My silly old overpriced Nissan thread. S15 content here.

[Clarkey]

Quite a few bits have happened but I suppose running the engine is a milestone so that'll be todays update.

Waited ages for the new oil strainer to come from Japan, it arrived a few days ago. Fitted that last night, got the oils and water in, finished the little wiring jobs and had a go at starting it.

Problems though, it's a total and utter arse to start, and idles like a bag of nails once you finally get it to run.

This is with the MAF disconnected hence the 1500rpm idle and 2500 limiter. As you can see though, it runs fine like this.

At first, I was holding it at 3000rpm for a while to try and get some fuel flowing through it nicely (some oil went in the injectors while lubing the O rings), and even then occasionaly the revs would just die then come back up again while holding the throttle steady. I don't know WTF is going on, maybe there is an injector problem?

 

[Clarkey]

I think it's the MAF. Figured I would try the one off the NA engine. This is a different part number and doesn't match the ECU, but had a crack anyway. Runs a lot smoother with that one on, and starts every time. BUT, rev the engine up and it will stall on the way back down.
I'm going to borrow another 69f01 MAF off a friends car and see how that one goes. I also changed the idle air valve back to the original one, it is different to the one off the NA motor, it didn't make any difference though.

 

[Clarkey]

Turns out it was due to a highly complex fuelling issue. The tank was empty lol, I dumped a couple of cans of high octane in and now it starts perfect.

/redface.

 

[Clarkey]

There's still quite a list of stuff to do.

Accelerator cable is a biggy, the old one got snagged on the engine while lifting it out and it got wrecked, need one of these to be able to drive

Arch rolling, the rear arches are sitting on the tyres right now and it doesn't like it, this will need attention. Friend of a friend is meant to be lending me one but like most of these promises, it will probably be broken.

FMIC needs to come back off and be fitted properly, with some protection around the holes to save the pipes chaffing through.

Air filter, need one.

Alignment, it's yet to be seen if I will actually need the full adjustable arms to achieve nice settings at this height. Probably will tbh, will be a bonus if I can stay with stock arms and avoid problems associated with adjustables.

Tyres. Bought some AD08R, should be spiffing.

Wheel refurb, still not decided on colour, thinking light grey.

Dyno the engine to check everything is working within normal parameters, AFR is normal, isn't detting or whatever.

Install the LSD, also want to go for the nismo 12kgf/m overhaul kit before fitting. My BMW has an old worn out plate diff and it sucks balls, I don't want the same thing again.

The winter seems to be behind us now though, so I'm keen to push on and get it insured, registered and on the road within a month.

 

[Clarkey]

Not long until you'll have this running properly now... The big roundabouts at Perton were made for glorious sideways s15 turbocharged fury...! Or something like that.

Perhaps. The exhaust on this is devilishly loud though, I think the pear and partridge would turn into a spectator gallery too quickly

Remind me though Will, what was that body shop you were telling me about? I need to get the skirts painted too.

 

[Clarkey]

Thanks, I will check it out on Wednesday.

 

[Clarkey]

Fixed the idling problem, it was just turbulence from the fan interfering with the MAF. Now has a nice steady 850rpm idle and it doesn't make an absolute racket at that

Fixed the accelerator cable, it wasn't as broke as I first thought. This meant I could test pilot it. All I can say is the power is good, spins up 255 Pirellis in second for a laugh

The gear selector is not good though, really a pain to get it into gear, not surw what the issue is, it was fine with the old engine.

Water pump exploded, big shower. Just knew I should have replaced the pump before putting the engine in. Oh well, live and learn..

 

[Clarkey]

Car is now on the road. Took it for alignment

Not great, -3'15" is the best we could manage in the rear. Adjustable arms up next then.

Car has absolutely no traction on these 205/60/15 Falken zeix with an open rear end, it's awful. I feel that the BC coilovers are junk compared to the HSD I have on the BMW, I will look to change them out.

My AVS wheels are at the powder coaters now being refurbed, I chose a gunmetal colour in the end, not sure it was the right decision. I want Buddyclub P1's anyway so I'll be looking to change them. Back to A-line on Wednesday to have the AD08R fitted up.
I don't like the stock seat at all, sit up stupidly high, I will swap my bucket seat onto the Bride rail this weekend and hopefully woes will be gone, failing that I'll bolt the thing to the floor.
Ebay downpipe = not good, hitting the floor, needs fixing. Strange rear brake noise, in the garage tomorrow to investigate.

Overall though, the swapped engine runs without issue and delivers enough fire power to scare me, it's a LOT quicker than a 328! Tieing into the other thread, it's useless in daytime traffic, poke the gas a bit and you are immediately stepping on the brake to avoid ramming the car in front.

 

[Clarkey]

What Falken's are they Clarkey? Got ZE914 on the S2000 and they aren't great.

912 I think, not what my personal choice would be, but they came on the stock tiny wheels with good tread.

What's roughly the power/weight ratio?
Surely not enough torque to break traction in snow?

~250bhp/tonne, I will give Monster tuning a tinkle tomorrow and see when they can dyno it.

Where are you getting your wheels done?

I want to get my winter wheels refurbed, they were sort of refurbed by the last owner (in gloss black) but they haven't lasted well, was a bit of a rush job (tyre weren't even taken off the rims etc).

