Jumbo Boost

[Chinke82]

Dude shoot me a PM. What went wrong?

 

[StuLax18]

Yeah, that's surprising to hear. I always held them in high regard.

 

[jumbosrule]

Yeah, that's surprising to hear. I always held them in high regard.

I'm definitely not hating on Jtran's operation. Guy is sharp.

 

[SexualChocolate]

Cool. Did you check out the cars at Fastlane behind PowerFab? Crazy stuff back there!!! Guys at PowerFab are great IMO. They are the ones that took care of my suspension install when I became lazy. He even talked about a custom made CAI for my 45 (after I politely declined the forced induction lol), but I am not into modding this ride so much at this point. Kind of pointless when there is a beastly creature lurking in the garage.

Well it looks like an FX meet will be in order when you get things completed.

 

[jumbosrule]

Jumbo boost, revision 3

I haven't posted to this thread for a while because I've been trying to learn more about what I want and what I need. I've always wanted this engine to be over-built. That is, more robust than I need so I can have safe, reliable power for miles to come. Engine longevity balanced with anywhere from 375-500 whp is fine with me. I know there is a big difference between the bottom and top end of my goal range, but I've recently come to accept that even at the lower end of the range, my engine is tired and needs to be re-built to have any chance of lasting.

That being said, I'm definitely doing the short block build (bottom end) and looking at doing the longblock as well. The cost has increased almost double, but if it's not done right it will end up costing me more in the long run. Getting the money is going to be a stretch, but I have already paid for more than 50% of the job and the rest of the payment won't be due until the actual build gets under way.

Here's the current build list. Brace yourselves:

Turbo hot side piping
Re-coating after piping mods
GT35 Turbocharger with Tial housing
Tial MVS 44mm wastegate
Tial Q series 50mm BOV
Haltec PnP 350Z platnium
boost controller
wide band system
IAT sensor set-up
ECU supplemental pins (2 units)
oil cooler
fuel injectors
fuel pump
intercooler plumbing
intercooler raw materials - fab
Tuning
General Labor Fabrication time
Stage 1 longblock - labor
Wiseco 96mm/8.8:1 Pistons
Eagle Rods
ACL Trust Washers
ACL Main Bearings(STD)
ACL Rod Bearings(STD)
Machine Work
VQ35HR Head Gasket (2)
Oil Pump - VQ35 RevUp
Stage 2 Return Fuel System - Labor
Fuel rails
Boost reference adjustable rising rate regulator
All new lines for feed side
Brand new custom lines for new return system
Fuel tank adapter hardware
Heat shielding materials
Line end fittings for all associated lines
FX35 Fuel Return Line Extension
ARP Head Stud Kit
ARP Main Stud Kit

I think this is too long for my signature, lol.

 

[Tko512iFX]

It will be the right call when all is said in done! youd dont always want to have to be worrying about breaking something or worried about pushing it hard. You cant enjoy it if it doesnt work lol

 

[jcasanova]

Well it looks like an FX meet will be in order when you get things completed.

i want to come too! I'd like to see the possibilities of my future fx
Sent from my Behold II

 

[jumbosrule]

Just had to post these. Some photos of the Haltech sitting at the shop waiting for my car and the CJ fuel return system just placed on order.









Stock photos of the block package and stud kit:

 

[jumbosrule]

I started a new thread to document the build.

///9415


This thread really sort of captures the evolution of my choices, so I figured I'd keep going.
So since my last post, the long block has become definite. The machine work should be starting this week - the block should have arrived at the machine shop by last Friday. Of course I'll be finding out what the deal is.

After talking with a couple local guys and of course Turbo from here on IS, my goal to boost stock internals could definitely be done, but the reliability and longevity were a big question mark. Might not last a week or it could be fine for a year. But I was asking for trouble on my original 2004 VQ35DE used for 110,000+ miles.

At first I thought, ok - then I'll just do the shortblock to save some cash, but it just felt wrong. Like the bottom end of the engine would be brand spankin new, but the heads would still be the same old 110K+ heads which would most likely show valve sealing problems after such use. The difference in cost between the short/long block packages was about $2000, but I thought to myself - in the total cost of this project, $2000 is good insurance. The long block package makes the engine good to 650 whp. Oh and by the way, this is a core swap. Meaning I'll be getting a completely different built VQ35DE and "donating" my tired block to a future VQ build.

The GT35R turbo I chose is good to 550whp at best. I made this choice to make sure I can't hurt my "brand new" built engine. No matter what kind of boost my system puts out, the new engine can handle it, not counting for a terrible tune of course.

But wait, I'm not done lowering my power goals. Everything I have ever read about the FX manual transmission says that even built as mine is, they tend to fail with prolonged use above 450whp. Since I don't plan to track my car - maybe the occasional 1/4 run for fun... I don't have a problem getting close to this limit for peak power. So as it stands, my goal is for 450whp which shouldn't be a problem. The plan will be to immediately dyno tune the car as soon as the build is completed. Then there will be one or two follow-up tunes to customize the feel of the car. My aim is to shape the power curves to be smooth and consistent. I can definitely see pulling back in some ranges but won't know till we get there.

