The new and improved NSX-RAY
In July of 2008, I sent my 1994 NSX (NSX-RAY) to Sacramento to be transformed into a torque monster. After several years of watching Corvette Z06's and Vipers walk away from me on the straights after crawling all over their bumpers in the corners, I decided it was time for a huge horsepower lift.
I put the car into the capable hands of Shad Huntley, owner of Driving Ambition, arguably the most experienced aftermarket NSX technician on the planet. We put together the following package of upgrades that would put me back into passing mode on the famed 12 hour Sebring 3.7 mile circuit, my home course.
First, we needed to find more horsepower, and importantly, more torque. Clearly the current supercharger setup would need an upgrade....in this case removal and replacement with the Lovefab turbo kit with intercooler. If 3.0L is great, then 3.5L must be event better. We decked the heads and added 5mm of stroke to new Mahle pistons, changing out the crankshaft, lowering the compression ratio and adding an AEM EMS to watch over all this power. An Accusump was added to prevent catastrophe in the event of unexpected oil pressure loss and the main caps were revised with steel bolts.
More horsepower also means more heat. The stock radiator was yanked and a dual pass radiator was added. A oil catch can was added to catch blowby and the factory baffles in the valve covers were removed to prevent oil rentention.
Next, we replaced the stock clutch. While this was very streetable it couldn't handle the massive torque from the new turbo application. An OS-Geiken dual plate clutch was selected as a compromise between street and track use.
We needed to upgrade the aerodynamics of this new machine. Clearly we would be hitting much higher speeds on the long Sebring straights and entering bumpy turns 17 and 1 with much more velocity. We closed of the front undertray with the Type R fabrication, added a ducted Seibon carbon fiber hood, and added a Taitec adjustable rear wing to keep the back end planted.
Voila.....the car you see below rounding Turn 17 at Sebring after hitting 160mph on the back straight!
The final tally....
607 hp, 550 lb/ft of torque at 14psi
The car can now outrun every street car in its class. We can now walk away from the latest Ferrari 430 challenge Stradele, the new Viper, and the new 600hp Corvette ZR-1. NICE!
We'll be doing some more testing on April 18-19 2009 at Sebring Raceway at the Chin Motorsports track event. Come on down and say hello!
1994 red/black Comptech NSX, aka "the red beast", C-NSX
owner: Wei-Shen Chin, Orlando, FL
photos of the recent makeover of the "red beast"