Jumbo's Silver FX - 2nd custom build

[jumbosrule]

Ray, When my first transmission broke I had the shop build another one locally - they went to a G/Z specialist. The 5AT was built with new internals & seals, a modified torque converter (higher stall), an oil cooler, shift kit and valve body upgrade. It feels almost exactly like my first transmission - pretty normal most of the time. Under hard acceleration, sometimes the shifts between 2-3 and 3-4 can be harsh. Otherwise during street driving it's pretty tame.

It's too hard for me to be able to feel the difference from the carbon fiber driveshaft because my entire turbo system is new. The whole package feels faster than my first FX, but according to the dyno it is more powerful so that's not a surprise. I can tell you there are no strange vibrations - the car feels pretty close to stock in terms of how it runs and feels. I had the stock shaft on my first build and besides feeling a more powerful acceleration on the new build, I couldn't tell you it was any different.

The rear axle CV joints might not like extreme angles but there is nothing you can do about that unless you modify the knuckle or control arm. I guess you could always raise it a bit...

As for wheel hop, that's a new one for me. That's usually because of the suspension setup. The rear axle might play a part in feeling wobbly on launch if the CV joints are binding but I think it is probably the height and dampening settings in your coilovers that would fix the hop. It's possible your suspension can't handle launching that much weight with that much power - BCs might be your problem?

 

[raymond]

So your setup in basic is the same as your first tranny ?? No more internals like they do at the speedforce conversion ?? I had that same harsh feeling in those gears..... i hope it isn't the main sourch for wrecking the tranny cause i thought that harsh gearing was one of the signs the tranny didn't hold. What Hp numbers are you running right now ??

I'm doing research into custom/upgraded axles like from axleshop.com for the Z but cannot read anything about them solving any ride height issues. Only talk is about power handling.
I'm trying to figure out in my head what you mean about controlarm.......

I don't know if i can call it wheel hop as i'm in break in mode again and driving quite easy. It is a little tremble when speeding up from 40 to say 50 miles per hour. Also the driveline feels sloping.....heavy......in engaged modus or when letting loose the gues......trying to figure out where it comes from.
These are 2 different feels and from the last one i can say i didn't feel that when being A/T but the other one is due to the stance i gues.

Raise it a bit.....?? Brad comonn.....you know me by now......that isn't an option lol !! Stop bitchin you would probably say haha

 

[jumbosrule]

Same basic set up as the first tranny, yes. But both of my transmissions had new internals installed. The only difference with this one is I added a valve body upgrade this time. I don't have any trembling, shaking or general complaints from the transmission but I never had any issues with the first one until the day it failed. My setup has not changed since I picked it up - 16psi and 448whp.

So I finally landed some GTR wheels. Seeing GTO roll around with near perfect stance sold me on the idea and my car is currently sitting at the shop getting fitted for rubber. At first I thought I would be looking for a square setup but I now plan to give the staggered setup a chance. No more spacers, even with the StopTech BBK. A rear fender roll/trim is in my near future, methinks.

 

[Themechanic]

Thats one bad ass fx bro! Great mods. You took that thing to the next level!
sleeper status!!!

 

[shadow191]

The tranny has a harsh shift from 2-3 and 3-4 stock at certain times. If you look at the G forums, it's discussed. A VB mod can make this feel more harsh, but it didn't create it.

But I think the VB mod will definitely help with longevity since the quicker shifts will prevent slipping. On a previous boosted car, I was having issued with slip during shifts, I'd have to back off or else the transmission would flare up during the shift. It was slipping due to the power increase and the VB wasn't shifting fast enough. After I upgraded the VB, all the slipping went away and it held for years without issue (sold the car so I don't know if it ever failed).

 

[jumbosrule]

The shifts became harsh only after my transgo shift kit on the first one. The second one feels identical to my first built transmission, even though the second one included the VB upgrade.

While I do love my shiny 20" stockers, I've always been aware of how heavy they are. Along with being spaced out to have a decent stance, I wanted lighter, correct offset and no spacers.

A lot of the mods I've made along the way have been to reduce all the rotating mass any way I can. From aluminum pulleys, to the Carbon Fiber driveshaft and now the wheels. Enter 2010 Nissan GT-R wheels, wrapped in Perrelli P0 Rosso assemetric. All four corners are 295/40 R20.



These are staggered and I do have a spacer in the front to keep them closer to flush, which I'm not thrilled about but I'm happy to roll like this for a while.



Rears sit perfectly as they are.





Based on this setup with other FXs, I'm going to roll the rear fenders for clearance on hard cornering/acceleration.

They ride great but I've only been normal street driving.

 

[gto]

My twin at c&c. Gonna be sweet

 

[meme405]

Keep an eye out for another cheap set, and closer to the end of summer I will take those fronts off you.

 

[RIPnFX]

Looks so dope on the GTR's bro

 

[jumbosrule]

Been daily driving the FX till my alternator went out last week. Got a new one installed and we are back to normal.

