More pictures please :P

Not much to see at this point. I'll take a few pictures when I get the new wheels on.

FastNX, I know you used to have a VE, any idea/hookups where I can get my VE'd etested to 'ensure' it passes?


IF it's running properly it should pass with flying colours!

Got some updates:

-I dunno if you guys visit "the other forum", but I'm building a set of rear lateral links with heim joint ends for myself. Waiting on the parts to come in before I can buy the chromoly tubing needed for the bars themselves.

-Removed my rear tails and I'm going to be tinting the amber part red. Still don't know if I'm going to blacken the whole tailight, but I'm leaning towards not.

-About 75% done the sub box, waiting for some good weather

-Going to be building a new sub box for the wifey's malibu... it'll tuck into the trunk corner nicely and still have 2x 12's ported with a decent bit of port area. Will also be getting her a bit more power to work with too... 160w is a bit short for what I want from the system ;)

Too bad it's going to rain this whole weekend... could have gotten some good work done! :(

I have too many things to list so I will just be seeing you boys at the track :D

Couple of more updates.
Battery relocated to behind the passenger seat.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jWp4ASZfJ5s/S6VJ3GW8R5I/AAAAAAAAA70/DFLOMAjOC8I/s800/battery%20gone.jpg
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jWp4ASZfJ5s/S5zoqLKFULI/AAAAAAAAA7M/E_XMy205LSs/s720/IMG_3620.jpg
Radiator shrouding done on sides now too. Plus reduced the front opening.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jWp4ASZfJ5s/S62FFiTQgwI/AAAAAAAAA8I/1VKAdPCEDuI/s800/IMG00075.jpg

That should improve your weight distribution.
I am just wondering if you had to install an external battery cut off switch (I know some organizations require that for any type of racing, not sure if that's the case here).

It's not necessary for my series, but I still installed one close to the battery.

Nice on the battery move :)

I tinted the amber part of my tails red, only two coats of testors translucent/transparent candy apple red. I still need to clearcoat the whole thing though... might go to a paint shop for this.

Almost done building my sub box, just need to flip the direction of the hinges and apply some weatherstripping. Haven't started on wifey's sub box yet... but I did get myselef a more powerful amp :) Sundown SAE-1200d... good for ~1200w RMS @ 1ohm. Wifey's getting my two "old" Nakamichi 400w amps, which will make her very happy :)

And most important, I received my rod ends, inserts and boots. I just need to get some tubing and I'm set to start building the rear lateral links. I also greabbed a 14" chop saw from crappy tire on sale. With that I can do some exhaust work too. Next tool I want to get is a welder.

Was out at TMP yesterday. Car handled it like a champ. Focus was on car control so I had my first set of R-compounds on - bought them from FastNX years ago. Not corded yet, but certainly rock hard. Plus I had the air pressure way to high, which caused the back to swing out without a moments notice. Great practice.

On my way back through Brantford I think I saw Adam's NX2K? Did I?

Wow, you're making me jealous, lapping already! Those tires probably have an 04 or 05 build date I'm surprised they still work well enough for track duty. At least they last longer than Hankooks :biggthump

I'm jealolus too :(

I havent' been able to get my control arms made yet, having tons of trouble finding the right tubing for a certain part. But I'm almost there... hopefully I'll have it done by the end of the month then off to get an alignment from scott/can-alignment.

I'm also waiting for OEM on the other forum to finish with their front tubular control arms and depending on how they are, throw those on the car too. Not 100% sure I'll get them though.


On the stereo front, I got my 15" sub in it's box, amp installed and everything installed. It's QUITE loud but I'm happy :)
I also got the wife's 2x 12's done in a small sealed box, but both amps apparently went up in smoke :(
I think it was a weak ground... that didn't cauase any issues for a different amp. Can't explain the problem, but one amp was new to me, and the other one I had pounding away for 6 months. Ah well. She'll go back to using ~160w total for the two subs.

A little update:
I am close to finalizing my custom 6 point roll bar in my NX which took several weekends of sacrificing my sleep to work on it during night at my friend's garage.
The main purpose for this roll bar is to stiffen up the entire car and ensure safety on the track (hence I concentrated on making beefy supports).

