Infiniti FX Owners Forum (The Org)

Started this thread to document the engine mods I have completed in preparation for my Forced Induction install. Over the last couple years I have been modding system by system, with the future goal of having each system work with a turbo application.

Engine & drivetrain mods to my FX:

Stillen CAI
Spectre chrome tube
Motordyne 5/16" plenum spacer
Painted plenum, Techflex on harness, Polished Throttle Body
Saikou oil catch
Stillen Catback exhaust
Fluidampr crank pulley
Lightweight accessory pulleys
Samco coolant hoses
Transmission clutch pack upgrade
Transmission cooler
Transgo Shift kit
Torque Converter modification (higher stall)


Engine Bay

Great progress !

+1 Keep it up!

Nice tips, and nice red!

Ok - next up, longblock engine build. Going through my installer, I ordered machine work and forged internals for a core-swapped block.

All parts are in house and the block is done at the machine shop tomorrow.

Wiseco Pistons .020 over
Eagle/SCAT H Beam Rods
ARP Rod Bolts
Block inspected and cleaned
Block redecked
Block Bored and Honed using a Torque Plate
Rotating assembly balanced
Crank magnafluxed and the journals micro-polished
New Moly coated Race Spec main bearings installed
New Moly coated Race Spec rod bearings installed
Block prepped and assembled
New OEM VQ35HR Head Gaskets
Heads inspected and cleaned
Heads redecked
Ported exhaust and intake runners
3 angle valve job
New OEM Valve stem seals installed
Valve Stem Heights set
Cold Clearance set for stock cams
Heads prepped and assembled
New OEM Rev-up Oil Pump
Heads bolted to block and torqued to spec



The new longblock package will be swapped into my FX next week - pictures to follow.

SWEET! BTW, did you look into any COSWORTH parts? I've heard they make a few parts designed for the VQ but not sure about pricing... assuming it's WAY more expensive than almost anyone else's parts...

I did! Yes, Cosworth everything is good stuff, but also priced at a premium. My installer suggested the parts based on his experience and my build goals.

I think if I were swapping out the 5AT for a Manual and building the motor for 600-800whp, then Cosworth might make more sense. But since I'm limited to my weak link automatic transmission, tuning to anything more than 450 is just going to fry it, even built the way it is.

So the parts on the list were considered because 1) the installer has used them on higher horsepower builds with continued success and 2) they are less expensive and come with the installer's warranty. If I find, purchase and provide my own parts - he won't warranty them. Though I'm sure if I requested Cosworth parts, that wouldn't be a problem.

Of course if you have personal knowledge of bad performance or failures of any of the parts on my list - by all means let me know!

Visiting the shop tomorrow with a camera. Built motor should be going in soon...

Nope... I'm just a dumb@$$ with LOTS of questions... hoping to do something similar in the future so I'll be following this thread with lots of interest Turbo's thread too, but that's in a COMPLETELY different league...

I've just read up about COSWORTH stuff and not really seen anyone (in an FX forum) actually spend the extra $$$ to use their parts and expertise... the ONLY part from them that I could POSSIBLY afford right now would be their plenum... I think they make a CF one that's just BEAUTIFUL...

GL with your build... I'm sure it's gonna come out REALLY nice!

Thanks! Yeah I'm pretty jazzed up about it all.

That Cosworth plenum is beautiful, I agree. Definitely expensive though - I think it might be the most expensive plenum for the VQ on the market - except for that front-feed plenum I've seen only a couple times. But the plenum you are talking about has only carbon fiber covers on either side. The core is still aluminum. There is an option to buy it plain or polished for a couple hundred bucks more. I've seen it on a couple FXs - Rookie and another guy here in Houston that has a blower.

Yeah - turbo's thread is totally different. He did (is doing) a full out engine swap. With as complicated as it is, he could have "just as easily" dropped in a domestic motor, lol.

I'm finding the parts are important of course, but the most important thing about installing Forced Induction into a car that didn't come with it is the EMS and the tune. You gotta go with your installer's knowledge base or risk his figuring out a new system on your car. When I first started all my research, I had settled on the ProEFI EMS, but here in Houston the shops don't have experience with that. Seems around here the Haltech is the gold standard so I gotta go with it. As long as the tuner knows what he is doing it should all work out. Just gotta have faith, lol.

