musty hustla

Looking good. Hopefully you're getting a discount for their slow progress.

Sandro

here are powdercoated calipers
I was going to paint them golden orange like Nissan GTR but the shop didn't have such paint so I ended up picking golden pearl like older Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Looks much nicer than worn black anyway


Also powdercoated my exhaust tips in silver


putting this on the car next week but its gonna be a while before I actually test the brakes

IntactACK

iTrader: (1)

damn slow progress but hey its one of a kind, can't wait to see the results I hope they are good for you!

IntactACK

iTrader: (1)

I'm currently doing the same thing but single

Sandro

nice to see you here! how is your project going? whats your planned ECU solution?

IntactACK

iTrader: (1)

Im already running megasquirt 3. Im trying to talk my woman in to getting a zdx thats why I started browing this section. You love the car obviously huh!?

Sandro

absolutely

sixkplus1

What's the over/under for how quickly the transmission disintegrates?

Sandro

time will tell
i'm adding an extra atf cooler with fans, no other options for now

IntactACK

iTrader: (1)

What kind of progress is coming along?

Sandro

Here is some progress
Front 6-pot Brembos ready for action!
I had two swap wheels with my other Z in order for them to fit without spacers. Still need spacers for OEM 19's (winter set)
New brakes look awesome, can't wait to test them. Now working on the rear set.




As for turbos, the shop techs finished welding both pipes going from exhaust manifold. They say its about two-three weeks to finish the hardware part and then ECU works and dyno tests. My bet is that they won't make it in three weeks but should make it till the New Year

Ironchef2009

You are truly brave! I just sold a 2012 Ram R/T that I swapped a 392 Hemi into the engine bay along with 4.56 gears. It was a monster but was down for four months and then came the transmission troubles.

Now I'm back to my 2010 ZDX Advance and loving every minute of it. But if only it had a little more power…...

saba007

Ahhhhh... Shit!!! Glad I signed back on here. Just in time for the TT conversion. With utmost respect, admiration and slight envy, you're crazy bro!!

Sandro

thanks saba

acrdr

hey why is there a bolt where axle should go into the hub?

Ironchef2009

Perhaps we're looking at a RWD ZDX?!

Sandro

haha) probably because it wasnt returned to its place by the time i was taking the shot))

Ironchef2009

I wouldn't be able to resist taking pictures of those beauties either. Man I love BBK's, just not their prices!

One question: Have you ever considered selling the bracket to fellow forum members that may want to add Brembos like yours? I for one would be very, very interested.

Sandro

I am located in Russia so it wont be a short way
If there will be interest I can ask the tech who made them if he can make more.
I paid 500$ for making them (apart from a used Brembo kit) but it will probably be cheaper now because first time it took him like a few tries to make the right bracket

Brembos we used come from older VW Touareg/Porsche Cayenne (probably Audi Q7 too)

tonytdao

Any update on the turbo??

Sandro

waiting for some custom made parts to finish the piping

meanwhile forged rods and pistons have arrived so we'll do the motor part too

Ironchef2009

Hey Sandro,
Correct me if I'm wring but my research states that the 3.7L used in our ZDX's is all aluminum, SOHC, oil squirters under the pistons and with forged rods, crank and pistons. Is this incorrect?

Sandro

Not sure about stock engine details but as far as I know only a small part of top-rank cars comes with forged rods and pistons in stock. I really doubt that any Acura is among them

IntactACK

iTrader: (1)

I'm dying for some serious progress, I'm about 70 percent done with my TL, made a lot of changes, I'm currently putting the oil pan and fittings on them bolting up the exhaust and turbo!

tonytdao

Would you think doing a turbo under the car.... by exhaust is an option???? Some trucks or cars with no engine space have done that type of setup...

Sandro

My shop techs are freaking slow plus various unexpected stuff keeps happening like parts delivery delays, drag events and emergency repairs (not regarding my car). We lost a week recently because head tech got stuck in Greece repairing a 1500hp Lambo that blew up.

