Thanks for all the advice Todd. BTW, I'm moving to Colorado soon, so you might be my closest VQ engine builder! As far as Extreme vs. Regular Arias pistons, I guess the extra ring land size and better wrist pins and wrist pin locking are worth it. Shame I can't get all the Extreme piston features but made from the high silcon aluminum so I can run tighter piston clearances. Maybe I'm worrying for nothing though.

I was looking at the Tuner version of the APS TT kit, but it says that it comes with 12 psi wastegate springs... but doesn't this prevent me from running less than 12 psi boost? It's my understanding that the boost controller works by fooling the turbo into thinking you're running LESS boost than you really are (allowing, say, a 7 psi spring to run 12 psi), but it can't make the turbo think you're making MORE boost than you really are (a 12 psi spring running at 7 psi). Do I need to stick with the regular version to allow me to create a low boost (7 psi) and a high boost (12 psi) tune? If I'm going to go with the upgraded APS fuel system and the UTEC, the tuner version of the APS kit would be ideal, other than this issue. Am I missing something here?

-E

 

quick reply:

you are over-worrying about the clearances on the Extreme duty pistons, we run 2 extra thousandths for safety (in case the piston super heats in a lean condition-this is not enough to make a "sloppy motor" or cause any audible changes...

the lowest boost pressure is dictated by the rating of the wastegate spring..so if it comes with a 12psi spring, 12psi is the LOWEST boost you can run..then again, if you want a high boost setting of say, 20-23psi...having a boost controller compensate up from 12psi will be easier, more accurate, more consistant..than making a boost controller gauge up from 7 or 8psi

-TODD

 

Ok, I'll stop fretting. Mostly I was worried because I live very close to my work, so if I decide to drive it back and forth to work it'll be lots of cold starts and cold engine running, so lots of piston wiggle. I was worrying about it more from an engine wear standpoint than anything, but I'll stop. Mostly.

I always feel like I know just enough about this stuff to be a danger to myself and those around me. Good to know I didn't have this completely wrong. So how tough is it to downgrade the springs back to a 7 psi waste gate, to run in the 7-14 PSI range?

Any APS dealers have pricing on the APS tuner kit versus the full kit, and on the APS extreme performance fuel system? And if it's possible to get the tuner kit without the "upgraded" waste gates?

-E

 

Your requirements are very similar to mine, high revs, medium power, quiet motor. Its funny you mention the high silicon extreme duty, I requested the extreme duty pistons be custom made with high silicon aluminum, Sharif can order these for you.

 

Just so you better understand our business, we are not in direct competition with Sharif at Forged Performance..rather, he deals with selling parts/systems/ other dealies...we only sell motors..we use ONLY Arias Extreme Duty pistons unless someone wants otherwise..WHY?..because it is unmatched in strength and design!!!

We have 3 more sets of custom 100mm Arias pistons on the shelf...FYI, these take approx. 6 weeks to custom order, we will always have them in stock for our sleeved motors- not for individual sale

-TODD

 

It should be very doable. its been done more than a few times now. Dont worry.. Todd and SGP and all those well known shops have experience doing this, and thats what matters- not edjucation (DAMN I NEED ONE lol) or size of shop ect.

 

if it counts for anything, I have a BS in human biology and a DC (Doctor of Chiropractic) degree

 

^ haha. Only thing that can be useful for is curing the whiplash a car built by you would cause. You're onto something. Cause the pain, then fix it too, and charge for both haha.

 

I wasnt really posting to you, I was just mentioning how I used the Arias Extreme Duty pistons with high silicone as they were mentioned by the person who started this thread. Not sure how I was not understanding your business but thanks for the info anyway.

 

I wasn't addressing this to you only ... just clarifying to the community our business setup..that's all

 

Thanks mchapman, that's great to hear! I know I said I wouldn't worry about this anymore, but I might consider that. Several of the parts I'm looking at will probably end up having long wait times, so one more special order part won't kill me. I may have to slowly collect all the parts and ship them to a builder once I've got my **** together. I'm starting to put together a more accurate parts/price list now, so we'll see how it goes!

-E

 

Well I still have a few open issues for this build -

Cams - Waiting to see what the JWT turbo cams are like, but looking for high lift low overlap.

Crank - Nismo crank or a knife edged stock crank

Turbos - Need to find out what my APS options are to get the low boost wastegates on the tuner kit. Anyone reading this thread an APS dealer?

-E

 

El check with bigbri he has a aps tt reving to 8k with custom cams. Granted he's at 23 psi and 700 + to the wheels but he may have some info for you. He is using the stock aps tt kit.

 

Thanks for the tip, I'll see if I can PM him about it. I've done research into the APS kit and I'm pretty settled on it, I just want to find out if I can get the tuner kit (no fuel/engine management) but without the upgraded wastegates so i can run lower boost. Maybe just find someone with the regular kit and swap them Buying the regular kit would be a waste since I want to get the UTEC and the extreme fuel kit from APS.

His cam choice is probably going to be different from what I'd want, since he's making so much more horsepower and at such a high boost than I'm looking for, he's probably saying "D*mn the overlap, full speed ahead". I'm definitely interested in what other mods he's done to get a safe 8k RPMs though.

 

Regarding the crank, the Nismo crank is exactly the same design as the stock crank but its made from a harder metal. The crank is used in alot of VQ35 motorsport, so this tells us that the actual design of the crank is sound, so knifes edging it would move away from this proven design and move you into unchartered territory and would probabally end up with a crank which isnt balanced as well as the stock one. The drag Performance motorsports 1900rwhp 350z which revs to 11,500rpm uses a stock 350z crank which has been cryo treated to increase its stregnth. Their motor gets rebuilt more frequently than a street motor, but not much for a drag motor. Ours will not be rebuild as frequently but we wont be revving as high or putting our as much power. I chose to do same with my crank along with balancing all the recyprocating parts dynamically.

 

The specs I've seen for the NISMO crank say it's good to 8,500 RPMs, but I think a really well balanced stock crank/internals is probably going to do me fine. I've backed off on that one, especially since they want a fortune for the NISMO crank. I'll have to ask my engine builder about the cryo.

1900rwhp? that's like, what, 2200 at the crank? Never heard that one before, any web sites for that car? Pretty insane!

-E

 

http://www.theexperience.com/photo.htm