I haven't looked at your build in a while but it looks amazing! love how you do all you own work. I have to see this car in person one day...

Ive been on a career course since fhe last couple months. You can expect to see some development next week.
hopefully i can quickly figure out why i couldnt start the engine before my course started. Dyno tune appointment is due in 2 weeks.

No worries, I understand those career courses. I'm retired from the armed forces after 20 years of service and I know those courses can be anywhere from a few weeks up to a few months long.
Good luck in your course!

The engine fired up !!! :)

The hard part of idle tuning is done, however there is still some issue with the cranking start-up but it should be ready to be Dyno tuned soon!

btw, not everything is installed and what you can see around the engine was only wired up to start the engine.

That is pretty darn cool Megan...big props. is your car still street legal and will you have the opportunity to get on track this year.:tup::tup::tup:

no more street legal ;/
but yes I do plan to shake down the Z sometime in June ;)

What kinda numbers are you shooting for? And what does the car wieght now with all the mods etc? 3000 lbs car and 450 to 500 hp with decent torque and she gonna be quick boss:tiphat:

I don't plan to go much higher than 450 for this year.
As for the weight with everything... when I did a gross estimate with the scale few months ago, it should be about 3050-3075lbs.

Sweet Jesus, that sounds menacing. I mean the actual sound of the car. And the weight to power ratio too.

Congrats!

That sound! Wow!

I have to see you pilot your work of art around the track this year.

Dude that is awesome! Congrats. Are you OCD with wiring or are you going to put it together enough for the dyno run?

Prepping for some dyno time soon !

Today, I tried to tune the idle a bit better but since I never tuned a Turbo setup, I found out how annoying it is when the BOV stay open at idle. Some spacer was added to help the issue but the spring is just a bit too weak and doesn't react as it should.






not sure how to answer this question but no matter what the Z will get some dyno time as is. I do expect to work on cleaning up the wiring harness in the engine bay as well as the interior. I should have the cage pained this weekend.

I had the BOV issue as well. I swapped out the 10lb springs for the 11lb springs. Problem solved.

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
Subscribed to this thread for sure!! Can't wait to see more!! WOW!

Are you still using UPREV for software or something different since you are using the 350Z HR ECU?

yes,

I wish I had the funds for a standalone ECU that are compatible with a twin DBW Throttle body setup.
There is 3 options that will be considered for 2016.

- Ive had my eyes on a I88 ViPec (2500$+-) then I would need a DBW controller for the second TB which is about 500$

- the second option is just getting that I88 and converting the TBs to a cable setup.

- the 3rd option would require to keep the VHR ecu to control the TBs and the RPM gauge and then install that I88 ;)

thank for asking,
the ankle is doing ok but not perfect. ehehe

Some update from the long weekend!!

It didn't start very good after removing most of the connector that aren't used. I couldn't get the push-start to unlock and go in ACC / ON position.
I tried finding the wiring issues of what could be the problem for about an hour before giving up. In the dash wiring harness, there is a few wires that cross each other and I only removed the useless wires which should technically not matter.

The end result was to by-pass the push-start and the BCM to a similar setup I did couple years ago on the NATS by-pass. I was then able to get power in the cluster and power up the engine !

The next project was to paint the cage! I was unsure of which color I wanted.


https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...a1&oe=560D6B78

Removed some useless wires...
https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...c9&oe=5602F806


Lexan windshield cut and then the beginning of a whole new diffuser !
I think Im gonna love the new one ;)

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...64&oe=5607D148

Just came back from Z days Z. I had a relaxed and fun weekend, just me, myself, my Z and the gazillion bazillion trizillion of millions of bugs that are stuck to my front bumper.
Seeing your pics and "how you make stuff happen" is something amazing and I know you are doing it for functionality thus it will be put the test.
Is like if I'm looking at the MacGyver of the 370Z's. :rofl2:

awesome dude! keep that good work :tup:

Impressive Roll Cage!! Nice!!

He truly is a "one man team". That is total dedication. :tup:

Sad update
 

Bad new is happening again.

today was the dyno day Ive been looking for a few months now.
I had a lot of preparation to do before having the Z in relatively good shape to be beaten on the dyno for a few hours.

I started working on the Z at around 620pm yesterday all the way thru the night until the work that needed to be completed was done by 750am which I then loaded the Z on the trailer.
Only took 45mins forced rest as I couldn't afford taking more time.


So I drive to the dyno location then start prepping the Z for the tuning to be performed... after about an hour in, some electrical issues start to raise and then end very quickly.
The ECU is probably defective at this point which I aren't sure at 100% but I cant see anything else to be at fault. With limited tool of my own, I had to take the hard decision to stop the session as I spend about 30-40 mins to figure out the electrical issue and still haven't pin point any potential fault.


so as it stand the Z has made 9psi and the biggest pull that was done was up to about 4000rpm, I should receive the print on that pull sometime tonight which I think was over 400ft/lbs.


:shakes head:

It's still progress.... kudos to you!

Megan is alive again !!!
 

Megan is now running with the oem ECU as if it was a standalone and without the BCM & IDPM.

The electrical issues that prevented to be tuned last weekend is still unknown.
Yesterday I decided to give myself a Challenge to make a new wiring setup that would isolate the ECU from the rest of the car.

