Another Short Stay at Nismo Omori Factory!

Yes friends, it has been awhile since my last post... but truth be told I was traveling outside of Japan for a few weeks, and figured - why not leave the car with Nismo Omori and get some work done while I am away?  It was also nice having piece of mind that my car was safe and secure in a 24 hour guarded, super secure facility! So I drove over and left the car there in early June and watched Ochiai-san park it in next to an RS260 Stagea...

So what work? I would describe it as some relatively minor work - some dent removal (barely visible except of course to me) on my left front fender from an errant mop handle, replacing the deteriorating door window film - both doors, in order to make sure the tint matched, and finally a weird one - the driver's side window rail had come loose!  Oh, and the aircon seemed to not be blowing enough cold air...

Anyway, even though I had been back for awhile, Nismo Omori was waiting for ONE MORE PART to arrive to do another small repair but then was told earlier this week that the part would not be available until mid-October!  So, as I have a few projects in mind, I decided to retrieve the car even though my Lexus and I have recently been enjoying more open garage space.

I arrived early in the morning on a weekday and found myself the only customer.

Yep, lights all off...

So of course I took a quick peek...

And then after I managed to scrounge up some yen that I found in my wallet and make another donation to Nismo, they let me into the garage area.

The color on the CRS car inspires me.  I like how it brings out the car's curves really well.

Notice how the exhaust doesn't quite work on the Nismo rear bumper? LOL.
Solution coming apparently

In contrast, the KR4 on my car - is it the same as the color on the 400R?...

Looks a bit lonely huh...

So I like how the KR4 can seem to look really light, like here:

Same KR4, but looks different from this angle, right?

And yes, did not adjust the camera settings...

But under different light, can look a bit darker

Anyway - back to the parts I had replaced. This one is a bit unfocused as I was using my new phone and I am still fiddling with the advanced camera function, but as you can tell this is the temperature sensor for the aircon.  This was apparently the culprit as to why the air started out cold but would gradually turn warm, even when the desired temperature was lowered on the HVAC controls.

And this is the rusted out window rail.  The piece on the bottom is bolted to the door frame, and in turn is welded onto the frame itself. The rust causes the two pieces to separate, something I noticed when I was installing my door speakers last year. 

Photo that shows both pieces:

Interestingly, I did not know that the triangular rubber section where the door mirrors are attached, is actually part of this window rail unit.

Below, you can see my finger pointing towards the hole. And you can see that within the green ring, there appears to be a blackish material... and you would be right!  This is actually anti-rust paint I applied when I discovered this area rusting. So now, the right side is brand new and rust free, while the left side is...?? I guess I will look into getting the left side replaced too, next time at Omori Factory! 

Finally, I also picked up a little something (one for me, one for a friend), which I will reveal in an upcoming post. 

Any guesses? Stay tuned!

Research - Where Do All Those Engine Stickers Go?

So normally I don't post until I have done the research in full and I am ready to show everyone something, but in this case I'll make an exception to show how I get an idea and then start moving towards SOME KIND of project.

In this case, I am talking about all those stickers that were on the underside of the hood (bonnet) and in the engine bay when the car was delivered new.  Anyone ever wonder what those were all about? Some of you may have faded remnants of some stickers - but didn't you ever wonder if your car had the full set of stickers as applied at the factory?  And what do some of those stickers say anyway?  And then some of you are like me - you've replaced either the hood itself or the underhood insulation, or both, and want to get "back to OEM" or as close as possible, anyway.

The genesis of this project is when I got the underhood insulation replaced at Nissan Prince Tokyo back in 2016 - so yes, I have been thinking about this for almost 5 years, but have done little except to slowly collect the stickers when I remembered.  As you can see, there is an indent on the insulation which clearly suggests one or more stickers of some sort are supposed to go there.  

That, and when I googled I found this:

From: https://ameblo.jp/exage-gtr/entry-11835304505.html

Other search results showed a sticker not on the insulated part, but on the right side directly on the paint:

From: https://jota-garage.com/stock/st10/R33GT-RAutechTOMEI.html

As well as just one sticker on the insulation:

From: https://cartune.me/notes/XSPr6UCsnD

So, since all of them can't be correct, I had to look it up. My main source was this - Nissan's Main Maintenance Parts Catalog for the R33 Skyline, issued in July 1997, covering vehicles made since 1993:

Sometimes I think paper is faster and easier to use than electronic...

Yes, it is basically the print version of the Nissan FAST. Of course, as some numbers have changed due to the Nismo Heritage Program, I also accessed the Heritage Program as well.

Finally, I also used nissan.epc-data.com, and found this (the same as above, but a bit easier to see the locations under the hood for C, A, and G?):

From: https://nissan.epc-data.com/skyline/bcnr33/3940-rb26dett/body/991/?full=991-_001

Anyway - so here are all the stickers I have accumulated over the years.

Let's look at these one by one. First, this very yellow SRS Airbag warning sticker ("G" in the diagram above).  I have confirmed this is the correct parts number for the 33.

 Here is what it says, if you ever wondered: 

Caution      SRS AIRBAG

- this car is equipped with an SRS airbag.

- the harness and connectors for the SRS airbag are yellow in color

- do not use a multimeter to test the circuits

- modifying the circuit or disconnecting the connectors can cause the SRS airbag to operate improperly and prevent the system from normal operation, and is a cause of major damage

- when disposing of the gas release unit or the vehicle, always consult the sales company that handled the sale

The next sticker is for emissions.  Note that this one is available only via the Nismo Heritage Parts program.  The sticker for the BNR32, by the way, is identical as the same regulations were in effect and applicable. The difference is in the parts number (ending in RHR20) and the print on the bottom left says "2R1" and the separate small sticker on the side has "05U00." Yeah, I have no idea either.

It says:

This car conforms to the exhaust gas regulations of Showa 53 (10/15 mode)

Engine type: RB26

Overall Engine Displacement: 2568 cc

Equipped with following equipment: 3 layer catalytic converter (monolith) canister type

Engine adjustment values

Idle speed: 950 rpm

Ignition timing: 20degrees/950  BTDC/rpm

CO adjustment value (at idle):  0.1%

HC adjustment value (at idle):  50 ppm

This automobile conforms to the exhaust gas regulations of Showa 53 based on the safety standards of road transportation vehicles.

Next is a more comprehensive fluids check list ("C" above). I have confirmed this parts number is for the 33, although I think this is a period correct sticker for all Nissan vehicles of the era.

 Use Nissan OEM parts on this car! - Oil and fluids should be as follows!

Engine Oil (OEM Nissan oil in SD, SE, SF, SG grades)
Replace: Every 10,000km or 12 months (SG grade)
               Every 5000 km or 6 months (SD, SE, SF grades)

Inspect/Replace:   Before use as appropriate

Manual Transmission Oil (OEM Nissan Gear Oil MP)

Replace:  Privately used:  no replacement

                Commercial vehicles etc: Every 100,000km or 2 years

Inspect/Replace: Privately used every 12 months; commercial etc., every month

Differential Oil (Gear Oil Hypoid)

Replace: Privately used: no replacement

               Commercial vehicles etc: Every 100,000km or 2 years

Inspect/Replace: Privately used every 12 months; commercial etc., every month

Automatic Transmission Fluid (OEM NissanMatic Fluid D)

Replace:  Hired cars, taxis, etc:  Every 100,000km

                All others;  no replacement

Inspect/Replace: Privately used every 12 months; commercial etc. every month

Power Steering Fluid (Nissan OEM Power Steering Fluid)

No replacement

Inspect/Replace: Privately used every 12 months; commercial etc. every month

Brake Fluid (Nissan OEM Brake Fluid NR3)

Replace:  Privately used; First time at 3 years; every 2 years thereafter

                Commercial:  Every year;  Freight: Every year

Inspect/Replace:  Before use as appropriate

(Warning) Do not use anything other than NR3 Nissan OEM brake fluid

*Please see Maintenance Manual for Details*

Next, I found this Oil Change Warning sticker. I have confirmed that this parts number is for the Series 3 R33:

Warning At Time of Oil Change

- Engine oil (Nissan Motor Oil)

Always change at every 10,000km or every 12 months

(Please use SG, SH grade oil)

- Automatic Trans (Mission/Axle) Fluid

Always use NissanMatic Fluid

- For other oils please consult Maintenance Notes

For Details please consult the Nissan Sales Company

The only problem is, I have no idea where this goes on my car. Not only was the parts manual not helpful, I could not seem to find out even on Google examples of this sticker and its application.  And yet, it is listed on FAST and in the catalogs as for the R33...

This next sticker (weirdly, also listed as "C" above!) is listed as common for the R33 and R34 - the Ignition timing:

Engine Adjustment Value

Idle RPM (Manual transmission) 950 rpm

Ignition Timing (Manual transmission) 20 degrees/950 BTDC /rpm

I have no idea what the "2P" here is for, nor why there is a small sticker on the side with the second half of the parts number.  Turns out however that maybe I did not need to order this sticker:

As my car still has the factory applied sticker in place. Not exactly straight either. Note the yellow caution label is also not applied straight.  This is going to bother me... and yet they both WERE applied at the factory so super OEM...

