]

Nicely maintained & smooth is good. Quaife makes great parts.
Really interested in that filter setup.

 

[jumbosrule]

Nicely maintained & smooth is good. Quaife makes great parts.
Really interested in that filter setup.

Options, YO
Canton Racing Products Remote Spin-on Style Oil Filters

Also got adjustable rear end links from Energy suspension but have not yet installed. Not sure how useful these will really be once I have them installed but since I'm lowered, I would expect the end links to need to be shortened up in order to keep the ends of the bar level. These are also an excuse to replace the original end link bushings, with 175,000 miles on them.

And I figured I should go ahead and do the steering rack bushings as well - Ive seen a few positive reviews and once again... original bushings on my car.


Parts in hand... but will probably not install till after the Track Day at AAA Speedway this week. Happy to feel out the new LSD this time.

 

[gto]

You have to give me ride in it. 3 days till we’re at track. Yay

175?! I didn’t know you had those miles

 

[jumbosrule]

You have to give me ride in it. 3 days till we’re at track. Yay
175?! I didn’t know you had those miles

People keep bugging me for a video. Maybe you can help me with that as a passenger? Heading out to the track/hotel the night before.

I bought this 2003 with 112K on the clock. The built motor and turbo went in at 126K... 47K miles on the turbo build over the last five years. She's definitely a daily driver! Shes also the car I drive out to SoCal tracks for work so there are some highway miles in there too. AAA Speedway, Buttonwillow, Willow Springs, Chuckwalla, Sonoma & Laguna Seca I make every year. And of course the occasional drives to Big Bear and Vegas!

 

[raymond]

Proud of you buddy.....keep the dream alive ...!!

 

[jumbosrule]

Track day was great - I mean I love throwing the FX around the track but it's so much more fun to have passengers in the car so I can hear them react. It's like experiencing it again myself.

Had a very experienced instructor in my car with me... and made him giggle like a girl before we even got out of the hot pits. His quote was, "this thing makes ALL THE TURBO SOUNDS".



The car performed flawlessly. The new LSD was a surprising change - I had so much more grip coming off the corners, I could actually nail the throttle at the apex rather than late. Where I had tire spin before, the car just hooked up.

At the very end of my last lap, the transmission was a little soft but as soon as it cooled off, things felt completely normal again.

As soon as I got her home, I had to wash off the track and brake dust. Quick wash, wax and trim dressing:


Today's products


For the last few months my seat had been moving a little when on both throttle and brake. I thought my seat track motor gear was worn down - this would be the third time I have had to replace it in my ownership since 2004. But as it turned out... it was a single 10mm bolt on the bottom of the seat track that had come loose. I had to take the seat out of the car to find it but a quick tightening and the seat is solid again. The only reason I found this bolt is because I did go ahead and replace the seat gear... and it didnt change anything! As soon as I could see the bottom of the track, I found the problem.



Solid once again!