things I'm doing to my 86 200sx

Started by vern_k · Jun 24, 2014 · 114postsSMF 2010–26

vern_kJun 24, 2014, 7:50 pm · #1

So after my S110 got burned up I was like well I guess I can still do my project but not the way I really wanted to..... then this came to me.......

with just a few issues, like not having drivers door window, rewired headlight switch, cat removed and a cherry bomb welded in it's place, which I didn't mind for the price I paid and since I have always missed my 84 S12 I once had that had been distroyed by a tweeker (aka meth head)......
Post Merge

well made a run to a junkyard 3 hours away to pick up a window and have a look at what other parts I can come up on, when I got there the window is a bronze tint but I took it anyway, I can always change it if I come across a blue tint someday. Also got a headlight switch just incase the one that should be in the mail to me was wrong or something so took care of this

switch in and wiring all fixed up

still need to go though and see why headlights aren't going down.....

for some reason they had cut the trim for the radio which I was able to get also so the one you see in the back ground is still the old one, which had the pull style switch for the head lights that had a wire coming right off the battery with no fuse......

then started working on

which just needs a little buffing

over all the $120 I spent at the junkyard and drive didn't turn out that bad, it's been awhile since I had my maxima on a road trip anyway.....

also got latchs for rear windows since one of mine is broke and vents for top of the door panels since one of was missing and panel kinda beat up

I have fixed that already but need to grab some pixs, just need to get some glue to fix where I had to pull the vinyl back to fix the boken plastic around the vent....

Johnny_boiJul 11, 2014, 6:24 pm · #2

love those wheels, 15in?

vern_kOct 14, 2014, 2:32 pm · #3

Johnny_boi on 06:24:42 PM / 11-Jul-14love those wheels, 15in?

14in I think but will have to double check on that, they are kinda beat up and I will be going to 16in so they will be for sale sooner or later (hoping on sooner)

Well as for a update, other then she has been sitting in the drive way getting cobwebs, I have the engine paid off and should be getting shipped out this week or next, new front sub frame at home getting ready to be cleaned up and some new paint. Hoping to go junkyard shopping in the next few weeks to get some parts that I need......

did get some of the small things fixed up like the one vent that was broken, and drivers door panel back in, just need to redo the arm rest part of it yet.

did pick up a 5th job working for the guy that lets me use his shop to work on my car and any side car work I do for my friends like the clutch job I did on a 95 200sx (it says 200sx on the back but says sentra under the hood and wasn't even a SR) and where my build is going to take place, text message went something like this...

"You want to work for me in your spare time?"

"Sure, let me know when you need something done and I'll see if I can sneak it in between my other 4 jobs"

vern_kOct 16, 2014, 12:52 pm · #4

Johnny_boi on 06:24:42 PM / 11-Jul-14love those wheels, 15in?

yea they are

vern_kFeb 25, 2015, 3:23 pm · #5

well since I haven't been here in forever, here is a little update. Well motor finely got here but still waiting on ecu and wiring harness and other parts, have to say Fever Racing has totally let me down, was hoping to have this thing on the road to go to my daughters graduation but since they have burned up all my slow time at work waiting over 4 months to get my parts I will not be able to get it put together in time..... in short don't buy from Fever Racing unless you get the parts first then pay them......

but other then that I have gotten a few other parts I needed picked up lately, got the steering wheel I wanted from all hours auto salvage in nampa, idaho. was a really nice place to deal with, it was listed on parts finder, I called and was told they would have to go check to see if it was still there and call me back (i'm like ok maybe I'll call back as see if you checked in a few days) well a few min later I get a text with a pix of it, I was a bit impressed.

Got a really nice score on ebay, rear diff was listed for $50 plus $50 for shipping with no pixs, I took the risk figuring even if it's a open and not complete it still isn't that bad of deal if I have to find stub shafts or something so I bought it, turns out not only is it complete but is also a Vlsd.......

also picked up some of the parts I needed from the upullit, along with a score on mud flaps.....

So now the biggest hold up is Fever Racing getting my parts, not only have they put me into the spot of not having my car ready for a important date, and making me wait though my slow season where it wouldn't have been a big deal to take a week off and work on it for 18 hours a day and get her put together but have pushed it to the point so now even if I got the parts tomorrow I couldn't touch them till maybe this weekend if I didn't have to much other work to get done, but the shop is also moving soon so might have to wait till that happens so my car doesn't have to be moved while it's all in parts trying to get put back together........

so yes this project is still in the works, just being held up by Fever Racing getting my parts that they had "in the warehouse ready to go" when I started paying on them.....

vern_kSep 8, 2015, 2:12 pm · #6

well, it has started......

