John Dixon

Not been on here for ages! Just bought a nice NA slicktop to transplant my V8 stuff into. Had a small oil fire in the V8 about 18 months ago and not had a chance to repair it so thought I’d re-shell it as it had always been the plan. Probably run the NA as it is for the summer then transplant over the winter once I rebuild my garage. Anyway, guess there are still a few old faces on here!

Hi mate, can't remember if your VH45 is an S1 or S2 but I have some spare S1 ignition parts if you want them after changing to VW coilpacks. 4x coils, 3x PTU and 2 sub harnesses.

As above, got a spare tt subframe if anyone wants it to recondition. Collection from dy13

It was always the same engine, just had a lot of issues from the first builder :( Its 12:1 static CR, have pulled the rev limit back to 8.5k for now as the valve gear was bouncing a bit at 9k

Well it looks like the new tanks have sorted out the scavenge return issue so I now have oil pressure all the way up to the limiter :) Next thing to sort is the brakes as the pedal has gone a bit soft then new boots and new air scoop of some sort.

Yeah, air filter setup is crap, its only temporary. I have tried ducting but only had that convoluted stuff handy and that lost 100bhp! Its not as bad as you might think, there's so much air flow around and the manifolds ate lagged. On an average day intake temp is about 35c. Most likely ill put the panel filters back on top of the air box and put a scoop through the bonnet.

https://vmsxzw-dm2306.files.1drv.com/y3msm3cnFM9KX6OY84yxJJ8jSJMSrQ9yaIrGNFhmQH_wXpquf6qtF7jyle16VCaV4jRPQntZeVfOl_tjyN5HZ2LGNT6X6K4qZ-Lgt23J1IYLT2BCXTPihE--S7TlNJBX5llj38LwGdW40iFrukfGZtSMFTdeOCsZTt5ZY0uaUDpMIg?width=3552&height=2000&cropmode=none

Finally got my new tanks fitted and re-plumbed everything to try and sort scavenge return issue. If it all works I'll tidy it up then find a better air filter solution. Thinking of a 'shaker scoop' like the old muscle cars used to have :)

Change the diff to a 4.1, best change you can do for acceleration!

For what it's worth, I always recommend fit an Emerald ECU and take it to them for mapping these days if anyone asks. In 30 odd years they have never blown a car up on the dyno yet, are extremely helpful even fixing mechanical issues if necessary and their service is 2nd to none. Also, they actually have one of the best 'tuner' dyno setups in the UK - 1200bhp 4WD MAHA with axle track. Bear in mind my day job now is writing software for OEM emissions and NVH dynos as well as transmission test rigs etc. so I've seen a lot of professional cells now. In the interest of balance someone asked me to look at one of Noels maps recently and it looked very good and professionally done. Load scales were properly expanded for the application and the mapping looked like it has had time spent on it and was nice and progressive, timing figures looked sensible. Obviously I can't comment on if it was correct for the car but it was nicely done on whatever it was mapped on.

You still got those pea-shooters on the back then?! For basic stuff Leon's not that pricey, just the really custom stuff like mine but then there was 2 weeks work in just the manifolds...

Cheers John! Exhaust not my work, as ever for that stuff, it's Leon over at Alunox exhausts.

OK, see if this works, shared a few here: http://1drv.ms/15zIEl8 Some vids on youtube too if you look for 500zx but all really old. The pics are all at different stages too, the one with the 2 green air filters under the bonnet is the latest. Bit of a crap setup but one thing at a time!!

Lol cheers lee! Will put some pics up in a bit. Its a bit shabby to look at but all the oily bits are back in now, mot Friday.

I looked at this ages ago when I first started my conversion and if memory serves then using the evans coolant you run the system at much higher temps using this stuff so if you have a stock ECU setup you'd need to adjust accordingly. May not still be the case. Not aware that any of the OEM manufacturers I go into have switched over to this which is usually a pretty good indication there is no huge benefit.

Cheers All, hopefully a few weeks if my schedule and Leon's line up for more than 1 day!!

Started to get back on the car, got p'd off after issues with previous engine builder but hopefully this time a bit more luck. Few pics for those who've been asking: Exhaust, just because it looks cool: http://1drv.ms/1pwZsOd New Oil tank in progress: http://1drv.ms/1otHE9L Engine back in the hole!:http://1drv.ms/1px0dqG

Sent you an Email. Re: the manifolds, to be fair mine were bloody complicated because I wanted 44x1m primaries. He could make a much, much simpler set of 'down and back' 4-1 headers much cheaper. My car is there from Weds to get the oil pipework finished, I can ask him to get an estimate if you want? TBH, if you're running stock cams I doubt you'd notice the difference between the simple and complex ones as there is so little overlap. I actually want for the MR2 pump because it has the PRV built in, just have a feeling it's a capacity issue rather than pressure. Hopefully between us we can find something that works! One other thing, did you change the chain guides? If you have the early plastic ones they're prone to disinti

Oh, out of interest have you managed to measure the pressure off your PAS pump during steering? Using a Mk2 MR2 one on mine and occasionally when initially turning in the assistance is down slightly never got round to checking it out yet but be good if the Astra one works well I can just swap to that.

Didn't realise you were doing a VH swap too:) If you need any odd bits let me know, still have some bearings, seals etc. lying around that I don't need on mine that came in the kits.

That's the plan, hopefully not too long. Just depends on when Leon can do the pipework. Had a lot of hassle with all the braided stuff as the bend radius on it is rubbish so going to do as much as possibe in hardline which we can bend at 1D on a 1" line instead of the 8" radius on the -16 braided! Should tidy things up a bit.

Well bottom end is assembled and apparently turns lovely by hand even with all 8 pistons in now :) 4 corner pistons fitted with fly springs for final test assembly and testing how much swing we have on the cams then just bolt it all together, hopefully a few weeks and it'll be back in the bay. If only I was allowed to use one of these dyno's I'm working on to tune it!! Pics here: https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=FE954747E42657C0!331

Very similar thing here on pic of engine half way through the article: http://formula1-dictionary.net/kers_audi_e_tron.html

Has anyone see one of those dual entry turbos on a Z with a single. Saw one on a TDi endurance race car that was in a development facility I was working at. Couldn't look too closely but looks like the turbine housing had 2 inlets, one on each side of the housing, made for a neat and efficient looking install. I'd guess it was VNT too given the quality of the car it was in.

Some good news at last from the engine builder: "Now you promise you won’t go all giddy on me, will you, BUT....I've actually fitted a piston and rod complete with rings and bearings and it all goes up and down and round and round with the correct running clearances and everything!!! I'll finish building short motor by weekend and send you a pic"