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The remote oil filter adaptor allows for easy access to the filter while making for a busy yet efficient engine bay. The bottom line, it looks good and as the majority of the fittings are in an easy sight-line there's no concern about a hidden oil leak somewhere.
The cooler adds to the oil capacity and inherently will cool oil, but with the NX GTiR there is little room for hesitation when it comes to cooling. So out came the measuring tape, chalk and the grinder with a cutting blade. Three vents were opened up above and slightly behind the oil cooler. This provides a draw for the hot air to be pulled out of the engine bay from the cooler. I have purchased a used motorcycle radiator fan and will install it shortly to suck hot air through the oil cooler and out the vents. While working on the hood, a few more cuts with the cutting wheel and another pound or two was removed.
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| The hood vents have proven themselves in track situations. Functional, but far from pretty. |
Fluids have also been changed with the hope of seeing this drivetrain go the distance. We are now running Amsoil ARO 20w50 is in the engine and Amsoil Severe Gear 90w140 in the G20 transmission.
I was instructing at OTA's Time-Attack driving school at CTMP's small track and after just a few laps I was still warmer than I wanted to be under the hood. Out came the chalk and cutting blade again and another opening in the hood. This time a small scoop right where you would normally have your hood latch. It also meant cutting into my custom air deflector that I made out of a speed limit sign found lying on the roadside. This truly was a valuable addition to reduce the heat the engine was experiencing. It pulls air in directly onto the top of the rad in addition to the openings in the nose. The car is ready to go now!
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| Having multiple hoods means we can make cuts like these with impunity as there's always the stock hood to put back in place for daily driving. |
We packed up the RV and loaded the car onto the tow dolly for a three day track weekend at the newly named Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, formerly known at Mosport. The improvements to the grounds of the park are unbelievable. A wide open entrance leads up to a two lane tunnel that can easily handle two tractor trailers at the same time which means that an RV towing a race car has easy access. Sight lines for spectators are massively upgraded and the roads on the infield and outfield are incredible. CTMP is working hard to reclaim the fame and glory that it deserves as one of North America's premier race tracks.
The first two lapping sessions were to ensure that the car was in good running condition. The temperature was right where I wanted to see it. The car felt good, albeit a little tail happy, with the new suspension system. Greg Amy, a longtime Nissan NX owner and fanatic, had made available two suspension systems earlier this year. I was fortunate enough to be able to pick up one of them. It's a Koni 8610 single adjustable insert in custom shortened housings made by Richard Pyeatt. This is a huge upgrade over the KYB AGX/GC/Eibach system I have been using for the last ten years. The GC sleeves are being used again but the Eibach springs have been upgraded to 650 lbs front and 500 lbs rear. This will help us ensure that the rubber on both sides remains planted on the track. I am starting the season on last year's tires, saving my new rubber for events three and onwards.
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| The Koni inserts in custom housings are an upgrade I should have performed years ago. |
Then I started using the gas pedal and was amazed to find I was bouncing off of the rev limiter in fourth at the end of the Andretti straight at a GPS indicated 191 kph, which was about 10 kph faster than last year. I also discovered that at the speeds the car is now capable of doing, turn 6 and turn 7 on the back straight truly are turns! The 3” WeirTech downpipe and VRS exhaust were showing their capabilities.
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| Seen here is the WeirTech custom fabricated downpipe. |