BOSSMANSep 8, 2015, 11:57 pm · #7

Must be the lightest S12 ever!

ProlowtoneOct 12, 2015, 2:43 am · #8

nice to see you can pull the chassis from the body like that. i wanted to do that to mine but i am never home :(

sideways_s12Oct 12, 2015, 8:43 pm · #9

I wish I had the space to do that mine when I had it! Nice work How har was that to do and what did you use to pick up the chassis?

vern_kOct 15, 2015, 3:59 pm · #10

It isn't hard at all, since I was pulling the whole drivetrain I decided it would be a lot faster to do it that way...... the car is on a lift, once you get the engine wiring harness free there are just a couple wires for the alt and oil sending unit and such things then just unbolt the sub frames tranny mount and rear diff and struts and shocks and lift, I'm on a lift so it was just a matter of having everything unbolted and disconnected then push the button to go up. The only thing I forgot about was pulling the rear diff support off the studs, but that wasn't a big issue (always go up a bit, look make sure nothing is hanging up) so just had to go down a bit pull it off then go up again. Can't say I would try it without a lift unless you have a way to hold the body up high enough and have enough jacks and such to let the drive train down.....

sideways_s12Oct 15, 2015, 11:06 pm · #11

Nice, I need a lift in my life lol

vern_kNov 17, 2015, 2:09 pm · #12

kelso840Nov 17, 2015, 2:54 pm · #13

Yo, Vern, what's going on here? Is that how you Aussies do sleepy eye mods? Just throw some fat cat on it and let gravity do the rest?

Anyhoot, what's REALLY going on here? Are you going AWD? I'm not familiar with that V6 block and your tranny is a little lumpy.

Looking forward to your next update.

vern_kNov 17, 2015, 3:08 pm · #14

it's a VQ engine with a RB tranny

sideways_s12Nov 18, 2015, 11:35 am · #15

Nice! Boost all the VQs lol

vern_kNov 18, 2015, 3:34 pm · #16

sideways_s12 on 11:35:27 AM / 18-Nov-15Nice! Boost all the VQs lol

that is the plan in the long run, but right now just going back and forth on building the bottom end to take any thing I can throw at it later or just using the factory parts I have and keeping it limited to what they will take.

sideways_s12Nov 19, 2015, 12:19 pm · #17

You already have it apart you might as well overbuild it that way if you decide your not making enough or you want more, you'll have room to grow...

vern_kNov 19, 2015, 1:43 pm · #18

that is kinda the plan but since I'm putting a 3.0 crank in, rods have to be custom made at about $250 each, the factorys will hold to about 500 hp and 8k, but yea for like $2k I could have a bullet proof bottom end. So haven't decided if I will go that far but am leaning towards doing it then adding top end stuff later if I don't have the funds to get cams, springs and Ti retainers before getting the rest put together, need to get the money saved up to do the rear end first before I even start on getting the engine put back together.....

sideways_s12Nov 22, 2015, 2:34 pm · #19

Makes sense and good luck with the build make sure to post plenty of pics...

vern_kNov 24, 2015, 12:57 am · #20

like a glove, but the kind that the pinky finger never fits right

sideways_s12Nov 25, 2015, 11:57 am · #21

Nice!

ProlowtoneNov 29, 2015, 1:54 pm · #22

hahaha this looks like fun

vern_kDec 16, 2015, 3:16 pm · #23

well last of the major fab work then time to get on the engine build and finish welding stuff up then clean up and paint, still have a few things to get yet, like trailing arm kit, fuel rails and system. Then there is the fun of going though the wiring and getting stuff like headlights working right and getting the projectors that I picked up from a BMW at the junkyard mounted in. A long way to go yet but chipping away at it

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/Mobile%20Uploads/20151213_140348.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20151213_140348.jpg.html)

vern_kDec 29, 2015, 1:01 pm · #24

got this mounted this weekend

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/Mobile%20Uploads/20151228_173920.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20151228_173920.jpg.html)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/Mobile%20Uploads/20151228_173950.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20151228_173950.jpg.html)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/Mobile%20Uploads/20151228_174009.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20151228_174009.jpg.html)

vern_kJan 5, 2016, 7:06 pm · #25

well rear sub frame and hanger set up for the short nose

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/Mobile%20Uploads/20160103_165446.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160103_165446.jpg.html)

vern_kJan 10, 2016, 1:10 am · #26

pulled my heads apart today to a simple polishing and found out my valve seats are pitted

vern_kJan 12, 2016, 2:03 pm · #27

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/Mobile%20Uploads/20160112_004540.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160112_004540.jpg.html)

