Wednesday, 20 July 2005 | Comments (1) | Categories: Exterior
Just got these at the beginning of the week as I'm not 100% sure which will look better, these or the smoked version. Got them through Racespec as before at a limited time special of $180 - now they're back up to $260 though. Whatever set I don't use will be back for sale. Also ordered a Sard Rising Rate FPR yesterday so that should be in sometime next week. Nothing much else to report.
Cheers
Brendan
Saturday, 16 July 2005 | Comments (0) | Categories: Engine, Exterior
Well I've been holding my breath now for sometime for the GReddy Intake Plenum (Surge Tank to others) to come in and it finally landed on Friday. Thanks to Jeff at C-Red and John from Import Bitz for getting this in. This was originally going to be painted in the red wrinkle (crackle) paint like the rocker cover, but have since decided against it - it'll stay raw. Not to mention the difference in breathing and visual appeal it'll make in the engine bay. Also managed to pick up the last piece of the bodykit puzzle in the shape of a modified Nissan Aero (Nismo) front bar - the modification being in the main intake mouth. It's been enlarged for a front mount intercooler and once cleaned up and painted should look the goods (thanks Zac).
Pics for your edification:
- GReddy Plenum (Top View)
- GReddy Plenum (Ports)
- GReddy Plenum (Front View)
- GReddy Plenum (Bottom View)
- Modified Nissan Aero (Nismo) Front Bar
The front bar will now go off to Tomas for fitting, while the lightened pulley and plenum will be fitted to the engine. From here, I'm hoping for things to roll fairly smoothly to a climax, but of course that's only the plan - reality in these ventures can be completely different.
Cheers
Brendan
Friday, 15 July 2005 | Comments (3) | Categories: Exterior, Paint
Apologies for the delay in posting, but the last few weeks have been hectic to say the least. Especially last week with preparations for the Perth edition of Cabin Autosalon, there were plenty of people putting in late orders for stickers which resulted in me not getting to bed most nights before 1am in the morning. The show however was a great success, myself personally involved in the SilviaWA and C-Red stands. Well done to SilviaWA for taking out "Ultimate Club Theme" for the third year in a row.
Anyhow, there's been a minor set backs with regard to Project Sillbeer over the last couple of weeks. This comes down to paint colour. We managed to track down someone who had a good matched colour formula to the Yamaha R1 'Lava Red' as Yamaha don't actually release a paint code as such for it. The main setup on this is cost - being a 3 stage candy application, a full professional paint job is going to cost between $6-7K - not to mention the problems with retouching such a paint job. So, Lava Red is off the list. Now the indecision sets in again as I try and decide on another paint colour. Here are my current choices in no particular order:
- Mazda's "Velocity Red"
- Peugeot "Diablo Red" (No decent pictures available)
- Citroen "Rouge Lucifer"
- BMW "Steel Grey Metallic"
- My Old R32 GT-R V-spec (Paint Code 'BLO')
At the moment, I'm really not 100% sure. I went to have a look at the Citroen the other day and it was dark so couldn't really see the paint colour too well (they had it out the back, not under lights), and I have a feeling they've done some colour correction on the online image. There aren't too many red Silvia's going around (especially wide-body) so red is more than likely the way I'll go, it's just a matter of which one. Feel free to drop a comment on your thoughts.
In the meantime, I've just been advised that my front bar is ready for pickup (modified Nissan 'Nismo' Aero bar), and according to Tomas, that's the last bit he's waiting for before we get the body back.
Cheers
Brendan
Tuesday, 28 June 2005 | Comments (1) | Categories: Engine, Exterior
Hasn't been much to report really over the last week or so, but we're getting closer. Managed to track down and purchase the side skirts (see pics) and just waiting for the modified Nissan Aero (Nismo) front bar to be repaired before I pick it up. In the mean time I had some of the Zinc plated parts on the engine replated to bring back to new condition, these included the fuel rail and various fuel and water pipes, throttle body parts and washers and nuts that go on the rocker cover (see pics). This was fairly cheap and cost $88 from Electroplaters Pty Ltd in Welshpool and took about a week. I also purchased a GFB Lightweight Crank Pulley to reduce rotating mass plus it looks tops. This has been modified to fit up to the Nissan Pulsar GTi-R Oil Pump we're using on this engine.
Pics of the body so far:
- Nissan Aero (Nismo) Side Skirts
- Nissan Aero (Nismo) Side Skirts
- Zinc Plated Parts
- Zinc Plated Parts
- GFB Lightweight Crank Pulley
- GFB Lightweight Crank Pulley
Now the good bit. Have spoken to Tom about the progress of the body and he's looking to have complete by end of this week/early next. Woohoo. After that it'll be back to the workshop to get intercooler test fitted then off to paint.