So I have a backup sticker, I guess. I also have no idea where the simplified oil change sticker goes as well.

So for the remaining 3 stickers, this is how I THINK they would be applied, according to EPC/the parts book - but to be honest, I am not sure if I even WILL have the stickers applied:

I guess this will simply have to be another question/task for Nismo Omori Factory, next time I go there...

Actually, there was ONE sticker I found and I know where it goes:

On the side of the dashboard on the passenger side - visible when the door is open. Although whether to apply over that nice leather finish will be another conundrum.

Anyway, most frustrating for me because there simply isn't enough information I was able to find. Not the most pressing parts update for my car, but I did want to share what kind of research I do as well as my decision making in seeking to refine my car even further.

So, I suppose I will have to continue my research before moving forward on actually applying these stickers.

It's Always the Details that Count!

 In my last post, I showed you how I changed out the ceiling lights - both front and middle - to OEM S15 pieces which came in black, versus the light grey for the R33 parts, in order to match the new Alcantara headliner I had first modified at Robson Leather and then installed at Nismo Omori Factory back in July of last year as part of a lot of extra work I had them take care of.

However, there was one small detail that had been bothering me ever since I got the headliner installed, which I had actually forgotten about, but then in the course of swapping out the lights this little problem made itself apparent, which forced me to find and then have this sent to me.

What is it? Well, take a close look. Yep, another pair of S15 sunvisors. And in this case, the only difference being the printed lettering on the warning label:

Blue arrow pointing to the mount - note it is DIFFERENT than how the current visors were mounted at Nismo Omori Factory.

Can you tell that the ones installed in the car already (top) have smeared lettering? At the time I found them on Yahoo Auctions, they were the cleanest sample I could find. Luckily this time around, I found an even CLEANER pair.  You can see clearly how bad it was in this next photo, after I removed it and lined it up with the one I had newly bought.  

After I unbolted the one installed on my car, laid it out with the one I just got.

The one on the passenger side, however, did not require replacement as it was super clean to begin with:

In fact the one that was already installed seemed to have slightly more vivid colors...

The better condition driver's side visor wasn't perfect:

Can you see how there seems to be a scratch on the mirror cover, as well as a small indent on the right as indicated by the arrows? Nothing I can't polish out and also apply a heat gun to (which is what I did to eliminate the indent).

The bigger problem was, as I indicated above, the mounts on both of these were different. Here is what the one one on the newly purchased ones looked like:

And as you can see here, the ones on the Nismo installed ones looked like this.

Took a bit of heat and some muscle, but finally loosened the teeth on wider mounts:

Then all I had to do was to undo the cover, held in place by two small indents on each side (as shown by the blue arrows):

Which then revealed two screws:

And then the sunvisor simply came off and left this hole:

The final step was to swap out the mounts, and then reinstall the cleaner sunvisor. Hard to tell how good it looks as I took the next two photos at night, under artificial light, but I think you get the idea!

Was tough getting the right lighting...

So again yes small details like this really add to making the car even more perfect! Ok nothing is perfect, but if a small issue can be fixed, then why not fix it? Maybe this year is where I do nothing major but just keep making small upgrades like this? Then again, we are already done with 2 months of 2021, better save up some more soon for some interesting projects in the back of my mind...

OCD to the Max?

So as I was taking the car interior apart in order to strip out all non OEM wiring, I realized the moment I had been waiting for had arrived.

You see, a while back while my car was at Nismo Omori Factory, I was doing my usual Yahoo Auction check when I stumbled upon these two items.

 Yep, they are brand new clear plastic covers for the main gauges as well as the subgauges!

Looks good but it can be improved!

You can see the slight scratches...

 So to prevent any further scratches on replacement, I put on these rubber gloves.

And used some electronic equipment air spray to make sure once opened up, there was no dust that would end up between the new clear plastic and the gauges.

And then I just snapped the new plastic to the shroud:

Super clear!

Did the same with the submeter gauges:

You can see some scratches here but...

This really shows you how scratched up it is

Looks shiny...

COMPLETELY Transparent! 

Anyway, while this mod really didn't do much in terms of functionality, it helps to detract from the fact that the car is almost 25 years old. Having a clear line of sight to the instruments is key, and can be considered part of bringing the car back to "factory fresh" but with a modern twist!

And so a few more mods to go until I can say the car is ready! Ready for what? Stay tuned and find out...