SR20DET progress...it's slow, but it's getting there

OK! you are all wondering when and if I'm ever going to get this thing going, well here's some news. I've nearly completed the head, the valve cover only needs an oil cap and the "NISSAN" and "twin cam 16 valve" logos on top (someone want to help me out with some photo etching? work out a trade?)

the head has the front cover, and left side complete while the right side needs some finer details, and the back, well I'm working on that.

the wheel in the pics is a proto type that I'm working on too. I'll have it ready for production, I guess, if anyone wants some, in the next few weeks as time allows me to work on it.

ok, 'nuff talk, here's some pics, not many but it's progress.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1756.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1762.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1764.jpg

I know it's just a tease, but atleast I'm getting somewhere! haha

That's what I'm talking about!! I always wanted to see how the project is/was coming along. You got some mad skills!!

Looks really good! Can't wait to see some more!

Are you going to offer different engine options (diff. turbos, bovs, intakes etc.)?

Looking good, the details on the head look dead on, looking forward to seeing more :)

Sidney, indeed I do plan on giving some options. some of which will be top or bottom mount turbo manifold, or stock exhaust manifold. big or small turbo. stock or greddy style intake manifold. stock or greddy style oil pan. you will be able to build it with the coil packs exposed, or covered.

for now I think I'll stick with the hopped up parts for a couple reasons. 1, most people want to hot rod their models. 2, you won't be able to see a turbo if it's bottom mounted. 3, hopped up parts just look better anyway.

I'm thinking some items will be left up to the individual to make or steal from other kits untill I can get the entire engine bay done. parts like power steering resevoir, hoses, just the finer details that most of you can do so much better than I can anyway.

thank you all for the support! I have almost forgotten all of my other daily problems thanks to you all. plus I am building models again!!!!

I'll post up my progress on my S13 Silvia widebody (sorry, no resin re-pops, unless someone wants to do it for me) and yes it's going to have the SR20DET in it!! :ylsuper:

cool project, does this engine come with one of the sil80s?

if so, does this engine come with aftermarket stuff you named like the greddy manifold etc?

I dont know much about this car but I like how you are going about this build. Looking forward to more.

actually, fellas, this is a completely scratch built SR20DET I've used refference photos from several sources. I'm building this as JUST the engine with the aspirations of producing them for sale. eventually, I'm sure, I'll have the entire engine bay available for fujimi/aoshima/tamiya S13 platform cars.

thank you for the kind words and inspiration. small update, I have the cylinder head done, and am now working on the block. for now I'm using the oil pan from the tamiya S13 silvia k's, and later will be building the greddy pan.

as for the aoshima kit, I have no idea what it comes with, I refuse to buy one, aside for the fact that I'd like to get a set of the 7 spoke SE rims they come with.

I'll have pics of the head up before long, I need some batteries for the ol' camera.

Can't wait to see some pics! Do we get to see what your Silvia looks like any time soon???

If you'd like to discuss resin casting, shoot me a message with your email.

I would love to cast your pieces. I think there is definetly potential, they are amazing quality thus far !

NOMADGMER: I'd love to talk about casting parts, and thanks for the compliments!

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!!!

THE HEAD IS DONE!!!
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1801.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1787.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1798.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1800.jpg

I'll be getting some silver paint on it as soon as it stops raining then into the old RTV it goes! (really the RTV is quite new, I spilled the entire container of old stuff in a box while I was moving :( )

looking good, after working on sr's for over 4 years, that head looks spot on!, can't wait to see more of this!

Gray

Awesome work! Can't wait to see the block! Are you going to completely scratch build one, or modify donor parts from other kits?

I'll scratch build the block, but the oil pan may be from a kit, I don't know yet.

I may end up kit bashing the accessories like pullies, P/S pump, A/C, and alt. or just let the builder take care of that stuff since I'm sure everyone has a parts bin full of these things.

Oh yeh! Friggen' Updates! What do you use for make the head protype? Polystyrene or styrene?

That looks very nice, can´t wait to see the engine!