Anyway winter and snow came to Moscow and I'll be on vacations from 3 Jan to 25 Jan so I'm in no rush anymore, trying to be a philosopher

Right now we are working on rear brakes. Found a 350mm rotor from a Range Rover Sport Supercharged that is supposed to fit the ZDX with 4-piston Brembos

Also ordered a lightweight pulley from XLR8, they promise a 10-15hp increase on a stock motor heh. I wouldn't be able to tell the difference on a modded motor though but I hope it gives some benefit

mugen_kid

Awesome progress Sandro! Glad you have taken over some custom stuff for all to see! Keep up the great work friend.

Sandro

Thanks man I didn't expect this project to take THAT long but we'll do it

RadiantCycles

Very cool project, I can't wait to see how fast it's going to be.

IntactACK

iTrader: (1)

Way to stay positive, nothing custom is easy...

Sandro

Some minor update on upgrading the rear brakes
Test-fitting the 350-mm rear brake rotor with 4-piston Brembos was successful, so now we move to making the adapters for the calipers, powdercoating and mounting them.
This is the pic of the old OEM rotor above the new 350-mm one. As you can see its noticably bigger and also has a bigger work surface

and the new rotor mounted


P.S. as for the turbo part we are still waiting for some custom tins to finish the welding

xqsmepotna

San... You're not playing are you. You're doing some serious work. This has to be put on the front cover of a magazine when you're done. Unreal.

Sandro

Hehe thanks I consider this as my tribute to Fast & furious

IntactACK

iTrader: (1)

Nice to see some updates but lets see some damn turbo parts, what are you going to do for tuning? See if Hondata will help you out....Let them know how serious you are haha. Please update us man, this is a great build, I love custom! Nothing like building it, garbage just buying something someone else innovated

Sandro

There are rumors that Hondata is preparing something for J35 that may be compatible with J37 but thats just rumors. So far we are going with Unichip ECU. There pics of Garret 2863R turbos but they are on the table yet We are finishing the rear brakes next week, then next major update will be closer to the end of January due to vacations and stuff

Timmy18

Would the J35Y Direct injection heads work on a J37? Direct injected J37, mix and match some parts here and there maybe.

yungone501

iTrader: (4)

Yes....and no. They will bolt up and match the block BUT the DFI injectors require special piston (that's currently only made in 89mm for the 3.5) to function properly in which the j37 from the ZDX doesn't possess. Also, there's the requirement of changing engine harness and ECM for the direct injection system. Not worth the 10hp you get above a 3.7.

As for the first post made from the OP, you may have the first TT 3.7 but I have the first boosted 3.7.

Sandro

Nice! ))

Timmy18

But what about the efficiency and if had custom pistons made (Like the OEM ones in the J35Y's, but larger) he could possible net a few more ponies and a pit more torque with some tuning, possibly down the road.

I just really would like to see a bad ass N/A J37 build.
Like 7,700rpm redline, 290lb-ft @ 4,300rpm, 340hp @ 7,300rpm, silky smooth like every J and a exhaust note that makes you want to continuously hear it.

Thanks for the reply and good job San on the progress!

yungone501

iTrader: (4)

Here's some pictures of the j35y direct injection piston.





As you can see, the quench area comprises most of the dome on top of the crown. This also causes a higher compression ratio of around 11.5:1 as opposed to the typical fuel injected motors which are at 11.2:1 or less. The quench pad would be extremely difficult to match as well as determine the proper dome height required to get 11.2:1 or lower without affecting the quench design.

Lets say you managed to have the pistons precisely replicated in a 90mm diameter. As I mentioned, without the use of the j35z ECM and other necessary electronics, you wouldn't really gain much at all from the setup. This is because the DFI systems use ultra lean burn AFR's (air to fuel ratios) and this of course adds to that "efficiency" factor you mentioned. Also, you must swap the heads, lower intake runners, add a high pressure pump...that's to name a few.

Bottom line is this, Acura's new DFI system adds roughly 20hp to the 3.5. But IMO, that extra 20hp could be gained in many other cheaper, simpler ways.

BTW, to the OP, hope to see this build actually be finished. I'll be watching.