Most liked posts in thread: Hit a milestone and still making changes.

Bought my Nitrous Schtuff a couple of weeks ago from these guy's:

ZEX

About 1/3 of the way done, doing a lot of specialty stuff for the install, so it's taking longer than normal.

For those of you that don't hide in the "Underground" here's the project so far:

Ok, there were 2 other major items I had on my list of things to do before the rebuild, W/M & Nitrous, and with the change in seasons I decided to do the Nitrous first, I'll do the W/M early in the spring.

I want to start by saying, this system is Complete Overkill and will never be used to it's full potential on the Mini, but there is actually a method to my madness. One of the reasons for all the extra stuff is, I just decided to do it all now & never have to add later, no matter what vehicle I use it on. (not to mention, just a couple of things & this 1 system becomes 2) The main reason though, is control, I wanted maximum control over when & how much.

So, I started with this; the Zex Universal 4-6 cyl. Wet kit, Black Out edition. http://www.zex.com/zx/nitrous-system-zextm-wet-black.html


Sorry, I didn't do the obligatory "spread out everything on the floor" picture.

I choose "Wet" for the safety & ease of tuning, I'll be running a small enough "shot" that I won't need much timing adjustment and with "Wet" the AFR can simply be tuned with the fuel jet.

As I said, I started with that system, off of it I've built a One Off, Custom, 2 Stage system, including a 2nd "Wet Management" unit & RPM controller, I've also added a Purge kit & Bottle Heater.

Here's the intent behind all the "extra's" :
2 stages, mainly for traction & delivery control, each stage acts on both a WOT throttle position sensor & a push button. (2 seperate push buttons, one for Stage 1 only, one for both Stages combined)

Stage 1 will be stricktly determined by traction, what ever level I can use, up to approx. a 65 "shot" that the car will hold traction @ 3500 RPM in 2nd gear, is where it will be set at.

Stage 2 will give me an additional "shot" to give me a combined total of about 100, (for this incarnation of my motor) it will also be controlled by an RPM "window" switch and will only activate from the bottom of my next gear RPM point up to 7000. (in other words, if I run out the gear to "shift point" the RPM that I am then at, after my gear change, is where I'll set the bottom of the RPM controller, approx 5400 or so)

Here's a few pic's of the install so far, I'm 1/2 finished with all of the engine compartment install & have some of the wiring started:

Cut out for mounting panel:



Fabbed new panel:


Mocked up:



Installed:


I still have to install my Nozzles into my S/C horn & run my Fuel line from the Fuel Rail to my Gauge Sensor, then connect it to the system, I'm also adding a NOS pressure sensor for a gauge into the car. I'm finishing up making the bracket for those sensors now, and making custom push button & indicator panels for inside the car as well.

I'll get more pic's as everything happens.

 

I agree, I made my S/C change which in turn meant considerable changes in boost, all above 175,000. Basicly, if it's in good running order, why not.

Hell I was worried about it too, once I got up over 125,000, even considered doing a rebuild, but was basiclly talked out of it, was still running good then, so why? Like I said in an earlier post, I've lost some compression & inturn, some power, but the motor is still really sound, doesn't use anymore oil than it ever did, and still just fires right up & runs, and still runs strong at that. Even as is, 4000 rpm in 1st gear, just simply stand on it and there is NO traction, with an LSD, and I still don't baby it at all, it still see's 7000-7200 almost every day, just because I have too much fun with it.

I know I'm taking chances with the nitrous, and I'm not going to push it that much anyway, like I had said when doing the Sprintex, with the level of mods I'm at, I have to figure anything less than $100.00 per hp is a bargin, so even if I would only see 15hp I'd be there, and I know I'll see more than that.

Believe it or not, I'm not trying to blow it up, but I do find myself in what I consider to be a lucky and somewhat unique situation, I know I'm going to rebuild, and I've always wanted to try nitrous, so I just figure, better to try it & learn a few things on the old motor, than on the fresh, just got done emptying my wallet one. :lol:

 

Things have been slow going with other stuff taking priority, finally had a little time on Sat, so everything under the hood is basiclly done, all I'm waiting on to complete the "under the bonnet" work is to install the pressure sensor for the NOS gauge for in the car. It should be here by the w/e.

Fuel line plumbed and new sensor bracket made:


Switch panel done also:
(W/M, NOS, Bottle Heater, Purge, Remote Bottle Opener)



Really hope to be done & testing by Turkey Eatin' w/e.