There is still some work to be done on the wiring job such as adding some fuses, relays and a switch/gauge panel.
The main Challenge has been completed !!! :happydance:

I'm glad you know what you're doing! ;)

Coming along Nicely!

Mid June Update!
 

Hey guys, I would like to share a little bit on how the progress of Megan is going!

Since I lost 2 months of preparation right before the race season, the work on the Z is not my top priority but it will get to see the track at the end of July or beginning of August.

Ive completed my goal to redo the dash wiring setup (ver 2.0) since I am only using the oem HR and VHR ecu without the BCM and IDPM.
All gauges & knock sensor plug is now re-wired and the boost gauge had an internal short which I repaired today.
I am happy that I will now use a dedicated wide rear view cam & 7'' screen.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...94&oe=55E7CC65

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...1d&oe=562C335A

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...2e&oe=55EB14B3


curently sitting at 3042lbs, parts that are currently not installed is the remaining flat floor setup, headlight cover, some sheilding panel, lexan windshield, The end result should be very close to 3100 lbs. not too bad knowing a stock 370z weight is 3340ish lbs. Keep in mind the cage / turbo setup / the complete Aero setup all together is about 360 lbs.
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...97366133_o.jpg

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...57313400_o.jpg

wow... It keeps getting better. Great work!

awesome work dude! :tup:

Updates that Always Impress!! :eek:

Greeting's Megan,

I have been following your build over the year's here on the forum and
we all appreciate your continual perseverance :driving: Best of luck :tup:

forum brother -Clifford :tiphat:

I'm like Clifford. Always wondering what is going to be next thing. I know it takes an enormous amount of sacrifice, money and effort since you are a 1 man team, but we haven't heard from you lately. Any updates, anything new, what is going on with the madman and braniac behind Megan project?
I hope everything is OK and you are just taking the time to enjoy the summer.

Soldier on my man!

Thanks guys for those kind words. :tiphat:

I haven't updated this thread on my progress mostly because the progress has not been great.
My dedicated Facebook page did received some new info since I updated here.

After I completed the HR ECU wiring to act alone with the VHR ECU.
The idle tune and light part throttle setting were pretty good which opened the green light for some dyno tuning.

Same kind of stories as the first time in May, after a couple hours another hiccup happened after we were at the 7000rpm tuning mark.
We got some issue with the Maf Voltage reading which in the end made us stop the tuning for a second time this year.
Back at the shop, part of that Maf voltage has been figured out but it is still reading about 0.3v to 0.5v difference at idle and WOT, which isnt great.

Ive done quite a bit of troubleshoot on this issue and cannot figure out why the passenger side is reading quite offset than the driver side.
Tried switching MAF sensor, no change.
Tried spare MAF sensor, no change.
Tried exchanging the opposite intake tube, no change.
Researched for leak, nothing found.
Installed the stock Throttle body, no change.
Disconnected the intake tube from the intercooler, no change.
Looked at and redone the ground connections and fuses, no change.
Went through the troubleshoot from the FSM, everything is in spec.

soo,,,,, Ive been pissed off at the Z and haven't really touched it very much.

Im defiantly spending $$ on a true standalone ECU by the next couple months. This is gonna be a new beginning which I am already excited about.
Vi-Pec brand has been discontinued and was replaced by Links G4+ Extreme Black edition.


https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...30639631_o.jpg

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...41072995_o.jpg

On a side note,

yes I will have my Pro Cable for sale once I get my hand on the new ECU.

The Pro Cable is the one with everything activated on it (VVEL / Knock / NATS / some other stuff...) !!!
It wont be sold to a no name on this forum for sure....

Big Update ! a new standalone ECU has been ordered ! I guess I will have to look who could be interested into a Uprev Pro Cable, not that cheap Tuner Cable version with limited function.

OEM HR & VHR Ecu will be ditched and thrown into the garbage can... unless someone is interested into them, hehe

First task of my vacation was to finish the installation/fitting of my new diffuser and rear bumper skin... this wasn't an easy job as everything needs to be removed installed back without problem at the track which mean everything had to fit perfectly. Next job is to finish the under body but no picture of this will be posted as i have shown enough of the aero soo far hehe.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...9d&oe=563DAA32


Im sure someone ever wondered how looks the interior of the intake manifold.

There it is !
Who really need an intake manifold anyway?.... yeah i cut away my old one that was half way modified for a twin 75mm TB setup that i was making in the beginning of 2012 before i blew up the VHR engine.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...2d&oe=56438B1E


:stirthepot:
Last,. Im waiting on rules clarification for the next setup! It should be a very interesting setup.

hey guys,,

for those who do follow my built or the new guys, there is a bunch of posts that are missing a lot of pictures.
I am no longer paying for this site for some reason and with the very limited pictures quantity allowed, a lot are now gone.

Everything is posted on my dedicated Facebook page ( One Man Team Motorsport )



THe built isnt dead yet and with the crashing of our CAN to US dollars, the purchase of parts has been very limited but the new setup is taking form slowly.

This where it is sitting at this moment!
A teaser shot of the new setup.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...88805546_o.jpg

nice

Strange, I was just thinking about you and your build this morning. :tup: