Rochester

iTrader: (3)

I'd to see how your NWP Torque Link looks now that it's been powdercoated black.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

I'm pretty much done with the hole-plug thing now. Aside from that annoying oblong hole on the passenger side of the front support beam, which I left alone, I'm pretty happy with the results. Here's a picture of the driver's side:

vball_max

iTrader: (5)

Nice John......you engine bay is damn sweet looking now......great work.



BTW.....would you like to trade cars?

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

Actually, the torque link is greay metallic. I didn't want to do it in black.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Thanks, Kevin. Um... no to the trade.

Good. I thought black was an odd choice for that.

Still want to see it, though.

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

Well. They had to re-do it actually. I asked for polished the second time. We'll see what happens.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

I'm guessing they sand-blasted it first, right? There's some kind of brass-like plating on the bar.

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

I double checked on the coolant pipes. The oven in which the items are baked in heat the finish to temperatures up to 500 degrees. Hot coolant will not be a problem.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

I had TroopleWis zap the pipes with his nifty little infrared tool... it seems a little hotter than I expected.

zero2sixtyZ

iTrader: (30)

rroderiques77, the FSTB and coolant pipes look amazing.

Just for reference, how much are you guys spending on powdercoating these pieces? When I have my motor out soon, I want to get some of this stuff done.

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

What I finally decided to do with it is take it down to bare metal, smooth it, and clear it. It should give it a stainless look.

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

A lot. Plan on spending a few hundred. Unless of course you know somebody in the business. I sure don't.

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

Your temp gauge registers whatever temp the coolant temp sensor registers. The coolant pipes, being made out of metal probably run hotter than the actual coolant itself.

zero2sixtyZ

iTrader: (30)

I do have a couple places recommended by other forums, so I'll see what they quote me. Have yet to have anything powdercoated though.

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

Did you do the same for the holes under the cowl? Too bad we can't so the same for the smaller ones.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

What are you talking about?

trooplewis

iTrader: (1)

How hard is it to take off the front heat shield that covers the stock exhaust manifold?

Mine looks almost as corroded as Rochester's old horns.

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

The ones on the outside of the firewall.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

You know, I think you started something about this a few posts back. But I'm still having trouble placing what it is you're referring to.

Pics, maybe?

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

I will take some. Don't have any right now.

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

Cell phone pics FTW!!!

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

So here is the torque link.

Sanded it down and cleared. Came out excellent. Going to do the same thing for the timing cover.




And no Rochester, the most amount of turns by hand I could get out of the damn thing was two. That third one, ouch!!!

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

OH! Are you suggesting I remove them and replace them with the silver plugs? That's a fine idea, but I don't know the diameter of the holes... without removing one. Catch-22.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

That.... looks.... AWESOME!!!

I'm doubly psyched now to get mine powdercoated in the same "black chrome" as my FSTB brackets. Very well done, Roy.

I'll be taking mine off for the winter tomorrow, and will experiment with the hand-cranking technique. Remember, I keep my Torque Link on 24/7, but locked down in the at-rest position. In other words, I don't put the engine weight on the brace... I just use it to keep it from twisting under load. That's probably the difference between how we have it configured.

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

Water outlet pipes will also be done in the same finish. I am debating on dp as well. It would match the UIM.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

What's "DP", Roy? What are you referring to, please?

Also, you see that green lettering on your PS hose? (I think that's your PS hose to your new tank, right?) Anyway, that lettering can come off with some fine steel wool, making for a uniformly black hose.

jowo9

iTrader: (1)

I believe Mr. Turbo man is referring to his downpipe

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

I just removed my Torque Link for the Winter, and you're absolutely right. You can only get maybe two full turns by hand before you need to use a wrench.

5 months of daily driving seems to have weathered that steel bar somewhat. Glad I removed it to get refinished. I think I'll replace the retaining nuts while I'm at it. This time in chrome or stainless steel... No, wait. Titanium. That would be nice.

Know what I'm talking about, Roy?

Oh. I'm totally turbo-dumb.

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

I remember you saying something about that. Thanks for reminding me.

Are those bolts stainless already? I guess they aren't... Hmmmm

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

The 4 bolts holding the frame-piece are SS hex-heads. Replacing them with Ti-bolt buttonheads from DressUpBolts.com has been on my mind.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Well, this thing is kind of interesting. It seems smaller than I thought it would be, which suits me better. Still not sure if I'm going to mount it anywhere in the engine bay yet... but it's kind of unique looking all the same.

scarface4522

iTrader: (33)

What is that off of Rochester? I like it. Whats the back look like?

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

A Nissan Bluebird... don't know what year. Don't even know what a "bluebird" is.

The back is just whatever is leftover from thick, rubber adhesive.

Bought it off eBay, shipped from Thailand.

Ghost_54

iTrader: (13)

Now if you had some form of aftermarket mesh grill John that would look pretty sweet instead of the over-sized Nissan Hamburger

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

I'd never thought of that. I suppose there are other NISSAN emblems that could fit the bill just fine in an aftermarket grill. Good idea, Ghost.

Not for me, personally, but good idea none-the-less. If I mount this little bling anywhere, it will be under the hood. I'm thinking in the middle, on the hood-latch plate.

Whatever I do, if anything, I'll take pictures for sure.

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

What about somewhere on the firewall?

Sowfpaw

looks sick

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

I looked at that idea this morning before heading out, and no, there really isn't anywhere on the firewall that would work.

There are 3 places I'm considering:

1. On the flat panel above the hood latch. This is a perfect fit, actually. Although I rather like the little Energy Suspension decal there right now.
2. On the battery, replacing the little bling NISSAN emblem I put there last year. Ghost_54 gave me that little emblem, and while it's nice and all, this NISSAN Bluebird badge is a more significant design.
3. On the top of the UIM. Which is kind of an interesting look. Not sure how well things would stick to the aluminum, however.

I've circled the options in red here. Anybody have any opinions?

Rhyno02

iTrader: (12)

Hey Rochester, what about on the FSTB? I dunno if you'd have clearnace issues or if itd fit but, I think it's worth consideration.

My vote though is for where you have the energy suspension sticker. I think it'd look kinda silly on the intake manifold.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

I know that the FSTB rubs against the fabric panel under the hood, because I can see the fine scratches that have occurred in the last couple years. That doesn't mean it wouldn't work there, but I didn't consider it because of the rubbing. Maybe I should just try it out and see if it works, because it would look pretty good there... assuming it the bar width could support it.

Good idea, Rhyno.