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/Mobile%20Uploads/20160112_005018.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160112_005018.jpg.html)

that was my weekend

vern_kJan 19, 2016, 4:39 pm · #28

progress from this weekend
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160117_141035.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160117_141035.jpg.html)
rear sub frame post support
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160116_194905.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160116_194905.jpg.html)
counter sink
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160116_194943.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160116_194943.jpg.html)
nice snug fit
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160117_152413.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160117_152413.jpg.html)
getting ready to install trailing arm kit
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160117_164642.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160117_164642.jpg.html)
going 10mm wider
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160117_165225.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160117_165225.jpg.html)
work being double checked
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160117_165335.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160117_165335.jpg.html)
and triple checked
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160117_181351.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160117_181351.jpg.html)
first one tacked up
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160118_162002.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160118_162002.jpg.html)
making sure other side matches up....

rednucleusJan 19, 2016, 4:47 pm · #29

Good cheap help like that is hard to find!

vern_kJan 27, 2016, 1:33 pm · #30

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/Mobile%20Uploads/1453691603879.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/1453691603879.jpg.html)

kelso840Jan 27, 2016, 3:37 pm · #31

How long did that thankless project take?

vern_kJan 27, 2016, 6:01 pm · #32

not to long, like a hour and half, I think since it gets baked during the summer it was already brittle and then I did it when it was cold so it chipped right out.

vern_kFeb 2, 2016, 5:05 pm · #33

we should check these out
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160131_164555.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160131_164555.jpg.html)
ok seems switch is in there

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160131_164615.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160131_164615.jpg.html)

wires run to here

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160131_164425.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160131_164425.jpg.html)

these seem to be in decent condition

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160131_1644411.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160131_1644411.jpg.html)

I bet the issue is here

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160131_175642.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160131_175642.jpg.html)

well it seems my over all plan will work

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160131_173225.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160131_173225.jpg.html)

yes the lower intake lines up when being put on backwards

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160131_175809.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160131_175809.jpg.html)

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160131_170040.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160131_170040.jpg.html)

so this area will be blocked while you are driving

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/20160131_183334.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/20160131_183334.jpg.html)

WELL &%^$##$ not sure what happen there, but I guess it's time for a new block

RedneckFeb 3, 2016, 11:23 pm · #34

I'm just here for the cat pics haha. Really though nice progress so far. Should be awesome when you get it all finished up. VQ s12 should be pretty sweet. Can't believe you wanna turbo that thing down the road, I'd be more then satisifed with the stock VQ horsepower. Then again I just got a stock ka-de in my s12 so....yeah :tongue2:

iceagegFeb 4, 2016, 6:52 am · #35

Man. Satisfied pussy everywhere in that garage!

Love the effort. Can't wait for the next update.

sideways_s12Feb 12, 2016, 1:43 pm · #36

NIce progress so far...

vern_kFeb 16, 2016, 3:16 pm · #37

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/Mobile%20Uploads/20160214_151411.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160214_151411.jpg.html)

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/Mobile%20Uploads/20160214_151430.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160214_151430.jpg.html)

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/Mobile%20Uploads/20160214_215700.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160214_215700.jpg.html)

(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m310/vernk/Mobile%20Uploads/20160214_215717.jpg) (http://s107.photobucket.com/user/vernk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160214_215717.jpg.html)

well got this about ready for blasting and paint then some new bearings

sideways_s12Feb 16, 2016, 9:50 pm · #38

Are you going to make these as a production or just for yourself because I would be interested in buying these if it fixes the camber issue....

vern_kFeb 16, 2016, 10:03 pm · #39

sideways_s12 on 09:50:18 PM / 16-Feb-16Are you going to make these as a production or just for yourself because I would be interested in buying these if it fixes the camber issue....

http://responsetype.com/shop/gazelle-s12/adjustable-trailing-arm-conversion-kit-type-v1/

there are two different types, you can also widen the track with them, I widened mine by 10mm on each side

sideways_s12Feb 17, 2016, 8:51 pm · #40

thank you for link! I have it bookmarked!

vern_kMar 1, 2016, 2:50 pm · #41

New engine is at the shop as of Sat, I got the intake pulled off, going to have to work on a oval to round port adapter since I want to use the pathfinder intake and since the fuel rail is a return style it would solve that issue, and being a variable could get some nice low end along with decent high end, then also have the swirl valves to stabilize idle....

iceagegMar 1, 2016, 6:15 pm · #42

Pathy intake doesnt fit under the hood. You probably know that but it is worth pointing out just in case you didnt know. Also, VG33 heads are a direct bolt on and the ports match the pathy intake. VG30 cams are taller so that could solve some of your issues if i understand them correctly.

vern_kMar 2, 2016, 2:03 pm · #43

iceageg on 06:15:11 PM / 01-Mar-16Pathy intake doesnt fit under the hood. You probably know that but it is worth pointing out just in case you didnt know. Also, VG33 heads are a direct bolt on and the ports match the pathy intake. VG30 cams are taller so that could solve some of your issues if i understand them correctly.