The progress is excellent! I'd like to buy at least one of these when you decide to offer them for sale!:)

well it's a combination of various plastics rom sheet, strip, sprue, resin, wire insulation, and tamiya quick putty.

sweet.. dont forget the crank angle sensor!!!

yeah, the reason I left that off, is so you could have the option to build a N/A variant as they have an actual distributor.

how much do you plan on selling these for? if it is under $20 i will buy it.

well I've been thinking $20 for the engine which will consist of block, head, pan, valve cover, intake exhaust, turbo, and possibly the front accessories: power steering, a/c, alternator, belts, and brackets. I may reconsider if the intake is more than what I'm bargaining for. the reason I say 'possibly' on the front parts is that they seem to be pretty easy to find in your parts box. most kits with engines will have some sort of accessory assortment that you can get what you need from, and minor fab work to get it all done right. this would save me time, and you money.

Huge credit to you for taking the initiative to tackle a project like this for a simple ( ;) ) part you obviously have some passion about. Go you! :D

haha, passion is an understatement!! I've been building kits now for almost 25 years, and recently I've begun modifying real cars too, and it just makes me that much more passionate about my models, well anal I guess you could say. I have real life refference, and I'm a perfectionist, that's something that could cause me to go to the loony bin!!! hahaha

thank you for the encouragement, I'm off to work on the block now!!

Yeah you all, stop distracting him so he can work on it! lol :bananasmi

looks like the s13 sr20..
you consider doing the stock style bottom intake manifold
http://www.jgycustoms.com/images/blacktop.jpg
or something like the greddy manifold?
http://importnut.net/nissan/SR20DET/SR3.jpg

to start with I'll most likely do a top mount exhaust manifold, and a greddy style intake, since Aoshima already beat me to the stock parts, and theirs look pretty good.

I need all the inspiration I can get right now, so keep the comments, suggestions and constructive criticism coming! if it weren't for this forum, I'd have given up LONG ago!!! I seem to work better if I'm doing the work for someone else. that's why I haven't completed a model in over 3 years.

Man I can't wait to see the rest of the engine! As of right now I don't have any Silvia kits, but after seeing this I've been looking for a decent price!

Keep us updated on the awesome work!!!

Maybe if you modified Aoshima's stock intake enough (adding more detail, or taking away material to make it easier to cast) to call it your own, you could cast it to include it with the engine, so at least there is the option to have it. I would want to build an S14 or S15, but I wouldn't want to have to buy the full detail S13 just to get the intake... Same thing with the belt assembly, it could take 3 different belt assemblies just to cobble together one for the SR20, especially if you want it to be accurate.

The head looks great BTW, as does the valve cover. When will we see the rough block? Will you be doing just the basic shapes and contours or are you going to get into the casting detail?

you guys really do keep me motivated on this! thanks for your replies.

daklunk: 2 reasons I don't want to use the aoshima part are A:copywrite infringement, and B:I already have like 13 S13s in my closet!! haha and besides, I am sure my motor has different specs on size as I'm just using a rough estimate between scales (1:24/1:25) so it can be used in either scale without looking to big or to small.

as for the block castings, I'm going to make it look as close to the real motor as I possibly can. it will have the structural ribbing, cast shape, as many mounting points as I can muster, and hopefully it will be cast with a "rough cast" technique I'm working on, and when it's all done, I'll post up what I'm talking about on this more, so you may be able to use it on models of your own.

as for progress, like the title states, it's slow going. I've got alot of things happening in my life right now, and it is kind of difficult to get into the frame of mind needed to do such tedious, and intricate details. it is moving along, just not as fast as I'd hoped.

[/quote] B:I already have like 13 S13s in my closet!! .[/quote]

hey can you send me one of those s13s you are bragging about? pleez?