What don't you like about the BCs as well? I like my Meister Rs (which are made in the same factory as the BCs by all accounts) but it did take a while before I found settings that I liked.

Being done at city powder coaters in brum, very cheap, expectations are low but still will be hugely better than I could do myself for little more money and infinitely less effort.

The suspension seems to have really poor damping, it's on the middle settings and the suspension still oscillates. The BMW has superb body control in comparison. I will get a better idea once I have proper wheels and tyres on and some time to faff with the settings.

 

[Clarkey]

Yes, although both are provisionally sold.

 

[Clarkey]

Well, my dad did. It's the car that sparked my interest in cars and it has a lot of sentimental value to me. I'll be sad to see it go, it's going to a good friend though so I will still see it and be able to have the occasional drive of it.

 

[Clarkey]

Yeah, excellent to see you getting it up and running.

is the car running an uprated clutch or are you having troubles in traffic just down to the power of the car?

Looking forward to hear if you get on better with the BC coils when your alignment settings are where you want them though. Hopefully it will be the easiest and cheapest route for you rather than having to outlay for a new setup.
What other options do you have coilover wise for the s15?

It has an uprated clutch but it's a normal organic exedy one and drives just like stock. It doesn't disengage too well though, going to try bleeding it tomorrow, it's difficult to get in gear.
There isn't a problem in traffic really, it's just that it accelerates fiercely, 4.1 rear end in it I'm not used to it, the way it gains speed easily is such that I'm constantly looking down at the speedo and realising I should slow down. km/h is a bit confusing too.

I stiffened the rear shocks up and the pitching is reduced but still there. The HSD monopro in the BMW have never exhibited anything like this, no hint of bounce from full soft to hard. Seems like not enough rebound damping to me, tomorrow I'll whack them to full and see what happens.

I like the twin exhaust pipes over a massive angled can that everyone else goes for!

Plans for an RB26 conversion in the future perhaps?

You'll be disappointed then, because I have a massive angled can on it now It has an SR20 on the other end so it sounds awful, it does pop and flame nicely though.

I have no plans to put a 6 cylinder in.

I put the bucket seat in, but this Bride rail I have is pants, it's even higher than the stock seat, totally stupid. Another job for tomorrow is to make new side mount brackets to take it as low as it can go.

 

[Clarkey]

I have some s14a parts laying around the shed you can have for nothing if it will help. I have a set of HSD coilovers from driftworks, the problem is the fronts are brand new and unused but the rear are used and knock on the rear right but if you cam get it rebuilt, it's a cheap option for you. I also have a set of standard wheels you can have.

I might make you an offer on the HSD's, but next month. Thanks


Found out the knocking issue, turns out I had neglected to torque up the wheel nuts when I swapped the wheels, the rear left had 4 loose nuts

The fuel gauge is pretty sketchy in it, typical jap. If it's to be believed then I'm pretty much using the same as the 328 did over the 140km I've done, happy days.

 

[Clarkey]

As I said, you are welcome to have them for nowt. All I want is someone to collect them as I can't be bothered to package them up and post them. I was going to put them up on SXOC for someone to collect for free anyway so it's up to you if you want them.

They's very generous, I'll say yes then Contact details in your trust?

My 14a is loose as a goose with the original wheels on the rear. Makes a much better drive with the 9.5inch on the back! Car looks real nice mate Congrats

Driven it a bit more now, done a couple of runs of a favourite road and figured it out a bit. Surprised that even on the shonky tyres with wonky camber, I was able to match the corner speeds of the 328, I guess because the car is a bunch lighter. Traction is a real struggle though and you have to micro-manage the throttle to keep it in check. Tyres, LSD and alignment will help no end I'm sure though.

 

[Clarkey]

Never mind, might still take you up on that I'll think about it.

Anyway, today had a go at fixing the knock sensor fault that kept coming on. Think I had a bad connection on the 2 small engine grounds because the plenum had been painted. Cleaned it up, cleared the code, took it for a quick spin and it didn't come back so I think that's fixed.
For those that don't know cranky old Nissans, code 34 forces it to run the knock maps all the time, which afaik pulls 5 degrees timing all the way through the range, sucks power anyway.

 

[Clarkey]

Went to pick up the wheels to be told they had to re-do them because it reacted or some BS like that. Ready tomorrow apparently, not happy.

Wanted to get diff in, guy is ill

On the upside, managed to successfully re drill the side mounts, got the seat as low as it will go on this rail now and it's WAY better, quite happy with it now.

 

[Clarkey]

*****ing useless bunch of **** at the powder coaters let me down with some BS excuse again, now say they will be ready tomorrow. I can't go until Monday and anyway I don't believe for a second they will actually be done.

Extremely angry right now

 

[Clarkey]

I can see why, utter rubbish.

Kosta, if they aren't done by Monday I will kick off, take them back and go to your place, had quite enough waiting now.

 

[Clarkey]

Ecu ceased to function last night, had to be recovered, bad times :-[

 

[Clarkey]

Not good Clarkey! Any ideas on whats up with it

Ecu lifeless, the fuse in the main box was blown. Replaced it, still dead. Either there is another fuse or the Ecu has blown up. Possible that the maf shorted out. I'll check the 12v tonight and go from there.