I'm VQ not VG and way past the point of what fits "under the hood"

yea the 350z intake sits way high already, but I think the pathfinder is shorter then the 350z, haven't had a chance to set them side by side yet..... but still have to come up with a adapter to go from the oval port LIM to the round port heads....

iceagegMar 2, 2016, 2:27 pm · #44

vern_k on 02:03:38 PM / 02-Mar-16I'm VQ not VG and way past the point of what fits "under the hood"

Recto-cranial extraction performed (that was the popping sound you heard). I know both of these things. Forgot which build thread this was. Pay no attention to the man behind the keyboard.

vern_k on 02:03:38 PM / 02-Mar-16.... but still have to come up with a adapter to go from the oval port LIM to the round port heads....

How dramatic is the oval-to-round difference, which is larger and how much wiggle room do you have for the thickness of the adapter? In the end ANYTHING that offers a slope/taper is going to be better than mating the flat surfaces together.

vern_kMar 3, 2016, 1:35 pm · #45

iceageg on 02:27:03 PM / 02-Mar-16
How dramatic is the oval-to-round difference, which is larger and how much wiggle room do you have for the thickness of the adapter? In the end ANYTHING that offers a slope/taper is going to be better than mating the flat surfaces together.

well the bottom and injector port line up decent with enough on the LIM to grind away around the injector, it's the sides that are the issue, I haven't had a chance to take for sure measurements but want to say there is a good 1/4 in on both sides that need to be dealt with, with not enough material on the head to be ported to match with out going super thin. Not sure how I'm going to handle it yet, thinking about having it filled in with weld then port matching, or might just make some adapters, there is a chance that it will be done on a CNC with my friend, he has offered to scan parts and help me come up with what needs to be done then make parts on his CNC, but he is a busy man so will see if he fits that day project in. as far as thickness I'm thinking around 1/4 in should be a decent taper or might go thinner with the taper going up into the LIM. I'm busy with work for the next couple weeks so won't get on it for a bit yet and since the engine build is going to be on the tail end of the project I have a bunch of other stuff to deal with first, like getting the rest of the welding finished up on the front sub frame (which I might change up once I see how the pathfinder mounts fit) and tranny mounts and trailer hitch mounted, then foaming the frame and resealing where it needs it and such..... but will be chipping away at this issue as I go.

iceagegMar 3, 2016, 2:35 pm · #46

vern_k on 01:35:33 PM / 03-Mar-16. . . there is a good 1/4 in on both sides that need to be dealt with, with not enough material on the head to be ported to match. . .

. . . as far as thickness I'm thinking around 1/4 in should be a decent taper or might go thinner with the taper going up into the LIM. . .

If I understand this right you think you can put about 1/4" of material between the head and LIM and still have he ports line up properly? If so your easiest bet is to just use some 1/4" plate and have round-to-oval ports machined into them. Shouldn't be too difficult in any modern CAD program. Another more complex option that would smooth out the airflow is to make sort of horn shaped tapered tabs that extend back into the round LIM runners. Measuring and drawing those out would be more of a challenge. It may be easier to partially fill those runners with weld and grind them back out to oval. Either way it would be the most effective way of changing the shape while minimizing the turbulence inside the runner. I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

vern_kMar 3, 2016, 3:44 pm · #47

iceageg on 02:35:02 PM / 03-Mar-16If I understand this right you think you can put about 1/4" of material between the head and LIM and still have he ports line up properly? If so your easiest bet is to just use some 1/4" plate and have round-to-oval ports machined into them. Shouldn't be too difficult in any modern CAD program. Another more complex option that would smooth out the airflow is to make sort of horn shaped tapered tabs that extend back into the round LIM runners. Measuring and drawing those out would be more of a challenge. It may be easier to partially fill those runners with weld and grind them back out to oval. Either way it would be the most effective way of changing the shape while minimizing the turbulence inside the runner. I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

I think you have the round and oval mixed up, the LIM is oval and the head is round, but yea something like that, I have to get everything set up (heads on block) so I can play around with it to see if the 1/4 plate is going to mess with the alignment to much and see if I want to deal with pushing the injectors back that far, one of the reasons I'm thinking about doing the tab idea since I can have it machined then grind the LIM to match the tabs on the sides and grind out around the injector to match the top side of the round port on the head (lots of material there), but if I do end up just doing the plate and since the LIM just drops down parallel on the LIM studs it shouldn't be to much of a issue to get them to line up with a taper on the sides going into the head and with the port matching around the injector it would just be the sides. I do like the idea of the weld fill on the sides then port matching but need to talk to my welding guy and see what he thinks since that much fill would be a lot of heat to deal with and welding up into the ports might be more then he wants to deal with.