 

So, only 1 1/2 good weather days over the holiday w/e @ my place, so everything didn't get done as I had hoped, but 99% of all of my wiring is done. (since I solder & shrink tube everything instead of crimp connectors or twist & tape, all of it is actually really time consuming.) It did take every bit of what time I had. All of the wiring under the hood is complete, and the only thing left to do in the cabin is to splice in the Throttle Position Sensor wiring & move + install 2 gauges. (fuel psi & new NOS psi gauges are going on the Chrono Pack.

Got my Double Cup gauge cups on Fri.


Drilled & placed my 3mm leds that I'm using as indicator lights.


Siliconed them in place. (yes silicone is my duct tape, go ahead & shake your heads )


Was too ugly, so I made some covers.


Didn't like them horizontal, too high, so I opted for vertical.



The bottom hole on this side is for the future W/M gauge, but again didn't like the unfinished look, so $3.00 ea. at my local Ace Hardware store & I got some of these, 2" nylon hole plugs.



Then a little Black Satin spray paint & I'm satisfied.



Everything done but the other 2 gauges. (NOS & Fuel psi)



Indicator lights are:
Left (all Red)
NOS on
NOS Bottle Heater on
NOS Remote Bottle Opener open/close

Right (all Blue)
Rally Lights on
W/M on
(open/future)

And again, I know it's a little much for most people but WTF, I do like as much info as possible.
(Hey, at least give me credit for not stringing 3 or 4 more across the top of the dash....:lol: )

Should have the gauges & wiring done before the w/e, which only leaves the bottle & line install.

Leave it to me to turn a simple "one day to install" universal Nitrous kit, into a full blown 2 month project. :lol:

 

Haa, Haa, Haa, that'll teach me to pay attention to "everything" before I post. :lol:

"Clutter Is My Friend.".

 

Cold-Ass w/e but got most everything done, (ended up with some numb "cheeks" lying on the ground doing the line install ) Only thing left is to figure out the wiring for the buttons & I'm done. (if I can pull off my idea for the buttons you'll understand the delay.)

Gonna try to get the bottle filled before the w/e so that I can at least check for leaks when I do my final once over.

Not much room left in the boot, once the W/M tank goes in, in a couple of months, that'll be about it, gonna make packing for MOTD a little more of a challange, to say the least, I didn't have much space to begin with, but I did use every bit of it, oh well, just the price you pay sometimes.



Also have a psi gauge on the bottle itself, besides the in car one. (go ahead & say it....yes, another gauge....:lol: ) and ordered the bottle heater today.

 

Ran into a snag last week, my #1 controller is leaking fuel internally, so I'll just have to send it back for a replacement, no biggie but the place I get my stuff from was off for the whole week, so no progress till the week of the new year, but the controller is out and ready to go back, thanks to these: (no cutting or splicing)

only took 15 min. to pull out of the system so that worked out really good, did have to run to the A/P store for some fitting caps though, otherwise the fittings into the controller on the "out" side would be open and create a boost leak, just another thing to put into my NOS only spare parts & tools box. (another thing Harbor Freight is great for, inexpensive smaller tool box's for all those extra parts and specialty tools that really only have to do with "one certain" project.)

As far as the push buttons for the system go, that was all that was left to do, all the physical install is done, but my original idea has proven to be a real PITA and very dificult as far as the wiring goes, I was going to try and use the Up/Down tuning buttons for my radio, on the steering wheel for those, the output wiring from the controller is pretty straight forward but trying to tap in the NOS input wires through the system is a real challange....sooooo, thanks to Minsanity giving me the steering wheel bug, I'm going to go ahead and replace the wheel completely and do some custom control buttons on the wheel itself, it will be a lot easier to do the wiring from scratch than to try and tap into exhisting factory connections. Should order my wheel this week sometime, once it arrives I can start making my mounting plates and brackets that I'll need to make my creation come to life. (I'll just be happy to do all that stuff in the shop, instead of outside right now... )

Happy New Year Everyone.

 

Replacement Nitrous Management unit will be back to me today. (I'll pop it back in tomorrow after work while we have some warm days)

New steering wheel should be here next Wed. or so, need it for a template for some custom machine work I'm going to do before it goes on, ended up picking this one because of the shape of the spokes & my design idea, plus it was just under $110.00 shipped. (also, same bolt pattern as the OMP, Sparco & Momo, so a swap will be simple if I end up not liking it.)

 

Thanks, from you, I'll take any compliment on metal work, that is 16ga steel and by time I got to the finish trimming my blade was done & I had to shape the corners with my bench grinder, so there not all the same, like I would have liked. I'll live with it for a while & then decide if a re-vamp or just a re-do will be in order or not. Wish they would have taught shop, years ago at my H.S.