All designs ideas were fueled by my imagination!

Here are some pictures starting from the beginning:

Here are the main hoop supports (bending 1/8" plates to those shapes was not easy and took some time)
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010002.jpg
The other side
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010003.jpg
All welded up
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010097.jpg
The other side (I know, next time I will invest in a gas MIG welder)
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010099.jpg

The rear tower reinforcements
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010102.jpg
The passenger side
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010342.jpg

The front supports
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010007.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010006.jpg

And if we fast forward to this weekend (thanks to Adam's handy tube bender) I was able to produce this (from seamless 1.75" Dia, .120" walled piping):

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010336.jpg
I wanted to make it as close to the roof as possible, I think it's close enough:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010338.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010325.jpg

Main hoop attachments:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010339.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010333.jpg

Fitting rear supports (tricky fish-mouthing work involved)

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010345.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010346.jpg

And finally a sneak peak at the front support fitment (S shaped to allow somewhat easy entry and help minimize T-top flex)
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010347.jpg

Outside View:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/wojtekj/April2010350.jpg

Now all is left to do is to weld the rear and front supports, add possibly add side and rear bracing to the bottom of main hoop legs.
I am also working on bracing the rear shock towers, I'll keep you posted.

Nice! I was thinking about building a cage for my NX too, but not until it's a fun-only car, it will be my daily again this year.

I've made a bit more progress, I've got my header mounted and my exhaust tubing cut to length to mount a new high flow cat. Threw in a new Bosch o2 sensor while I was there, removed a stock resonator in the air intake bellowes, and retained all of the stock emissions equipment. I just need to wait for my buddy to come over with his welder to weld up the cat + tubing.
I also got a new cat mounting flange to hang the exhaust with; was $21 taxes in at Airport Nissan.

The cat will be mounted about 6" behind the factory location, butting up against the resonator, so hopefully I'll gain a bit of low end torque.

On the rear lateral link front, the heims I'm waiting on should be in any day, and I finally sourced the correctly-sized drill bit I needed locally... wasn't cheap for a drill bit, but I'm hoping it'll last long enough to make a few sets.

I need to grab another socket to install a new (refurb) drivers side axle, I don't have a socket that size :\

With any luck, the car will be driving by the end of the week... I need to get back behind the wheel of it again badly!

To summarize what I got done this winter:
Newly rebuilt engine, 180degree main oiling, VE oil pump, full crank scraper and windage tray, new JWT clutch
Fabricated splitter
Fabricated wing mounts and mounted adjustable wing
Somewhat fixed bodywork
Lexan windows and gutted and pinned hatch
Long wheel studs
Mishimoto rad
Added dash bar to cage, fully painted cage..
....and a whole bunch of little stuff. Total net weight reduction over 100 pounds even after adding rad, wing and splitter.
I had the car set up by Scott at Can-Alignment and tested it at Shannonville this past weekend. Very chilly and rainy but the car was very predictable and easy to drive. Looking forward to Mosport on May 28 :cool:

Here are the lateral links I've been busy with, and finally finished:

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/5096/img6310sq.th.jpg (http://img38.imageshack.us/i/img6310sq.jpg/)

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/8696/img6323s.th.jpg (http://img594.imageshack.us/i/img6323s.jpg/)

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/1305/img6324s.th.jpg (http://img709.imageshack.us/i/img6324s.jpg/)


I then got an alignment from Scott @ Can-alignment, and the car is straight up awesome now :)
The rear suspension works even better as it was binding due to rusted bushing-inserts, and obviously works a bit more accurately too. The rear end follows the front of the car better, and overall grip and predictability has gone up noticeably. I'm quite happy with it, and with Scott's work as well. Nothing but praise for his knowledge and work ethic, and I will without a doubt be sending people his way, including my father.

I also got a chance to drive the car hard with the new Carbotech AX6 brake pads on the, and I'm nothing but happy with them... worth every penny of their expensive price tag. Only complaint would be that they dust a LOT... but I have matte black rims so I'm not too worried.

Now to hit the track :biggthump