What I might do just to see is set up the heads on the block use something to space the LIM and tape off the ports and outside of the ports and pour some expanding foam (2 part stuff) so it makes the spacer with foam then 3d scan that clean it up in CAD and then throw it in the CNC, but since I don't want to move the injectors back to much I want to go for a thinner spacer that goes up into the LIM for the taper or welding, or even a little of both a spacer that welds on up into the LIM, although it would be nice to come up with something that would be sellable for other people that want to use a pathfinder intake on a VQ35 or a 350z intake on a VQ30 and other such mods that it would work with.....

iceagegMar 3, 2016, 8:32 pm · #48

So smaller intake runners into larger ports in the head. I will be watching this with great fascination to see how well it turns out. Being a very short distance it may not make much difference but I have always stayed away from small to large volume ducts. The loss of velocity is close to #1 on my list of things to avoid at almost any cost. Then again, that short a distance and the fact that it is right at the back of the valve where flow will have to temporarily stop and wait for the valve to open again it may make little difference. If you don't try it in both configurations you would never know anyway so maybe i am just rambling. It sounds like you already have a good idea of your possibilities, limitations and what your resources are. Cant wait to see more.

vern_kMar 4, 2016, 12:02 am · #49

iceageg on 08:32:37 PM / 03-Mar-16So smaller intake runners into larger ports in the head. I will be watching this with great fascination to see how well it turns out. Being a very short distance it may not make much difference but I have always stayed away from small to large volume ducts. The loss of velocity is close to #1 on my list of things to avoid at almost any cost. Then again, that short a distance and the fact that it is right at the back of the valve where flow will have to temporarily stop and wait for the valve to open again it may make little difference. If you don't try it in both configurations you would never know anyway so maybe i am just rambling. It sounds like you already have a good idea of your possibilities, limitations and what your resources are. Cant wait to see more.

it's not so much as the volume that the change it's the shape, and that is were one of the issues lays. The oval ports are more closed around the injector not a super big deal since there is material there that can be taken away. they match up center bottom but not enough material going to the sides on the head ports. I could just use the 350z LIM but then that gets rid of the swirl valve which then might cause the issue you speak of at low rpm lack of velocity since the 350 LIM is long and decent size, more then likely going to be a 3.2L not 3.5L so lose of volume there also. Leaning towards the spacer but don't want to make it push the injector back to far.

iceagegMar 4, 2016, 7:46 am · #50

Ouch. So with the round ports and oval runners having the same cross sectional volume you will be forced to both grind from some spots and add material to others in order to avoid a flow restriction. Any sort of smoothed angles would help but I'm not sure how much in that short of a distance, particularly where the air temporarily stops to wait for the valve to open. I have had a great deal of success in the past when maintaining volume while changing duct shape but it has always been over a much greater distance to avoid turbulence. The airbox in this picture from one of my old posts is a good example.
http://club-s12.org/retro4/index.php?topic=33597.msg349240#msg349240

On the far side (where you can't see) a 3.5" round duct enters a tapered square cone that gradually flattens out into the rectangle at the top of the engine. After crossing it squares back out into that complex angled box that acts as a funnel into the 3" supercharger inlet. After dedicating a few days to measuring, cutting, bending, riveting, and starting over we came up with that design which at all points that funnel-to-box-to-funnel has the same volume as the duct at either end. The flat box was required to fit under the upper cowling of the aircraft. We did full power tests on the ground using smooth aluminum tubing and found no appreciable difference in velocity entering the supercharger or pressure exiting it. Unorthodox but it was and continues to be highly effective.

Ideally you would test with both complete UIM/LIM combinations, then retest again with both of your hybrid options to tell what the difference is. Testing like that is always time and cost prohibitive though even if you already have the sensors and testing equipment. Not to mention really fucking lame compared to spending time driving. You might also use the intake side head gaskets as templates to create two plates and the LIM-to-UIM gasket to create a third. Then you could use tubing to link them together creating your own LIM. It would be time consuming and costly (and you certainly have other items on your list to spend time on) but it would solve all of those issues. Tricky issue anyway you go. Still looking forward to all the updates between now and then whichever way you go.