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Terranismo Profile
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Date Registered: 10-2004
Location: Panama
TOTAL POSTS: 46
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Installed New Engine Mods


Well on Saturday I took my Exy to a friend (who is also a certified Nissan technician) to install my cold air intake, header, and knock sensor relocation.

During the first week of owning the Exy I did a research on common problems with the MA80 transmision and QR25DE engine. I found that the most common problem with the engine was a desintegrating catalic converter, and an over sensitive knock sensor. The transmision is pretty much sound and not as problematic as the MA80 6 speed found in other Nissans.

I spoke to my dealer and had them remove the secondary cat from the stock exhaust manifold. This was to prevent the detonation issue. The same week I went back to have my engine timing advanced with the help of the Nissan Consult. Timing on our Exyies is set to rich from the factory (14 degrees in my truck's case), so I had it advanced to the maximum 17 degrees. The engine does rev quicker now than it did before and gas consumption actually went down.

Next I had a local muffler shop design a straight, mandrel bent exhaust system made out of 2.5 inch piping. This replaces the stock Exy's 2 1/4 piping which is kind of restrictive on an engine this big. To eliminate the primary cat (which is located underneath the car after the exhaust manifold), I had a downpipe constructed in the same 2.5 inch width. I'm currently running with no cats and only one 32 inch exhaust resonator. The truck does not soot, and the only downside is a higher sound from the exhaust, and slight backfiring under downshifting (which is normal in these engines even with a stock exhaust).

This month I received a SS Autochrome header I bought on Ebay U.S.A. The header is a 4 to 1 design, made out of stainless steel. It was originally designed for the Sentra Spec V and Altima 4 cilinder in the American market, but it fits our trucks with a slight modification. The header has to oxygen sensor bung holes of which one has to be plugged in the Exy (we only have one O2 sensor). I decided to put the sensor on the lower bung next to the downpipe and have not exeperienced any problems or a SES light since running with it.

For instalation you need to remove the alternator, alternator bracket, and coolant tank to gain access to the bolt holding the stock exhaust manifold in place. To loosen these bolts I recommend having a breaker bar handy since it makes it so much easier. The header bolts right up to the engine block and existing exhaust, the only modification needed being the bung hole plug on the first hole.

We next installed the AEM cold air intake. It is made of 3 inch, resonance tuned tubing with silicone couplers and a reusable cone filter. For this you need to remove your stock airbox. Leave the small inlet piece next to the hood latch mechanism. If you take it out you will not have a place to rest the engine hood propping rod. The intake is actually two tubes hold together by the couplers. You need to fit the straight tube from the throttle body, add you stock tubing piece where the sensors are located with couplers, and then with the remaining coupler add the second tube. This tube is aimed downwards underneath the battery. Their is a hole in the fender through which the tubing has to pass and the filter is screwed on to. The filter is located just underneath the battery and on top of the inner fender liner. It's a good distance from the ground so it will not soak in rainy days (only if you go creek crossing like Basshead)=D.

We then relocated the knock sensor. The reaosn I relocated mine was because after the new exhaust and downpipe were installed the sensor started to interpret the sound as engine pinging. It would then retard my timing up to -4 degrees making surging aceleration and slowing down my truck. The only thing needed for this mod is a 2 feet piece of ground cable with two end prongs. The knock sensor is located on the engine block. You have to unscrew it, add a bolt with a prong from the gorunding cable to the stcok locating, and later bolt the sensor with the other prong to the firewall. What you are doing is effectively grounding the sensor making it less sensitive so it does not retard timing.

I still have two more parts to install. I purchased a set of polyurethane engine mount inserts from Energy Suspension. These are intended for the Spec V but I'll see if they can be made to work with the Exy's mounts. I also have an extra throttle body which I sent to be ported 4-5mm in a crosshatch design.

The truck runs especially hard now, even with 4 people on board it easily chirps 2nd gear and sometimes even thirdemoticon I took it to a local dragstrip stock and it ran a mid 16 second 1/4 mile so I'm wondering what it will run now. Top speed has gone up slightly to 197km/h (remember I'm using taller tires than stock so the speed is actually much higher). Also fuel consumption has been mantained emoticon

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2003 X-Trail S/T AWD 5-Speed: E/DP/TA/KS/I/H/MMI/TB/BSR
Pics Here!
*"Nismo" Reservoir Covers, Oil Cap, & Oil Catch Can on the way*
10/Nov/2004, 4:29 am Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message
 
jalalski Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re: Installed New Engine Mods


Thanks for a very detailed description of the mods Terranismo. It's great.

Can you give us an idea how much it cost you all-up to do this?

I'm also not sure if these parts are available in Australia, will have to check.

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10/Nov/2004, 1:12 pm Link to this post Send Private Message MSN Blog
 
Terranismo Profile
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Date Registered: 10-2004
Location: Panama
TOTAL POSTS: 46
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Re: Installed New Engine Mods


Sure Jalal, here's the list (in U.S. dollars):

Stock exhaust manifold with gutted catalic converter: $0.00

Timing advance & raised engine idle with Nissan Consult II: $3.00 (tip to Nissan technician)

2.5 inch downpipe & 2.5 inch straight exhaust with resonator: $80.00

Exhaust canister with 3 inch inlet and 5 inch outlet in stainless steel: $75.00

SS Autochrome header bought off Ebay: $99.00 ($125.00 with shipping)

AEM cold air intake bough used of a Nissan forum: $100.00 shipped

Knock sensor grounding wire: $2.50

Energy Suspension motor mount inserts bough used off Ebay: $27.50 shipped

Throttle body ported crosshatched 5mm: Free, porting job is costing $35.00 shipped

Labor costs for header, cold air intake, and knock sensor grounding: $60.00

Total costs: $508.00

I'm planning for later this month (or the next depending on funds) to get the JWT balance shaft remover kit, a lighter crank pulley, flywheel, and intake manifold gasket.



