Project-T: Off to Boostworx!

Off to Boostworx! The team there will take good care of the monster fitting the last of the turbo kit! Can't wait to see the results!

This'll be my last post for the 2012 so stay tune next year for the completion of the build!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!!

Project-T: Install Anyway!

Boostworx is booked for the big stuff! I'm hoping they could fit the turbo in place by drilling new holes or fabricating a new pipe. So let's get on to all the other little jobs that needs to be installed anyway!

It was to keep the rabbits out: Emperor Nasi Goreng!

via The Inspiration Room

Let's keep things positive and think about fried rice ^__^

If you live in Australia you must of heard about Emperor Nasi Goreng! If you haven't, head on over to The Inspiration Room and check out their creative archive. Well, the Emperor built the Great Wall of China to keep the rabbits out. Those pesky wabbits. But this post isn't about rabbits or the Great Wall, but rather an Emperor of all Nasi Gorengs!

Project-T: Turbo Trial Fit

After the pain and agony of removing the factory exhaust headers, I can now start trial fitting the turbo and manifold!

Project-T: Disassembly - Part 2

The easy dis-assembly stuff has been done. Now on to the more difficult parts! ... When I say difficult I mean, annoying. By annoying, I mean a pain in the ass.

Dumpling and Noodle House: Yangzhou Fried Rice

On gourmet Gouger Street in the City of Churches, just across from the famous Central Markets and Chinatown, a little place called 'Dumpling and Noodle House' is a place where you can find a meal, for cheap.

We've been going to this place since it was established, what, four or five years ago, but since then, quality has been steadily deteriorating. They used to have thermos filled with tea; complimentary for all patrons and always had an array of condiments including a traditional chili paste, vinegar and soy. But gone are the tea and the paste; which have now been substituted with dried chili in oil... Ah I digress.

Today I've decided to try their Yangzhou Fried Rice!

Project-T: Disassembly - Part 1

Waah! It's been awhile huh! Lots been happening..! New responsibilities at work... Car going crazy (stay tuned!)... Getting married ^__^... So let's get back into it!

Project-T dis-assembly starts NOW!

Tuning: AEM FIC Calibration

 
The AEM FIC is installed, software and firmware updated and I've updated the fuel map! Now onto calibration! The FIC will have all the appropriate signals from the factory computer, but it has no reference point. By calibrating the FIC, it provides confidence that at a specific signal level from the sensors provide an expected observed output (to a precise degree).

Tuning: New Injectors, Stock Motor

Now that the injectors are installed and FIC software/firmware updated, it's probably a good time to adjust the fuel map for the new injectors.

Tuning: AEM FIC Firmware and Setup

All the electricals is pretty much done, so now I wanna start setting up the FIC so I can control the new injectors!

Before we can start tuning, it's a good idea to flash (reprogram) the FIC with a fresh copy of the latest or the recommended firmware for your car. Also, look out for the latest tuning software as developers sometimes fixes bugs and update it with new features!

Level-Up! 2AZFE Injectors and Iridium Spark Plugs

Whoo! I've been busy! After installing the AEM FIC, gauges and LC-1, its time to install the new injectors... and while I'm at it, I'll install the new Iridium Spark Plugs as well!

Project-T: Innovate Motorsports LC-1 Installation

Surprise!! Long time no see!

I got a bit side tracked with blogging earlier in the year, but I'm back on track now! As a little sneaky peak, yes.. She's built! But don't worry! All the details on build up of the monster egg will be online as soon as I write it!

Without further ado... Let's get the Innovate Motorsports LC-1 Installed!

Project-T: Gauges Install

Alright! The kit is sorted! My gauges have been selected and has arrived! While installing the AEM FIC, I've went ahead and installed the gauges! Efficient!

Project-T: AEM FIC Install

The kit has been sorted as well as the ancillary equipment! Before installing and running the turbo, it's a good idea to sort out the AEM FIC first to capture 'stock' data for comparison and tuning purposes!

TECH: ScanGauge II

Previously I talked about getting a multi-display gauge to help monitor the health of the car and motor. One awesome little tech that I found was the ScanGauge!

Project-T Parts: Part 3 - Monitoring Equipment

Alright! You've got your kit and compensating equipment to balance your car to its new performance system model. What next?

Well, it's always a great idea to monitor your setup, especially for forced induction. One method in monitoring your monster is to setup a few gauges!

Project-T Parts: Part 2 - Compensating Equipment

Alright! So the turbo and computer is sorted, considering the Yin and Yang, I'll need compensating equipment!

Project-T Parts: Part 1 - Turbo Kit and ECU

Now that I've chosen to go down the turbine path, the kit that I am after is the Zage Turbosystem Inc Yaris turbo kit! Complete with the Zage TD04H-15G-6 Turbo, manifold, oil pan, Blow-off Valve (BOV) and all the pipes and fittings needed to make the thing work.

