Had an interesting weekend with the S12 (CA18ET)

Been trying to get her running so I can drive her daily...

Well I got the intercooler pipes setup and all finally and I was using a rather SOFT ribbed rubber hose from the intercooler to the throttle body. While I was testing the setup checking for leaks it got rather BIG under 10psi... bad sign.

Anyway, it lasted long enough for two days of testing to get my A/F more or less right with the AFC (great for WOT runs, but it jerks a little at cruizing, sub 3krpm range). Anyway, I'm driving around with my son and brother in the car... I get on it after making a right at a light, go to shift into 2nd, and BANG (backfire), then POP from the engine bay and the car about dies... I'm rolling along going "CRAP"... start it up, give it gas... barely goes/keeps from dying. Dies, have to start it again... keeps happening... CRAP. Think about the intercooler piping post from the other day... decide to get out and check.

I pop the hood and start looking around... well that rubber hose had pretty much bent in on itself at the ribbed section... so I thought maybe it was just collapsing on itself... so I look around to the other side of the hose... NOPE, I've completely BLOWN the one side of the hose apart... D'OH!

Thankfully we were in my parents neighborhood (was going to drop my brother off), and we tried to push it... made it maybe a block. Brother had the idea to go get his 88 Maxima and push it home... sounded good to me. Walked to my parents house with my son on my shoulders, got in my brothers car, drove the 5 or 6 blocks back, set it up, and pushed it back.

So now I'm thinking, how am I going to fix this to get it home; USAA is not going to like my calling to have this car towed twice in a two week period... lol. Anyway, he suggests, "what about ducktape?" Me, "Huh? I blew the entire side of this pipe out..." Him, "sooooo?". Hmmm... Ok. So I ducktape it!

http://members.cox.net/ca18det/NICO/blown2.jpg

http://members.cox.net/ca18det/NICO/blown.jpg

The PURPLE shows the length of the blow out!! It actually ran rather well like this with the ducktape! I didn't dare boost on the way home, but I was able to make it the mile and a half back home. £0£. Anyway, I promptly found a better solution of mixed pipes to make it work...

Oh, and for those wondering where everything came from in my crazy engine bay...

http://members.cox.net/ca18det/NICO/assortment.jpg
Shown:

1984 CA18ET Motor
CA20E Intake Manifold
KA24DE Throttle Body
Volvo Turbo Intercooler & Connector
CA18DET Short Pipe & Elbow
Z32 Turbo Outlet Pipe (in red)
CA18DET T25 Turbo
Z32 MAF & Intake

It runs rather well at the moment...
Cruising gives a ~14-15 AFR, and WOT gives 9-11 AFR (normally ~10 at the moment). That's with CA18DET 370CC injectors on a CA20E fuel rail (DET rail will NOT fit the E/ET Manifolds), Apex'i SAFC2, and Innovate Motorsports LM-1 Wideband.

Power is pretty good, though third seems sluggish for some reason. 1st is good, 2nd is crazy, 3rd is eh, and 4th feels pretty good on the highway, though 5th is rather blah from ~60/70. Haven't had it much faster than that. But it SCREAMS on the on/off ramps! Total joy to drive.

Oh, and I found that the old Z shifter (I think I got it out of a 280Z) works GREAT as a short shifter. MUCH shorter stick & throw! Only problem is the thread width is MUCH smaller than the stock shifter... I haven't been able to find a shift knob that fits yet (though I've only tried items I have laying around, nothing I have new Nissan fits!). Anyway, just thought I'd share... Just need to swap my Z31 suspension on her and get an LSD for the rear... then its off to the AutoX / Drift events! =)

YES...Another project accomplished with Duct Tape...ahahahahahaa...8)

I like your setup...do you find that the CA20 intake manifold works well?? 8)

YES...Another project accomplished with Duct Tape...ahahahahahaa...8)

I like your setup...do you find that the CA20 intake manifold works well?? 8)

Its definitely an improvement over the ET manifold, but it has its disadvantages... But it makes it much easier to plumb the intercooler piping. more of a straight shot.

Good lord you rewire that thing or what? Good job though man. That things gonna be a beast!!!!

seems a bit rich at wot. have you tried leaning down to 12 or so at wot? you'd probably get a bit more power.

seems a bit rich at wot. have you tried leaning down to 12 or so at wot? you'd probably get a bit more power.

Yeah, I have a little... but it still varies at times, and its leaner per gear for some reason... 2nd is rather right, 3rd leaner, 4th, leaner, and when I've tried 5th, I've seen 15 AFR when I first get on it hard, then it richens a little to about 12... so I'm being a little safe at the moment and keeping it rich.

One problem I have is the stock TPS is 2 wire. On/Off. And I'm not even sure its working right. We've tried to measure it and if I just read voltage, right now it reads full voltage, but if I angle it down any (its right at the limit at the moment) it lowers to like 3 volts, and then the car runs like crap and backfires on deceleration... so I've chosen to leave it as is. AFC reads 100% throttle though... so I have no low throttle fuel map, just the high one. =( I've got a few 3 wires laying around... brothers suggestion was to just take the 3 wire, wire it up to the ECU like normal (2 wires) and run the 3rd wire straight to the AFC... I'm probably going to try that when I get a chance.