haha, I only have like 2 more models to buy to be able to build all of the factory versions of the S13 which is my goal in life hahahaha

well, it's update time

here's how the block starts!
4 pieces of rectangular styrene glued together to form a big rectangle that's just slightly shorter and narrower than what the finished block will be.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1808.jpg

here's the rough sketch on sheet plastic for the bell housing mounting surface ready to be cut out and shaped.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1816.jpg

here you may be able to see a shape that is to form some of the block detail on the intake side of the block. I used a piece of half round for the basic shape then sanded/scraped with my #11 blade to the best shape I could (I think it's pretty close.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1817.jpg

so I pressed it into some clay that is safe for RTV mold making to form a negative shape. I needed to make 2 of these that are identical so I made 2 temporary molds in the clay
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1818.jpg

and again with the form pulled out
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1819.jpg

since these are such small parts I only needed like 2 drops of resin to make the parts, I just used a tooth pick to fill, then scrape the exess off so I have as little clean up as necessary
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1820.jpg

and here they are on the side of the block with the trans mounting surface and some other strips of plastic glued to the "block".
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1822.jpg

sorry for such slow progress, but things are looking better for me now, and I'll have a lot more time to work on this. hopefully I'll have some more progress within a few days.

incedentally, I have also started a progress thread on my S13 that a copy of this motor will be going into. you should check it out.

till next time
Ken

build all of the factory versions of the S13

^Exactly how many were there?!

Nice work so far, this motor is gonna look badass in the S/13! Are you going to put copies in all your Silvias?

^Exactly how many were there?!

Nice work so far, this motor is gonna look badass in the S/13! Are you going to put copies in all your Silvias?

well there's the 89-90 year models of the silvia (JDM coupe) in J's Q's K's and K's Aero, 180SX (JDM hatch), 200SX (austrailian and european hatch), 240SX coupe (USDM), 240SX hatch (USDM), Sileighty, 91-94 variants of the same listed above, plus the 180SX type X early and late. that's 20 by my count, and I'm sure I'm missing a few factory variants. this is just the S13, then there are the S14 and 15, but that isn't my passion, or within my budget! hahaha

and no, I'm not going to put SR's in all of them. some will be curbside, some SR, some CA, some RB, and I'm sure most will be modified somehow.

! :eek: ! did I just say CA? as in CA18DET? think on this a moment. but first the SR must be completed. :biggrin: :eek7:

Man,that's schweeeeeht! *cough* Will *cough* you *cough* deliver *cough* to *cough* japan? *cough*
Sorry,i have a cold!

sweet.. heres a pic of my internals for whatever to keep ya motivated =D
http://www.tunerbase.com/carsale/100_0360.jpg

For CA18, you could prolly chop up a RB20 since they look very simular minus 2 cylinders

yeah, I thought about chopping up an RB20, but financially, I'd be better off to just build it from scratch, as the only RB20 available is just a top half motor.

Lets see some more block progress!!!

haha, working on it! I hosted a christmas party this weekend, and then work, and doctor's appointment, then I had to buy 8 new tires and have 2 balanced on the real rides. I've been quite buisy. I hope to have some progress tomorrow, if I can get some time to do it.

So I was reading some posts, and progress threads, and one thing stuck out when I saw hypertek's 180SX build. what about a transmission? the fujimi kits that I have utilize manual 5 speed gear selection in the interior, but all have the automatic trans molded to the chassis. is this something that is of concern, or does it matter to you guys? the Tamiya kit has the 5 speed, and I was considering cutting the Tammy tranny out and fabbing the upper half the same way I'm building the motor. would it be worth it to you guys for me to go through all the extra labor, or should I just let you guys worry about it? this will likely drive up the cost of the set, but I'll be able to offer it in differing stages; complete engine/tranny, just complete engine, long motor (complete engine minus intake/exhaust), and long block (valve cover to oil pan without any accessories so you can build your own custom setup)

anyway main point of post is tranny, please discuss.

and on a side note. I was looking at a friend's 1:1 ride and noticed that the oil pan in all of the tamiya, fujimi, and aoshima S13 cars is for CA18, so I guess I'll be building the ENTIRE oilpan from scratch! ugh!! haha, I love it!!!

i say just the block itself... People would then have to go into detail with creating a driveshaft etc.. and would lead to headach imo.. esp wiht the s13/180sx models are sort of mis-proportioned anyways *the rear ends look horrible*

well, it's been a while (sorry, I'm a buisy man) but here is a little more progress.

