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Tag: Engines

  • Designed to Dig: Torsten’s 2009 Nissan Alpha Performance GT-R is Designed to Hit Low 8’s

    Designed to Dig: Torsten’s 2009 Nissan Alpha Performance GT-R is Designed to Hit Low 8’s

    Many people dream of being able to cross the quarter mile line in under ten seconds, and now most days with enough determination and work you can make it happen. However, things start to change beyond that.

     

    Torsten came to us with one of the greatest platforms for attempting the feat of a monster quarter mile time, a 2009 Nissan GT-R, and an ambitious goal, to design and create a car that is both daily drivable and able to achieve a quarter mile time in the low 8 second range. We were happy to oblige him and take on this project.

     

    2009 Nissan GT-R

     

    Our Performance Consultation team met with Torsten to create a game plan to make his dream of an 8-second daily a reality. It’s always a pleasure to work out the vision with our clients.  With Torsten wanting the best of both worlds, a daily driver with a blistering quarter mile time, our build team began from the bare bones. The VR38DETT was pulled from the bay and was replaced with an Alpha Performance 3.8L Short Block to create a near bulletproof base with 1000hp+ potential for this monster daily. 

     

     

    Topped with a Boost Logic V2 intake manifold with 12 Injector Dynamics ID1050x injectors, ported heads from HeadGames Motorworks were installed along with Stage-2 camshafts from Kelford Cams and a GSC valvetrain to finish up the top end with strength and durability. 

    To crank up the boost, the stock turbos were replaced with quick spooling Extreme Turbo Systems G-Series GTX3582R Gen-2 Turbochargers. 

    Alpha Performance also supplied the Omega twin-pump brushless fuel pump system along with other fuel system components from T1 Race Development and COBB Tuning, completing the fuel system. 

     

    TiAL Blow Off Valve

     

    In order to let her eat, we have to let her breathe, and with an Extreme Turbo Systems race intercooler system with TiAL Sport Q 50mm blow-off valves, we were able to support the turbo system and achieve our 1000HP+ goal. Our friends at Extreme Turbo Systems also supplied the 3.5” to 4” Pro Series Y-Pipe to 4” Exhaust, getting us that signature VR38 sound. 

    Keeping everything together are ARP Fasteners and Genuine Nissan OEM gaskets, seals, and other miscellaneous components used to assemble the engine. With the end product being a daily driver that is able to hit Torsten’s goal of low 8-second passes, we had to make sure that this engine was solid and efficient for run after run, followed by the drive back home.

    The team at Jack’s Transmissions put together the perfect gearbox for this build, a fully built Drag 1000 GR6 Transmission, taking all the raw power from the Alpha VR38 and sending it to all four wheels. 

     

     

    In order to put all this power to the ground successfully and reliably, we tapped the team at Driveshaft Shop to get a 1000HP+ Pro-Level rear axle, hub, and differential stub kit built and ready for Torsten’s GT-R. Tuning the all-wheel drive system is key to a successful launch, so we used a STM Tuned AWD controller to fine tune the power delivery. 

    To help Torsten control this beast, we finished up the build with an Alcon big brake kit in the front and rear and wrapped his wheels with some sticky Toyo R888R Tires. 

     

     

    With all the pieces finally together and ready for tuning, Torsten’s GT-R hit our in-house dyno to see what it could do. Using the COBB Tuning Accessport V3 with TCM Support, our tuning team calibrated the system for Flex Fuel capability for ultimate control over the car and tunes. For our dyno tests, we would be testing with standard 93 octane and E85. 

    Strapped down and with our ears singing with the glory of it’s fully built VR38, Torsten’s GT-R exceeded our goals and laid down a mighty 1,355whp and 972lbft of torque on E85 and a comfortable 882whp and 664lbft of torque on your everyday 93 octane. 

     

     

    To celebrate, we unstrapped the car and took it out for a quick shoot and loved everything we saw. This GT-R is truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

     

     

    With the beast built and our goals achieved, we’re looking forward to seeing what Torsten and his GT-R can do at the drag strip. Knowing the great things our team can do, we expect to see a low 8 slip in the very near future. 

    Torsten’s GT-R build is a reminder that no goals are unachievable with the right team and determination. 

    For a closer look at this build, take a look at the full gallery. 

    Reach out to National Speed today to see what we can do for you! 