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2003 X-Trail S/T AWD 5-Speed: E/DP/TA/KS/I/H/MMI/TB/BSR
Pics Here!
*"Nismo" Reservoir Covers, Oil Cap, & Oil Catch Can on the way*
10/Nov/2004, 2:16 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message
 
basshead Profile
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X-TRAIL HOLIC
 


Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: Panania, Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 2852
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Re: Installed New Engine Mods


Terranismo...

Not sure if you're in Oz or US, but in Oz, it's highly illegal to remove, gut, or by-pass the catalytic converters (just to warn others that might be considering similar mod's).

Mod's sound great, and are usually the first mod's done by most people (extractors and air intake)... Did you happen to get any dyno (also known as "rolling road", depending where you live) readings done before and after each of the mod's?

I expected low to mid 16 second quarter-mile times from a stock X-Trail - I'm still waiting to get my g-tech back from a mate so I can do some testing of my X-Trail (and compare it to my moderately modified pulsar (sr20de which had 100kW @ wheels), which I estimate had similar power to a stock X-Trail). My pulsar was about 150-200kg lighter than the X-Trail (after all the aftermarket suspension, exhaust etc, and sound-deadening had been added). Best quarter I did in it was just under 16 seconds, but theoretically it should've been in the high 14's or low 15's - I hadn't had enough practice launching it... The new owner (who apparently drives it hard all the time) plans to take it to WSID (our local legal drag strip) one day, so I'll hopefully find out what it's really capable of...


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Rich. X-013(c)
'04 S2 ST Auto. Nudge_roofracks_tow_tints_Lightforce_GME_YokoGeoA/T-S_TBS_bashplate_50mm-spacer-lift
Click here to see >300MB of photos and videos All For His Glory.
10/Nov/2004, 4:30 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message MSN Yahoo Blog
 
Terranismo Profile
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Date Registered: 10-2004
Location: Panama
TOTAL POSTS: 46
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Re: Installed New Engine Mods


Rich I live in Central America (the Republic of Panama to be exact). Emission testing and enforcement is practically nonexistent here.

The nearest dyno is literally one country away located in Costa Rica. So I have not been able to test out horsepower increases relying instead on my "butt dyno." emoticon

When I ran the Exy at the track I was running the 17 inch tires and wheels. My best run was with a botched 2nd gear change. I beat the other car out of the line (Nissan 200SX SE-R SR20DE with 50 shot of nitrous) and had more than 2 cars lengths on him. I botched the gear change, he passed me and managed a 16 flat 1/4 mile, so theoretically (since I was catching up at the end of the 1/4) the Exy is a low 16 second/high 15 second stock truck.

Lets see what time I'll hit with these new mods and a switch to 15 inch steelies with R compound tires.

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2003 X-Trail S/T AWD 5-Speed: E/DP/TA/KS/I/H/MMI/TB/BSR
Pics Here!
*"Nismo" Reservoir Covers, Oil Cap, & Oil Catch Can on the way*
10/Nov/2004, 5:29 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message
 
basshead Profile
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X-TRAIL HOLIC
 


Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: Panania, Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 2852
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Re: Installed New Engine Mods


just out of interest, is yours a 4WD-capable x-trail like ours (I know there are 2WD-only variants available overseas), and if so, do you leave it in AUTO mode for the quarter runs on the track?



---
Rich. X-013(c)
'04 S2 ST Auto. Nudge_roofracks_tow_tints_Lightforce_GME_YokoGeoA/T-S_TBS_bashplate_50mm-spacer-lift
Click here to see >300MB of photos and videos All For His Glory.
10/Nov/2004, 9:52 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message MSN Yahoo Blog
 
Terranismo Profile
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Date Registered: 10-2004
Location: Panama
TOTAL POSTS: 46
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Re: Installed New Engine Mods


I have a 2003 S/T AWD. I have to run it always on AUTO since in 2WD it just spins the front tires all the way through 2nd gear. emoticon The 1/4 mile passes were run in AUTO launching at only 2000rpm. I've already practiced launching at redline (6500rpm) and the truck has minimum slippage.

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2003 X-Trail S/T AWD 5-Speed: E/DP/TA/KS/I/H/MMI/TB/BSR
Pics Here!
*"Nismo" Reservoir Covers, Oil Cap, & Oil Catch Can on the way*
11/Nov/2004, 8:08 am Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message
 
Revhead Kev Profile
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Date Registered: 10-2006
Location: Mona Vale, Sydney, AUSTRALIA
TOTAL POSTS: 6355
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Re: Installed New Engine Mods


quote:

Terranismo wrote:
We then relocated the knock sensor. The reaosn I relocated mine was because after the new exhaust and downpipe were installed the sensor started to interpret the sound as engine pinging. It would then retard my timing up to -4 degrees making surging aceleration and slowing down my truck.



This sounds very interesting. emoticon
I have some surging acceleration in the 2000-3000rpm band and was wondering if it was a dirty throttle body or dirty MAF sensor.

Any ideas ? emoticon

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Kev X450(c) T30 Guru
03 Titanium Ti T30 Series 1 **MODIFIED**
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1/Mar/2007, 10:44 am Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 
jalalski Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re: Installed New Engine Mods


Admin Note:

This thread has now been moved to "Performance & Tuning" as it was incorrectly positioned in another forum section.

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1/Mar/2007, 12:07 pm Link to this post Send Private Message MSN Blog
 


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