Got It Goin' On
Nissan's Zed - is there a more respected Japanese sports car on Earth?
The latest shape is pushing ten years of age now, but despite that it still looks fresh. Its low, swoopy lines and the tastefully curved contours make it one of the most svelte hi-tech muscle cars ever. And the twin turbo 300ZX really is a modern muscle car. With a factory rated 276hp whollop in the Japanese guise, the VG30DETT engine is relatively under stressed - which makes it perfect for the aftermarket enthusiast.
Just ask Sam Bryce of Dallas, USA.
He bought this '91 model car back in 1993 and has thrown a heap of go-faster goodies its way. Enough to bag 400hp on 17psi boost! He's replaced the factory exhaust with a HKS cat-back system and also installed "test pipes" (pipes that replace the standard cats). A JWT (Jim Wolf Technology) Dual Pop air filter, polished manifold, dual Stillen intercoolers, and an APEX'i boost controller working with JWT Sport 500 turbos now hypes up the air intake system. A JWT ECU and bigger RC555cc injectors provide the necessary extra fuelling. Thanks go out to SGP in Houston, Texas for the turbo and injector swap.
Other driveline mods include an aluminium flywheel with a Kevlar/bronze clutch, an Unorthodox Racing underdrive pulley and ceramic-coated exhaust manifolds. Helping to slow the rush is a pair of Powerslot front rotors, which hide behind slick 17-inch OZ Monte Carlo rims.
Inside the factory's cockpit style interior you can listen to tunes through a Kenwood PS-907 head unit, Precision Power PC-450 amp and 5¼ inch MB Quart splits front and rear. But you won't notice the GReddy turbo timer, APEX'i boost controller or the GReddy boost gauge - 'cause you'll be busy hanging on! Four hundred horse power at the wheels has that effect. But now we'll tell you about Sam's plans for JWT's NOS spool-up kit, worked heads, cams and bottom end...INSANE!
See this twin turbo Zed and others at http://www.twinturbo.net/
Cappuccino Addiction
Suzuki's cheekiest car, the Cappuccino is a 100% attention grabber. Just ask David Benson who was sitting in the middle of a M25 traffic jam and spied one of these rare-in-the-UK Suzies. Instantly he knew he had to have one, and eventually after much searching he brought a red M-reg home to his garage.
Then the fiddle factor kicked in, and the 660cc DOHC turbo motor was in danger! Firstly, the 145km/h Japanese speed limiter was disabled and a front strut brace was also bolted into the engine bay. A 2¼ inch stainless exhaust system got the nod and as well as releasing more poke, it also gave a great "soundtrack". The intake to the turbo comprises Samco silicone hoses and a Piper Cross air filter. The turbo is a bigger IHI RHB31FW device pumping in some more cfm through polished intercooler pipes. But to keep up with the increased airflow, bigger injectors and an N2 ECU squirt in the right amount more juice.
David then hooked up with the SCORE club (Suzuki Cappuccino Owners Register for Enthusiasts) and found himself being able to source the M70CAP plates which are a nice touch. Then 15 x 6.5 MIM Brescia 2s went into the limited space under the guards, and wear 195/45 Yokohama 520s. Brakes were next on the agenda. The front discs (the same as Swift non-GTi's) were improved with Black Diamond grooved and cross drilled items, while the rear remains stock.
Plans for the future include an increase in swept capacity, water injection, around 1.3 Bar (19psi) boost and hopefully abound 140hp.
Go to http://homepages.tig.com.au/~pickles/links.html to see this and a few other mouth-scorching cappus.
Injected and Perfected
Sam Auld of Adelaide has owned this 1983 Series 2 Mazda RX-7 for about one-and-a-half years and has developed it from an absolute stocker to a very neat, practical and quick street car.
Under the long bonnet is Mazda's faithful 13B twin-rotor motor but with the advantage of programmable EFI. Sam bought the Japanese import engine minus its computer and loom and went straight for a Haltech F9 fuel-only computer, combined with a conventional Mazda electronic ignition system. Using MAP sensing to determine airflow, there's no pressure drop through an airflow meter and there's a K&N air filter inside the nose cone to make sure the intake is really loose.
Inside the engine is stock, but with a custom set of extractors and a 2½ inch Exhaust Technology system, there is terrific breathing. Enough to produce an easy 118kW at the wheels, which is enough to make a real sleeper out of this non-turbo'd '7. A 26-spline Series 3 rear axle gives the car vented rear discs, while there is currently an LSD centre on its way.
Inside is an Alpine CD/tuner, a BBE to control sound imaging and frequencies, plus Alpine V12 and Precision Power amplifiers. A pair of JL 10-inch subs in the storage area produce plenty of bass, while at the front there's a pair of Alpine 6½ inch and 5¼ inch splits. Sparco Pro 2000 seats offer unparalleled body support while there is a Momo Club 3 steering wheel, and full carbon fibre centre console insert to round out the interior make-over.
The body is in immaculate stock condition, except for the 16-inch Performance rims wearing extra hi-po S02 tyres at the front and 215/40 Falken GRBs at the rear. Sam has intentions of going for a fully-built up tubo conversion sometime in the future, but for now he has to thank Marky at ET, Blackwood Tyre Power, REVS, MRE and Tonkin's Car Audio.
An Illusion Performed With Miras
Shaun La Franco of New Zealand is a lucky man. Working in conjunction with Daihatsu NZ, he's embarking on a major development project that should see his 4WD turbo Mira into some sort of hall of fame.
Being a 1996 model TRX-X Avantzato R4, the little K-car weighs half of bugger-all, but has the factory's 660cc JB-JL 4-cylinder 16-valve EFI
intercooled turbo motor under its little bonnet. Okay, even with its 64hp
regulation power output it isn't going to smash any records but rest assured
there are huge plans for the wee tot. Shaun says first of all he'll fit the
car out with height-adjustable struts and a set of 15 x 6 rims (maybe
requiring some extensive panel massaging). After that he and Daihatsu will
be entirely focused on the two-thirds of a litre engine.
A straight-through exhaust, MoTeC M4 Pro programmable engine management, aftermarket blow-off valve, big front mounted intercooler and maybe even twin turbos (cough, splutter!) will find their way into the equation. The goal is for around 150hp, which we reckon should be achievable with enough turbo hardware to force in plenty of boost. All wheel drive, twin turbos, programmable injection combined with the Mira's feather weight - sounds like there's a new performance recipe being a-cooked over there in New Zealand!
See the mighty Mira in its development at http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Pit/7329
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