Bates' 2012 Nissan Juke & 1987 300ZX

[Bates]

Originally Posted by Godofelru

Tough call.

I'm partially biased you know rolling a ~300whp spec so.... that gets my vote.

The z31 would be fun though, but I think that car may just be a tiny bit more of a headache than the V.

Yea you are right. The Sentra swap would be much easier, but cost more. I can get the Z boosted for under 1000$, and have it ready for at least Auto-X come Spring and Summer. I am leaning more towards the Z since money is tight lately.

Originally Posted by zmainiac

With an intercooler setup, nistune, 440cc injectors and a 60 trim you could make 450 whp on a stock z motor safely. I guess it would come down to which car you need to modify to get running again. If you need to fix the z I would definitely spend the cash and just turbo it, even if just stock for now. They are way more fun turbo and you could probably run a high 12 with the stock turbo. I did a 13.3 at ten psi with an open diff. Is the forged bottom a one time deal or the going rate? Isn't the sentra running again?

Yes it is, and I can buy forged pistons and just have my shop install them for me, but this was going to be 2k for a brand new motor with forged pistons.

[Bates]

So I start a new job on Tuesday, which means I have funds coming in again which means they are going right back out because I have 2 cars that need to see boost.

New "By End of Summer" plans for both cars:

The Z:
Fix rust
Turbo Engine Swap
Paint job (Going with 1972 Datsun Blue Poly 115- Midnight Blue in a matte finish)
Brake upgrade
Stage 2 clutch, maybe stage 3.
Tokico suspension upgrade
New wheels (XXR 552s maybe, leaning more towards Gram Lights 57Ds or 57s-Pros if I have the extra funds)
Front mount intercooler maybe.
Welded diff or LSD maybe

The Sentra:
New forged engine
Tune and break 400HP.

The Z is top priority this summer. I have fallen in love with the car and I just want it looking good and able to perform a bit better. I want to Sentra to see the track this year but that will be tough.

The Z should be turbo swapped in April. I am ordering the Engine and most of the conversion this week, and then in April I am dropping it off to Zmaniac and we should have it finished in 2 weekends.

[Bates]

Just ordered a 85 JDM turbo VG30ET and nearly everything I need for the turbo swap for the Z.


Very happy about getting that engine because the earlier VG30ET engines had lower compression then the later ones. 7:8:1 compared to later 8:3:1.

Going to wait for the engine to get here and start cleaning it up, ordered a new Turbo engine cover as well. I have decided on the wheels I am getting:
Gram Lights 57D in white.


They aren't over priced, I love the design, they should clear Big Brakes no problem, and they will be functioning Auto X wheels. I am not sure how the wheels will look on the car in white, but worse comes to worse I get them powder coated after I test fit them. Was thinking that orange wouldn't look half bad either. Thoughts?

[zmainiac]

Hey man. We can powder coat rims and I am setting up a big brake kit for z's and 240's. It will use willwood super lite series calipers and 350z rotors. Just to let you know.

[zmainiac]

There is a z31 rim fitment page if you search. 17in 350z rims fit without spacers and I think that the 18s fit too.

[Bates]

Originally Posted by zmainiac

Hey man. We can powder coat rims and I am setting up a big brake kit for z's and 240's. It will use willwood super lite series calipers and 350z rotors. Just to let you know.

Stop putting ideas in my head!!! You are evil!

[Bates]

Order a front strut bar for the Z, but the person who I bought the engine from is apparently having problems shipping it.

I am not quite sure why he can't just find a freight service and deliver it to the shop/parts store my friend works at.

If it turns out that he can't ship it and I get my money back, then it is going right into the fund for the new Sentra engine. One of my damn cars is getting a new engine this year!

[zmainiac]

Hey man, I wouldn't worry too much about the sway bar. They are easy to put in. Also i might be able to get you in to my garage this month to swap the z. One guy isn't moving in till April. Let me know.