Viet has a full cosworth engine in his fx now, that's a cosworth block & cosworth heads, along with of course the cosworth intake which is just like the cherry on top at that point cosworth makes many parts for the VQ, heads, block, cams etc... all crazy expensive but also all high end racing stuff. I think Viet's engine can stay together at 900hp & better even...

I agree with jumbo though, that to try & make a really stupid amount of power in the average fx is almost pointless because you will never even be able to use it without destroying the drivetrain... Viet is a RWD & he did swap out to a 6 speed stick shift tranny, he also upgraded the diff & axles, drive shaft & stuff to allow him to really go out & push over 600hp, but the average AWD automatic trans FX has no chance of getting away with that, so to build much past 5-550 wouldn't do you much good anyway...

& I also agree with brad that the tune is EVERYTHING.... even a strong motor with a bad tune can grenade itself, where a mediocre engine can survive to it's limits if tuned well... the tune, it's all in the tune... detonation is evil when your talking FI, & one little slip or misjudgment can cause catastrophic failure real quick when an engine is under boost & under stress that goes way beyond the stress it could ever see had it just been NA... it is up to the tune itself to make sure that detonation & pre ignition does not occur, & then it is also up to the driver to be able to monitor & be aware & also not let the engine run all the way to the point of detonation... monitoring & gages are very important when you start to really push VE's way over 100% with FI...

Yeah... I know... I tried to tell this to my little cousin... he bought some gauges but was too lazy to install them OR get a tune... finally, one nice fall day with all his bolt-ons... BOOM... bye-bye engine... it was a modified Mazdaspeed 3...

The build kicks off! Stopped by Powerfab today and took a couple of photos. The assembled longblock package with rev-up oil pump, HR head gaskets & the pathfinder cooling modification:







And the teardown:

Cool!

+1... Looks GREAT! I love the look of a clean block after they've done all the work on it...

Was hoping I would have some pictures for today but my camera battery was dead. The shop promised to send me some photos so I'll post as I have them.

The siliver ceramic coated timing cover with black caps are due back to the shop today. Yesterday I saw the fresh block had received the upper oil pan with a oil return fitting welded in (rather than using a tapped spacer). The cylinder runners are mounted and the OEM GTR 550cc injectors and CJM fuel rails installed. Walboro 255 installed in the tank.

All the coolant hardpipes have been removed & lightly modded. The pathfinder cooling manifold was removed and all of these metal coolant parts are getting the black ceramic coating. I like the idea of the entire coolant system being black. And all wire harnesses are getting a carbon-colored techflex cover. I started covering the OEM harness just for fun before the build, so I have extra techflex material I'm bringing in to the shop. I like it much better than the wire loom material.

All of the OEM motor sensors have been cleaned and swapped in to the new block. Now that the timing cover should be in today, the motor will be completed and mated to the transmission by the end of the week.

Pictures arrived!

Injectors, fuel rail & runners assembled to the engine:


Fuel pump shown is now in the tank:


Upper oil pan on the block:


Should be getting more updates tomorrow.

nice stuff.. it's like assembling a model car, with more skills only.

Awesome... this thread is so much fun to follow... thanks for sharing your experience with us!

What all these parts are and do is way beyond my level of understanding, but I am enjoying following the process and pictures!!!

The parts out for powdercoating came back today and I snapped a couple pix. Engine should get assembled and back into the car by the end of the week.



The timing cover was done in silver as well - but not shown here:


The coolant system is all black, including the pathfinder coolant manifold:

I could talk forever about these photos, but instead I'll just let them do the talking.

Shop visit again yesterday. Just a few updates -

Fuel system is done - Walboro in the tank, new fuel lines routed to the bay:





Coolant hoses are being moved to avoid the turbo heat. Here's a good shot of the cross-over coolant hose. This replaces the Samco hose there previously:



And here's the exhaust manifold mated up to the cross pipe:



And the merge collector and up-pipe. This will be extended to the turbo location:



Looking forward to the next visit - should be a big change under the hood from this:

WOW... I don't even want to know how much you are spending on this.

Stopped by today after the shop worked a full couple of days since my last visit. Can't believe what I'm going home with soon.







Hot side should be done with just a little bit more work. Next up is the cold side + intercooler.

Beautiful snail!