Later,

Yeah, I have a little... but it still varies at times, and its leaner per gear for some reason... 2nd is rather right, 3rd leaner, 4th, leaner, and when I've tried 5th, I've seen 15 AFR when I first get on it hard, then it richens a little to about 12... so I'm being a little safe at the moment and keeping it rich.

One problem I have is the stock TPS is 2 wire. On/Off. And I'm not even sure its working right. We've tried to measure it and if I just read voltage, right now it reads full voltage, but if I angle it down any (its right at the limit at the moment) it lowers to like 3 volts, and then the car runs like crap and backfires on deceleration... so I've chosen to leave it as is. AFC reads 100% throttle though... so I have no low throttle fuel map, just the high one. =( I've got a few 3 wires laying around... brothers suggestion was to just take the 3 wire, wire it up to the ECU like normal (2 wires) and run the 3rd wire straight to the AFC... I'm probably going to try that when I get a chance.

Later,

grab a tb off of a 240sx. they've got a real tps and you should be able to tune much better for daily drivability..

grab a tb off of a 240sx. they've got a real tps and you should be able to tune much better for daily drivability..
According to the picture his TB is off of the S13 KA24DE, so is it possible that, that TB TPS is really messed up, and not functioning properly?? 8)

I used the stock TPS, but I have the TPS from that Throttle body and the two other KA throttle bodies I have as well... just need to transplant them. =) But thanks for the suggestion.

Oh, and I found that the old Z shifter (I think I got it out of a 280Z) works GREAT as a short shifter. MUCH shorter stick & throw! Only problem is the thread width is MUCH smaller than the stock shifter... I haven't been able to find a shift knob that fits yet (though I've only tried items I have laying around, nothing I have new Nissan fits!).

Your welcome, I was the one who found that out. Hopefull you didn't have to buy it:) But I would just got to an auto store and buy a aftermarket shift knob that appeals to you and looks good in the car. the knob should come with different size adapters that are soft plastic, so the threads on the shifter cut threads in the adapter. It should come in different size adapters too, so you can swap cars.

Oh yea, apperently the CA18DET TB will bolt in and its a 65(?)mm. And if you spent some time and money, you could eliminate that problem of bursting you intake pipes completely. Some sort of metal piping and a freakin BOV. A Blow Off Valve ill save your pipes, turbo, FMIC and motor, and you can run ALOT more boost. Granted it would cost more that duct tape, but that doesn't fix everything (contrary to popular belief). I know from experience. But not in this situation. But at least get some good fitting aluminum or stainless pipes and weld in a BOV!!! Just trying to save expensive repairs that are going to happen if you keep the car like this.

Duct Tape has allowed us to keep racing on more than one occasion...in fact at one point we were going to call out team Duct Tape Racing...it is in every pit crews tool box, and we have about three different colours...:twisted: 8)

try messign with the dec air flow correction on the safc that will help with the backfiring is your bov recirculating?

try messign with the dec air flow correction on the safc that will help with the backfiring is your bov recirculating?

problem there is that requires the AFC to note I'm not at full throttle... at the moment my AFC reads 100% throttle all the time... When I installed it, I checked the wiring diagrams and thought I tapped the right wire for the TPS, but I'm always reading 5.5V. =( So it always shows 100% throttle... no idea why. I need to replace the TPS with a 3 wire and run the third variable voltage wire right to the AFC since the ECU doesn't care about it anyway. =) But yeah, if I could do that, it would be a good idea...

But she's been driving rather well lately, getting decent gas mileage considering my lead foot... I think the trip reads 230miles at the moment and I'm down to a single bar on my digital dash... but the last time I filled up at that point, it only took 12 or 13 gallons to fill it... so that would be 19mpg. Not bad considering I'm running a T25, 370cc injectors, 9psi of boost, and have a lead foot... =)

Oh, and no more backfires as of late... only issues I'm having really at the moment are she bogs really bad when cold... I almost got myself run over by a Dodge Ram one afternoon trying to leave work. Got on it and started moving, then it BOGGED really bad... I could barely get out of his way... I've since learned how to deal with it... push in clutch, rev it real high, and let the clutch back out. It goes then... ^_^

wheres your screenwash tank gone?

wheres your screenwash tank gone?

Junked it... it was in the way while I was doing some hosing work, and just pulled it... didn't really work anyway, and I never really use washers. Just tend to RainX it and clean it while I'm at the gas station.

who needs a winshield washer tank anyways.

a) Rain cleans it
b) car washes clean it

hey cause if you need i can make you a fule rail as soo as i finish it up since i made mine to fit the det injectors as well, i have a good source on a adjustable fpr as well

Bogging at a cold start can be caused by an Air Regulator on its way out...

LOL Reminds me of the time I blew up My MAFS in my SpecV leaving your house after working on Bobby's Z...........Good times man......Duct tape is the shit......

Glad to see your actually keeping the 200 though.....

Good luck man....Get back to you next week on the SC61....

hey cause if you need i can make you a fule rail as soo as i finish it up since i made mine to fit the det injectors as well, i have a good source on a adjustable fpr as well

Let me know when you're able and how much... I'll probably need the FPR as well, so let me know how much that is too! =)