[Bates]

This guy may not ship me the engine so there may not be a swap for the Z.

[zmainiac]

I am buying a truck this week if you want to go down to get it. That guy is kind of a douche. I could probably find you a cheap engine around here.

[zmainiac]

My buddy might have enough stuff to do a na to t swap in Philly.

[Bates]

Originally Posted by zmainiac

My buddy might have enough stuff to do a na to t swap in Philly.

Well I would much rather put a turbo engine in my car, rather then turbo the engine that is already in it. If I go that route, I am rebuilding my current engine first.

[Bates]

Asked the person I bought the engine and parts from to refund me the money as a new Z project might be around the corner. Found a turbo 88 Z with front end damage for cheap. It's not the lower compression engine, or the much sought after "W" Series engine (at least I don't think it is, I thought they were only 87 engines), and it has the smaller T25 turbo, but where you lose a little you gain a little. It does have a the strongest of the Z transmissions, the 90a, and a LSD, which alone is worth more then what I would be paying for the car. Hoping the deal goes through.

Put the wheels in motion for the Sentra as well. Just waiting for the engine builder to give me a call back, and I am putting a down payment on my new blueprinted forged engine (lol let's try this again).


Hot tanked/cleaned QR block
Deck block/head
Align hone main bores
Magnafluxed/cleaned and micropolished crankshaft
8.5:1 Forged Pistons
Low tension/drag chrome/steel rings
.120" tool steel wrist pins
07+ FORGED rods (I might upgrade these to I-Beams)
Cleaned/inspected oil pump
Cleaned/installed timing cover
New timing chain
New guides/tensioner
New bearings
New head gasket
New o-rings, seals, misc. gaskets
ARP Head Studs
New main bolts
Full blueprint upon assembly (will come with spec sheet for all vital clearances)

[zmainiac]

There is another guy on z31performance selling a turbo z engine in waverly ny. That turbo z would be a good pickup if you can get it.

[Bates]

Originally Posted by zmainiac

There is another guy on z31performance selling a turbo z engine in waverly ny. That turbo z would be a good pickup if you can get it.

Yea but it is still pretty far from me. All this frustration with the Z has made me swing my attention back to the Sentra.

The Engine should start getting built this week (being Travis has cores to build) but until then the Sentra felt... left out. It needed something new, and because the Sentra loves to Auto-X in the Spring and Summer I thought I should make it more Auto X friendly. Currently on the way for the Sentra:

ZAMP FS-A2 with helmet case and head sock


Sparco Fighter Seat with 2 black Sparco harness pads, Red 4 point Sparco Harness, Sparco Seat Base and Sparco Slider:

[Higu]

You need to make it more friendly Bates. MAybe now you can beat 4 banger Mustangs

[Bates]

Originally Posted by Higu

You need to make it more friendly Bates. MAybe now you can beat 4 banger Mustangs

Sorry I got carried away and forget I had brakes last year. This year I will have to use the brakes or they are going to kick me off the track lol.

[Z31NA2T]

Did someone say turbo Z31?

[Bates]

Originally Posted by Z31NA2T

Did someone say turbo Z31?

Nope not anymore. The z is on the back burner and will be NA for a long time. I'm going to build my engine with some high compression pistons and throw in some mild cams and a light flywheel to open up the engine more. I don't feel like having another boost project right now.

Spec-v update: Seat and everything is here I just need to have my buddy fab me up some slider mounts for my seat base. That should be done tomorrow hopefully then it will be installed.

[Z31NA2T]

Originally Posted by Bates

Nope not anymore. The z is on the back burner and will be NA for a long time. I'm going to build my engine with some high compression pistons and throw in some mild cams and a light flywheel to open up the engine more. I don't feel like having another boost project right now.

Spec-v update: Seat and everything is here I just need to have my buddy fab me up some slider mounts for my seat base. That should be done tomorrow hopefully then it will be installed.

EHHH...turbo Z31 is more reliable and rewarding than a high compression NA build.