 

[jumbosrule]

Long block package completed - along with the Rev-up oil pump, HR head gaskets, and the pathfinder cooling modification.

stopped by the shop and took a photo:





The engine and transmission are now out of the FX and the new block should be installed before the end of the week.

While I was talking with the shop we decided on a few cosmetic tweaks. Going to coat the timing cover silver and the four sub-covers black. Also going to eliminate a couple of extra coolant lines and clean up some of the piping. Mostly cosmetic stuff...

 

[tchuck]

Laser Red block? There's still time...

 

[jumbosrule]

Actually we did discuss some aesthetics and a couple other decisions were made during the discussion.

1) Will coat the timing cover silver and the four "caps" black.
2) Will delete the damaged GTSpec four point ladder brace
3) Will weld the GTSpec front engine tie brackets to the frame (instead of using the press sleeve collars)
4) Will weld on my Stillen tips and delete those U-bolts
5) Will delete four OEM coolant lines (oil cooler & throttle body cooler) and weld those outlets closed.
6) Will delete the OEM oil cooler, allowing a larger oil filter to be used.


The coolant lines were deleted because I will have a dedicated oil cooler, so the OEM system is underpowered and gots to go. As for the throttle body coolant lines - they haven't been shown to do much good. With the pressurized intercooled intake, a little coolant running around the throttle body just isn't going to make much difference. It will simplify things to remove them. Definitely less to deal with when running the wire harness and the oil catch (in the location I have it).

 

[turbocad6]

I'm using the water plumbing circuit that was originally for the oil cooler jacket setup as the turbo cooling path now & adding an external real oil cooler by using a mocal plate instead of the factory water jacket cooler setup. you are adding an external oil cooler in place of the water jacket factory setup right? if so, it winds up being almost the same overall size as the water jacket anyway, but either way there is room for a longer filter anyway. def look into the mocal plate as it is thermostatically controlled & won't pass oil out the the cooler until it reaches operating temp. this is very important for a car that will be used in very cold weather & is important for both engine & tranny oil coolers alike.

if your welding those water paths closed then what will you feed the turbo's coolant with? I think that circuit is perfect for turbo cooling instead. also just curios, but what is the plan for the oil return path from the turbo, an oil pan spacer or tapping the upper pan?

 

[Dr.2K]

How did you damage the GTspec 4 point ladder brace?

 

[jumbosrule]

How did you damage the GTspec 4 point ladder brace?

Hit some road debris a good while back - an empty gallon paint can, I think. Took a huge chunk of material out of the leading edge of the brace and scratched the heck out of the bottom as well. When the car was up on the rack, I could also see the damage had knocked it off square.

It's all good tho - I'm hoping the new GTSpec underbody brace would replace this one anyway, assuming I don't have any interference with the system piping.

Might try to have it repaired, then sell it - we'll see what happens when I start looking for projects again.

 

[Dr.2K]

I see that is unfortunate, but I think the engine tie brace is better anyways. Well good luck and I hope all the braces to fit with your new build.

 

[jumbosrule]

Dem OEM bones

The lonely parts of FX past...



After the BCs arrive, I'll have a set of Eibachs in that box too...

 

[jumbosrule]

Got the brace off and determined I killed it.





Knocked it off square - can't be good for doing it's job...



So the brace is done.

In other news, the fuel system build began. Here's the built block with the runners, 560cc injectors, CJM fuel rails & the upper oil pan all installed:



We have also decided to remove and clean up the cooling system hard pipes. Some of the barbs will be replaced with AN fittings, brackets will be shaved where possible and we will be deleting a loop.



This hard pipe, along with the pathfinder cooling manifold will be ceramic coated black.





Pretty excited to see the engine go back into the FX. Then, it's fabrication time!

 

[Tko512iFX]

You are the envy this forum!!!

 

[jumbosrule]

You are the envy of this forum!!!

lol - never thought the day would come. Been on this site for two years planning for FI and the reality of it starting came only recently. Planned all along to do it - but I know I was probably written off as just another guy who wanted FI, "in the future". I'm definitely lucky to be able to do this and in no small part I gotta thank my wife for the ability - time, money, interest... the FX is a serious competitor for my attention!

It's really about the approach. I'm looking at it like this - I bought the FX new in 2004 and drove it stock for four years. Then light mods began over the next two years, costing about the same as a car payment every month. Add in the cost of this turbo installation and I have essentially paid for the FX TWICE. No kidding. All the mods I have made to the FX have been with FI in mind, but balanced with the essence of the FX - a luxury SUV. For what I have put in to my FX, I could have bought a new FX50S (or maybe a Cayenne). But in my view, I wouldn't be as happy with either of those cars because they just haven't been personalized by me, for me, like mine has.

My wife is looking at it like a new car purchase. My FX lasted 110,000 miles and six years. Now I'm turning in my old FX and "buying another" custom turbocharged FX for the cost of the upgrade (which is a really great deal if you can get it). With a new motor, she's expecting me to get another 100,000 miles before I start hinting at a new car, lol.

Thing is, I'm not really sure I'm going to want a new car. Maybe I'll get something in addition to the FX, but I just can't see ever selling it now that I've put so much into it. Not to mention that I'm just not finished yet.