Cheers
Brendan
Monday, 20 June 2005 | Comments (5) | Categories: Exterior
I'm currently stoked. Tom sent through some images of his work so far. It's looking pretty toight now with the M Sports 50mm Front and 50mm Rear Fibreglass Wide Body panels (from C-Red). As per previous entry, I'm moving to a Nissan Aero (Nismo) body kit instead of the M Sports one. Philosophy behind this is that I'm creating what I would envisage as being a 'factory special'. Something that Nismo or Autech may have been if given enough rope similar to the Nismo S14 Silvia 270R and Nismo R33 400R.
Some things to note are that these panels will be fully integrated into the body work, not just tacked on. The fuel filler cap has been integrated as well, as what you get in the kit is some strange curved jobby that mounts to the standard hinge and looks horrible. I've 95% secured a set of side skirts and possibly a different Nissan Aero front bar that has been modified with a larger intercooler intake - negotiations still underway on that one.
Pics of the body so far:
- Front View
- Rear View
- Rear Quarter (note fuel flap)
Cheers
Brendan
Friday, 17 June 2005 | Comments (1) | Categories: Exterior
OK, have had a slight change of plans with the body kit on SILBEER. Going to go with the full Nissan Aero kit (also known as the 'Nismo' kit) for now, and if it doesn't do the job, then look at the M Sports possibility. Reasons for this are varied. For one, I'm looking for a very clean look/lines and love the original lines of the Silvia without kit. Spoke with Tomas (the body guy) today and he says the car looks so much better with the Nissan parts than with the fairly squarish Wise/M Sports side skirt and that the wide guards were really nicely accentuated with the Nissan Aero stuff.
The above pic (not my car) shows the rear pods and side skirts very well, displaying the nice curve that the body has from top to bottom.
Stay tuned as there could be some photos of the body so far coming up soon.
Cheers
Brendan
Thursday, 2 June 2005 | Comments (0) | Categories: Engine
Roy had the guy from Enzed in this week to make up the oil and water lines for the turbo. As you can see they look pretty trick, and I've opted for the black version of the earl's hose fittings too - mainly because I'm an anal and fussy prick who ones nothing else except black, red and silver in the engine bay.
Pics of the engine so far:
- Oil & Water Lines 1
- Oil & Water Lines 2
- Close Up 1
- Close Up 2
- Close Up 3
Cheers
Brendan
Friday, 27 May 2005 | Comments (3) | Categories: Engine
Thanks to Roy for sending me a few new pics. Manifold, turbo and dump are now bolted on - woohoo *dances a jig*. Will get more pics tomorrow.
Pics of the engine so far:
- Side
- Top
- Front
- Front 2
You'll notice in the front pic that the first of the pulley's has been installed. Also, I mentioned nickel plating some bits previously, well it's actually zinc electroplating (gold) that I meant. Price is $40.00 for first 20kg of parts at Electroplaters Pty Ltd in Welshpool. This brings parts like bolts and brackets back to factory finish.
Cheers
Brendan
Thursday, 26 May 2005 | Comments (3) | Categories: Engine
C-Red have slowly been progressing on my engine. Recently I assisted in putting the head on - well I put the head in place because Roy had a bad back, then he put the ARP head bolts in a tightened to spec. Since then, the cams have now been dropped in - now these are a used set of cams and an unknown brand at this stage. Specs are 264deg duration and 11.8mm lift on both intake and exhaust. Tomei Rocker Arm Stoppers and Tomei Type A valve springs have been installed along with adjustable cam sprockets/gears too.
All is starting to look pretty good. I also found out this morning that Earls do make a black anodized version of all their hose fittings so will be using these whenever I need braided hose connections such as for oil and water lines on turbo and oil cooler etc. Will be looking to send off all the nickel plated bits to be redone soon so all looks brand new.
Pics of the engine so far:
- Top
- Front
- Exhaust Side
- Intake Side
- Camshaft Specs
- Camshaft Sprockets/Gear
Still to be done on the engine side will be the GReddy Plenum (which is on its way). The plenum and rocker cover will be red wrinkle/crackle coated (ala Ferrari Testarossa) and the nickel plated bits redone then those parts can be bolted back on. Damn it's a long road.
Cheers
Brendan
Wednesday, 25 May 2005 | Comments (0) | Categories: Exterior
Although I said I wasn't going to do anything 'ricey' on this, I couldn't go past the good looks of these tail lights. They're clear indicator lense and red brake lense, both smoked should look right at home on the colour I'm using. You'll notice from the pics that they are only the lenses, and requires you to use your current light frame and a orange bulb for the indicator (included in this kit).
Smokey goodness:
- Front
- Back
- Top
These were a very well priced kit, on special at $330 delivered through PRO100 on the NissanSilvia.com forums.
Cheers
Brendan