I finally got to sit down for about 7 hours today and get some real progress on the block, I'm stoked once again. not much commentary on this, it's the right side (intake side) of the block, I tried to include as much of the detail as I can, but with it being so small, it is REALLY difficult. and yes for those that are keeping up on this I used LOTS of stretched sprue!

well, here's the pic. that's right, one image, but as the cliche' states, it's worth a thousand words, right?
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/rsxse240/model%20stuff/100_1894.jpg

Whoo! Lookin' good! I'll definately have to build one of these! :grinyes: Nice job on the detail!

You GOTTA make a mold and sell those! AMZING work! You've put so much great detail into it so far........ I ..... WANT one!!!!

omg

I started on the exhaust side of the block today, it's a little bit trickier, but it shouldn't take that long. I'll have a long block by this weekend, hopefully! no sense in posting pics right now, it's pretty basic, it's flat with a few bumps on it, nothing special.

rsxse240 try to keep a blueprint :P.... u could always blow it up and make a working 1:3 scale like that nut who made the ferrari :lol:

haha, you know I would if I could find a 1/3 scale silvia model! haha

edit:
no progress, and probably will be a couple days before I can find the time to get crackin on it again. my front end needs rebuilt on my 1:1 silvia, and my son broke his arm today, so I'll have to lug him around and wait on him while he's on his pain medicine (hydrocodone really does a number on ME, and I'm litterally 4 times his size/weight and he's on the same dose that I took when I chopped my finger off!)

awsome, the head is perfect, cant wait to see a finished one!!!

lol, you cant find a 1/3 scale silvia? MAKE ONE! :)

haha, don't tempt me! I had thought of actually doing a lexan 1/4 scale silvia for my buddie's 39 HP road racer (basically a really fast go cart, but radio controlled) but alas, he decided to go with a 69 camaro RS/SS body he found for like $300

dont tempt you? and why not exactly? :) awwww a camero??an S13 looks so much hotter than an old camero, :)its so tempying to....tempt you? youd do a great job of it :)
do it
do it
do it (its alot of work though isnt it)

(hydrocodone really does a number on ME, and I'm litterally 4 times his size/weight and he's on the same dose that I took when I chopped my finger off!)
YOU CHOPPED YOUR FINGER OFF??? :eek: HOW????:eek:
(I want to know bcoz my father did it once...)
Were you able to put it on place again??

I was chopping up huge wads of dough to be re-mixed at the bakery I work at, and came down on the tip of my finger with the 4 inch wide scraper blade I was using, it didn't completely sever the digit, but it did end up leaving a scar about 1/4 inch above the top of the nail that wraps about 3/4 around my finger tip. there really wasn't anything to lose, as it is all fatty tissue, and nerves...oh yeah, did I mention it HURT LIKE HELL!!!!! finger tips and toes have more nerve endings than any other part of your body, and when you cut through them all at once, it is unbeleivably painful! now I have to be careful where I stick my finger because I can't feel anything but pressure deep in the tissue, and some times some tingling.

but anyway, SR20DET, I'm snowed in for a couple days, I'm hoping to get some progress to show, if I don't lose power!

looking good

Amazing job so far. I've been waiting for this for a long time my man. This is a project I thought about taking on a few times, and begged FOTW for years to do. I just have to have a 1/24 SR engine.

Suffice to say this is probably the most interesting project on AF to me. Im around, but when they are ready to go please drop me a line if you dont see me posting. [email protected]

amazing work!

sorry to say, not much progress has been made, I have some of the exhaust side of the block done, but not enough to post about.

this is the story of my life...seems I have excuses for everything, but to me it seems like god doesn't want me to finish this thing for some reason. Our family car just got the front end smashed all up, and I've been kinda stressed what with the insurance and bodyshop. not to mention having to share one car on 2 different work schedules, that's rough.

anyway thanks for the comments, I'll be attempting to steal some time tomorrow afternoon when I get off work to get some progress. to me there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. now I need a lathe to make some pullies! damnit, another set back! grrrrrr! haha, I'll figure something out.

Ken

OH MAN!
dont worry!
JUst lift your head and go ahead,nothing is enought if you are strong!
I´m here waiting you to be better!
Good luck man!

BTW,if i could help anything,just tell me!
See ya!:D