The turbo isn't too bad. Oil and watercooled, the TD04H is a little bit bigger than the smaller T3 turbos but smaller than the TD05 Mitsubishi EVO turbos. The turbine pushes about 430 CFM to a max power gain of about 200HP. It also features an internal wastegate that actuates at about 0.5 bar (about 7.25 psi). Not too bad. For the size, it matches the 1.5L 1NZFE motor quite well.

Now for the Engine Control Unit (ECU)....

NanYang Cafe - Nasi Goreng

  

Ahh, NanYang Cafe, a favourite for surprisingly authentic Malaysian cuisine! Today I'm up for their Nasi Goreng!

TECH: NACA / NASA Duct

via Password:JDM

Let's take a quick detour from the Echo and have a look at on my (other) favourite cars right now, the Nissan GTR.

A cool feature of the GTR is the twin vents/scoops on the bonnet. Ever wonder what they are?

Supercharger or Turbo oh noe!

Since buying the Echo I've had my heart set on the BLITZ Supercharger.

After reading numerous forums and reviews, it turns out TRUST/GReddy also do a supercharger but they also bundle their e-Manage piggyback Engine Control Unit (ECU) with it! The BLITZ Supercharger has its own little ECU box but is not as tunable as the e-Manage so I switched my sights to the GReddy supercharger! But...

The Pursuit of Performance - Part 2

Previously, weight reduction was discussed as a method of improving an automobile's performance. So how else can we better move the weight? Improve the motor! Let's look at how (in general) a motor works.

The Pursuit of Performance - Part 1

Tuners out there are in an eternal pursuit of performance! So many elements, big and tiny, affect an automobile's capacity to accelerate faster, run further and be more efficient. So let's take a look at what affects the car's power and it's ability to use it!

Modification Harmony (Yin and Yang)

I've talked about whether or not to boost in a previous post and perhaps I might elaborate on the consequences and compensations of modifications.

A lot of people think that modifying a car from it's original design (without compensating its effects) will always better for the car. I believe this isn't the case.

Fried Rice: Sinangag

As promised, here's the first of many fried rice related articles! So, let's start with something super simple!

To Boost or not to Boost?

Ever since owning a car I've been wondering whether I should boost it or keep it Naturally Aspirated (NA). Boosting is the pressurisation of the intake (boost pressure) to force more air (forced induction) into the motor to increase the motor's power output (through combustion). NA is simply that, the natural aspiration of the motor without forced induction.

The main reason for boosting is for more power. As more air is available for combustion, the motor can create more power when the correct amonut of fuel and timing is applied.

But there are also some hinderances including but not limited to:

Echo Sportivo Inspiration - YASHIO Factory

via Super Street Online

One of my inspirations to purchase an Echo Sportivo is the YASHIO Facotry's Vitz RS!

I first saw their touge (mountain pass racing) spec in Best MOTORing International Volume 7: The EVO Strikes Back! in Touge Showdown 3 - Touge 200 Class. Boosted with a Blitz Supercharger and decked out with YASHIO Factory goodies, the Vitz made a surprising performance package!

Fried Rice, BANZAI!

Okay okay, I do apologise for misleading some visitors who may have thought that this blog is about fried rice, instead of me, Fried Rice... Luckily, I love cooking as I do cooking motors (of course not, but you know what I mean)!

Fried rice is simply that, fried rice! It's usually tossed with a number of flavour enhancing ingredients from vegetables, fruit, fish, meat to poultry. It can be savoury or even sweet! There are so many combinations you can make with fried rice!

As time goes by, I'll post a few fried rice recipes that I've tried or heard about!

So after a hard days work tinkering with your tech (no, not that tech), cap the day off with the fresh sizzle of fried rice!

The Monster Egg: Echo Sportivo

My first car was a Toyota Paseo. Once I saved up enough money for an aftermarket exhaust kit another fellow driver failed to give way and I was forced to bid farewell to my automotive cherry popper.

A huge shadow loomed over... Enter the naturally aspirated R33 Nissan Skyline GTS. An entry level R33 sports coupe lacking the doubled edged sword that is the High Capactiy Actively Controlled Steering (HICAS). It drove like a beast. It felt like a tank. After fitting an aftermarket Xforce exhaust, it turned heads to say the least. But after awhile, costs seemed to stack. Fuel was getting expensive, maintenance grew and after focasting my budget; a lot of the costs came from the car...

So I was in the market of something more economical.. But I didn't want to lose the joy of zipping in a sports car. The first few cars that came to mind was the Toyota Starlet GT, Suzuki Swift GTi and the Toyota Echo Sportivo. I wanted something different. I wanted a sleeper. A car that looks totally pedestrian but under the hood a samurai. The Starlet GT and Swift GTI were crossed from the list.

After doing some research on potential mods that you can do to an Echo, it made my choice clearer and clearer. One major aftermarket part that caught my eye at the time was the Blitz Supercharger. Could you imagine a supercharged Echo? How unique would it be!