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  • Deeper into the 9’s with Sean’s 860WHP 2016 Camaro SS

    Deeper into the 9’s with Sean’s 860WHP 2016 Camaro SS

     

    Deeper into the 9’s we go, with an assiduous quest for 8’s!

    Sean has been a long time National Speed client and GM performance car fanatic, owning and restoring a gorgeous 1964 Nova SS, and for the past couple years, his dedicated performance car, a Mosaic Black Metallic 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS. 

     

    For the latest evolution of Sean’s never-ending quest for more power, a simple goal was laid out: 850+whp on 93 octane.

    The car has lived through several iterations over the five years of Sean’s ownership, starting from a bone-stock, brand new platform straight from the dealership. While all was fine for a while, Sean had a craving for something more, and after spending multiple weekends at the dragstrip, the need for more power could not be contained. 

     

    With the original engine-out build yielding him some great results. throwing down a tire-slaying 9.98 quarter mile at Coastal Plains Raceway Park Dragway, it was clear the existing setup needed to be updated. Unable to suppress the desire to see how far we could really push the LT1, a plan was set in place to completely tear down and rebuild the 6.2L LT1...for the second time.

     

     

    With the Camaro back in the shop, our Performance Technician, John, made quick work pulling the engine from the car, tearing it down to the bare short block. From there, he meticulously gapped each piston ring to the exact spec needed and in went a Gwatney Performance Innovation complete drop-in piston & rod package. This specific package includes Diamond Pistons 2618 pistons with rings, Callies Performance Products 6.125″ connecting rods, connecting rod bearings, heavy duty wrist pins, locks, and rings. To compliment the new pistons and rods installed, in went a custom designed 5150 billet-core VVT camshaft from Cam Motion.

    While John was working away on the bottom end, we tapped the great team at Gwatney Performance Innovation again for their ported cylinder head service and installation of Brian Tooley Racing valve spring set. Once the heads were finished with their revamp, John finished up the engine internals with a COMP Cams high pressure fuel pump lash cap, OEM LS7 rocker arm pad, and all the various gaskets and seals to complete the installation.

     

    Maguson Supercharged LT1 Engine

     

    With the internals beefed up and the motor dropped back in, it was time to work on some more power! While Sean was able to make a solid 740.05whp & 694.24lbft on E50 at only ~12.5psi on his old setup, a Magnuson Superchargers Heartbeat TVS2300 supercharger, we decided to up the ante and go with an even bigger setup from Magnuson Superchargers, the Magnum DI TVS2650R! To dial in more boost, a smaller upper pulley was needed, so John swapped out the existing upper pulley for a smaller 80mm unit, then added a 103mm SD103LTX throttle body upgrade from Williams Performance, allowing the most amount of air into the TVS2650R. Finishing up the engine build, John installed a set of LTR7IX-11 spark plugs from NGK Spark Plugs attached to a set of premium spark plug wires from Katech. 

     

    2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS Wheel

     

    With the drivetrain set, it was time to figure out how to get the power to the ground. The stock wheels, control arms, and wheel & brake hub setup were all removed and replaced with a 15” conversion from Carlyle Racing. The stock set was quickly replaced with a set of gorgeous WELD Racing 15×10 S71B Non Beadlock wheels wrapped in Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels 275/60/15 ET Street S/S radials. To help the car stage correctly and to get heat into those new meaty tires, a line lock kit from SJM Manufacturing, Inc. was installed allowing the front brakes to lock up independently from the rear brakes.

     

    With all the parts installed and mechanical work wrapped up in the shop by John, our Calibration Assistant, Matt, strapped her down to the rollers for Vlad to perform a custom calibration via HP Tuners. With 93 octane in the tank and the Magnuson TVS2650R delivering around 16psi, Vlad and the National Speed team were able to increase the LT1’s output to a kick-ass 863.71whp & 742.04lbft!

     

    2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS on Dyno

     

    For Sean, power has come in stages, originally seeing 546.80whp & 545.77lbft with bolt-ons, 740.05whp & 694.24lbft with the first build, and now with the current setup, 863.71whp & 742.04lbft! With the factory direct-injection system being the only limiting factor in this build, the temptation to switch over to LS-based port-injection is already on Sean’s mind. Hopefully we will see him back here for more fueling upgrades and tap into the 900-1000whp range, finally reaching his goal of 8 second quarter mile times!

     

    Reach out to National Speed today to see what we can do for you!