I installed the rear lower subframe brace - something I have had waiting for more than two years. I have the rear upper subframe brace but the custom exhaust interferes so it can't be installed unless I cut and re-weld the exhaust.



I also replaced the CD player - FOR THE SIXTH TIME since 2004. I think I might have decided this was the last one. Next time it goes out, I'll be looking to an aftermarket solution, even though it may take some custom work. Until then I have a brand new CD player and I also found a Bluetooth casette adapter. Pretty cool product with more features than I really need but being able to use the tape deck to play music from my phone without any wires is pretty cool and not something I've ever had in the FX. It also allows hands free calls in the car - another something I've been missing.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...Muwv9epzsUCFUERHwodp5EAOg&Q=&is=REG&A=details

I also picked up a couple of parts from the dealer at the same time as the CD player. A new driver's side wiper arm - my old one had a broken squirter nozzle and was rusting. Also I installed a new driver's side forward wheel/fender liner, which I noticed was missing only after somebody at a cars and coffee pointed it out. Powerfab must have removed and forgotten about it when they did all the fabrication work on the car. Very satisfying to have it back in.



Tomorrow morning I have an alignment appointment since I installed the lower brace. All the little ankle biters are getting checked off the list!

Palos Verdes cars & coffee

 

[jumbosrule]

Thought I'd share what seems to be a successful color change on my shifter. Since swapping over the black interior from my first FX, my shifter was broken and I was forced to keep the tan shifter. That has always bothered me so after doing a little research, I decided to give dying the shifter a try. I did try to find a used black shifter but new from Infiniti they are $140 and even on eBay I couldn't find anything significantly cheaper. I'm sure if I searched for a "U pull it" I could have found it but that would have taken a lot of time. So for the low price of $17, I bought a leather prep/dye/sealer kit off eBay.

Masking the trim and using the cleaner/prep:



First coat of dye (wet)



Second coat of dye, cured:





Satin top coat & sealer, wet. It will dry to a matte finish.



I'll post a photo when it's installed and complete but I'm pretty happy with how it's looking!


Did a wash and then a wax with Collinite 845 yesterday. I love that wax - awesome finish and SO easy to apply and wipe off.

 

[gto]

Great idea.
Seen leather dyed on Wheelers Dealers show (Z1). Came out real nice

 

[jumbosrule]

It did!

 

[la_fx35]

Looks great. I wonder if they have the brick interior color dye.

 

[jumbosrule]

Looks great. I wonder if they have the brick interior color dye.

They have a whole palette so you would have to match, but I'm sure you could.

Drying time was about 30 minutes. I drove with my hand on the shifter last night and there was absolutely zero transfer onto my hand- this is the real deal stuff. I would not have trusted it at all if I hadn't seen it used on a steering wheel, which might be my next project!

Also i should mention I'm pretty sure the shifter and the wheel are actually vinyl but it works the same.

The black stripe on the center trim is a vinyl wrap I cut because there are some scratches on the trim. This covers most of them and adds just a little detail.


Also wanted to say I friggin LOVE the cassette Bluetooth adapter. It totally took something I never use and turned it into my new standard. Music, GPS and phone calls are now all over my speakers and hands free and it's awesome.

 

[meme405]

That looks awesome.

I remember someone going from tan seats to red on another forum. Everyone was worried about transfer onto clothing, but it didn't seem like an issue. Unfortunately the thread wasn't updated with a long term review.

Just as an FYI for anyone else doing something like this to their shifter, that little metal strip does come off the shifter. You just have to carefully pull it off. There is a tab at the top so you kinda have to "stretch" it off the shifter.

 

[gto]

Info on the BT adapter.
& you say the sound quality is good? Do you use it to stream?

 

[jumbosrule]

Info on the BT adapter.
& you say the sound quality is good? Do you use it to stream?

I posted a link in #170 for the adapter.

Yes, I've been streaming both pandora and downloaded music from my i6. With the volume down relatively low on the phone, it sounds fine and I can increase volume from the car without distortion.

The only limit is the 6 hour battery life inside the adapter but I have a charger cable routed from the center console, along with a charger cable for my phone. I'm using the iMagnet mount for the phone - you can see the edge of it in the shifter photo.

 

[jumbosrule]

I loved the bluetooth adapter so much I just bought a second one so I can charge one while the other is in use.

Pandora in the FX- sweeeeet. And technically I can have the music going while parked say... Tailgating, while controlling the music from outside the car on my phone.

 

[jumbosrule]

Been driving the car for about a year since the turbo install was completed... took it into the shop for the first time for a strange noise. Turns out it was the torque plate - it had come loose somehow. We dropped the transmission to re-torque the plate and to have the trans checked for wear. Besides replacing a battery a few months ago, operation has been pretty flawless. I get lots of attention at cars & coffee type meets.