Stephen

I respond to this the best I can and maybe try to put some things into perspective. I would say there are only currently 5/6 cars in the club running over the 500 mark with a few behind them between 4 and 500, that isn't many considering the amount of cars we cars in the club. Pop over to the US site it seems virtually no car is running stock power some real monsters over there. You say minor mods...to get 400hp yeah is agree few bolt ons healthy engine good tune, done. Certainly though the generic chip and boost jets will only net you around 330hp so some way short, you will need that roper custom tune and some breather mods to achieve this, oh and a healthy engine to begin with. To make a genuine 500hp zed you will probably be spending a minimum not including the car of 4k maybe more. You would need a healthy engine, bigger turbo's, divorced downpipes and decats, cat back, bigger intercoolers, injectors to suit. Then the supporting oil cooler and rad to come with the higher power outputs. Not to mention a new clutch by this point. If were being cynical and sensible about it the costs are going to spiral to nearer 10k by the time you've made it stop better, don't forget that... oh and got the engine to a healthy state, and ensured all those crappy 20 year old bushes are renewed, and you've got some decent rubber and grip, as they say power is nothing without control. The questions surrounding reliability and handling, well it is 20 years old. So unless its new or refurbished it could break... but that's true of any old car reguardless of tune. As for how will handle well the suspension has to be set up and refreshed properly, don't expect to put 500hp through 20 year old bushes and a 225 wide rear tire with no traction control...Once sorted well its likely you will run out of talent before the car does, watch bob or jaffas time attack cars handle..... As for cheap, well tbh if you were going to make 500hp there are cheaper ways, any 355 cubic inch chevy will make 500hp naturally astriprated with much less outlay. The long and the short of it is you can very cheaply get a z32 to 500hp, ie with a few thousand. How long will it last, that's anyones guess, theres chaps making over 600rwhp on stock internals for years. Saying that there people out there blowing up stock power level engines...Do your research before you think about anything further. But yes a vg30 is a power monster like any other 90s jap engine the like sof the rb or jz

Ams ones are cheaper and apparently flow better. Be warned however some casting issues exist esp if you buy directly. But yeah very few options.

I seem to remember that some skylines use a very similar gearbox, the internals esp. Albeit with different bell housings. So that may be worth investigating. On a more positive note, change the gaiters and the fluid with some redline mt90 and I bet it goes away.

All I can say is crack on. When you have finished your 500hp z come tell us how tame it is. :D

Well put mate. I want mine to be FAST but I'm already fully aware it's faster than I am stock, and unless the road is bone dry traction can be problematic. You need ALOT of grip to get a 500hp rwd car with no traction control to accelerate without wanting to smoke up or spin out.

Sure it was oil smoke? Not just condensation? Your exhaust will be saturated with water if it's been sat outside for months.

Stainless ones tend to crack, the exhaust design and weight of the turbo mean your likely to crack a weld on the first speed bump I'm afraid. Now with the welding up/changing a manifold requiring mahout work is a poor idea. As Si says get some msp from the states.

Can't be right... As you say bri, that car should be like a red arrow

Shorties can get away with being smooth, a 2+2 though, nah. Mine was smoothed it looked so lanky. I put a replica 89 on,instantly transformed it to a sports car again.

Is it clean? 300 or 1500 it's still wayyyy out should be about 13 ohms

Why? You haven't fired it up. Drain the fluid out, lubricate the piston rings fresh oil. Rock the block to free the pistons. A wet engine isn't necessarily a dead block.

It was early and I was half asleep. Looked pretty stock, I was half guessing it was Marcos car.

Yeah me too, I started driving in 2003/4 and it was 75p a litre so it did jump up quick

There was a group but going on from a different supplier for looms recently

Don't be disheartened by the numbers. In reality your probably putting out about 280hp at present, so it will bet you a gain of around 50hp which is none to shabby. It will certainly change the driving characteristic to a more aggressive one. See how you feel, if you feel after that you still want more, then a it's time to decide what you want to do. The stock tubs with larger piping injectors etc etc is quite an expensive way to gain power and is limited by the tiny stock turbos. If you did all that and retained generic chip you still wouldn't likely make the same numbers as a custom map on the stock system. Moving on from stock turbos, you can run your oldstockbottom end many have done this with over 500hp, how long it will last is a guess. A good tune will make a healthy engine last, however any flaws in that 20 year old engine will fail proportionality quicker. So if you have the money a full engine rebuild with new tubs will see you shooting for the moon. Probably with no traction haha.

You were running stock boost though weren't you?

The a31 has a serious accident on it literally once a week. I can't explain how ridiculous this road is for stupidity, I see all sorts on it. I drove to London last week I saw two traffic incidents (the aftermath anyways) both on the Dorset Hans border on the same road one on the way there one on the way back.

Based on what I've seen, about half a dozen zeds on generic chips. I would estimate at 13 psi you will be kicking out circa 330hp you make more but I'd be shocked to see it pull more than 350hp flywheel figures.

Superb what disc are they for?

I haven't had the desire or cash to fiddle with or drive my car much recently. I've been focusing on the fishing, it's a lot cheaper and more relaxing lol.

That's something I fully intend to do Pete, I was going to this season but so many things got in the way. I managed to get out to a few meets, the cars been sat there for 3 weeks getting dusty, which isn't like me.

Sorry I was still writing my reply when yours went up.

Fantastic photos mate. Any track days etc planned in the off season?

370 is stock size, 550 750 etc etc. are generally classed as the max hp. It doesn't really work like that but it's a good guide line. A larger injector can always be turned down, unless your going mental is be shocked if you maxed out 550s.

I wouldn't be surprised if your generic chip was providing you with more than 350fwhp so, many will tell you it's good for 370 odd, in reality most seen to produce 330-350... A proper tube would more than likely net you circa 400hp