FX500 Kit Gives the NSX Muscles to Flex
 

Special effects have been used in the film, television, and entertainment industry to create scenes that can not be achieved by live-action cinematography. In case you didn't know, King Kong wasn't really captured and forced to act in the movie, and that wasn't the real Titanic ocean liner you saw sinking. What are real though are the effects Factor X Engineering of Las Vegas, Nevada has on the Acura NSX platform. Factor X Engineering (FXE) often takes a run-of-the-mill NSX and transforms it into a record-setting high-output machine. Take a look at Ken Namimatsu's FX500-equipped NSX, generating 640 horsepower at the wheels, the NSX leaves its mark in every competition it enters. It hits dragstrips with a 10.6-second prerequisite, blasts by time-attack competitors by posting a 1:12.000 at the California Speedway, and its doing all of this with over 25,000 miles on its current setup.

Ken has been a longtime customer of Factor X, setting up his NSX with several of FXE's performance combinations. From their simple bolt-on parts to big-power producing twin-turbo systems, Ken's NSX has seen it all. Reaching each and every goal set of the NSX, it was time for Ken and the FXE team to draft some more-challenging targets for the NSX. Currently, the NSX's main objectives are to win circuit races, demolish anything on the street, and hold its own in quarter-mile racing. To do so, the NSX's performance combination had to be revamped and with Factor X behind the project, it was time to put some special effects to work on the NSX.

DEVELOPMENT

After Ken Namimatsu maxed out previous performance combinations, the FXE team constructed this 600+ horsepower sports car that can be used in any type of racing. Getting the NSX up to competition spec meant improving the forced-induction system, bulletproofing the C30 engine, and refining the suspension and chassis to a point of perfection. To kick off the project, six Darton International cylinder sleeves were fitted to a fresh C30 engine. The cylinder sleeves house 93mm Wiseco forged-aluminum pistons mated to a set of FX Spec 1000HP connecting rods. The piston-and-rod combo attach to an FX-treated crankshaft to complete the rotating assembly to create a displacement of 3,179.5cc. As for the cylinder heads, Ferrea stainless-steel valves, dual race springs, and titanium retainers were fitted to each bank. To orchestrate the opening and closing events of the Ferrea valvetrain components, a set of FX Spec high-performance camshafts made their way to the V6 engine of the NSX. To provide a leak-free seal, Cometic head gaskets are sandwiched between the block and heads with ARP head studs. The assembled engine was then installed in its mid-mounted position and attention turned to the forced-induction system.

From past experiences with twin-turbo systems, the NSX would deliver great power at the expense of some throttle response. To create a powerband that delivers neck-snapping performance on the track, the decision was made to outfit this NSX with a single-turbo kit. This high-capacity single turbo would deliver a hefty amount of horsepower and torque in the mid range which is ideal for circuit racing. A TiAL Sport GT3582R turbocharger was selected to do the job. The GT3582R features an 82mm, 56-trim compressor in a 0.70 A/R housing. On the hot side, a GT35 turbine wheel is set in a 0.82 A/R housing. On the exhaust side, the turbine housing attaches to a FXE-fabricated downpipe and FX Twin-Canister exhaust system. The turbo is mounted to custom FX-modified Comptech headers along with a TiAL Sport wastegate to regulate boost pressure into the C30 engine. To provide the maximum amount of cooling for the charge air, a custom FXE-designed quad-core air-to-water intercooler system was fabricated.

To match the increased airflow with an equivalent supply of fuel, a half-dozen RC Engineering 1000cc/min fuel injectors deliver the needed fuel. NGK spark plugs work in conjunction with the factory ignition system that was modified by Factor X. For tuning duties, a MoTec M48Pro engine-management system takes the reigns. With a tank full of VP Racing C16 fuel and the boost pressure cranked up to 22 psi, this single-turbo setup produced 640 horsepower at the wheels (DynoJet 248c chassis dyno).

GROUNDWORK

To transfer the newfound power to the wheels, an FX Spec transmission was bolted up to the C30 powerplant. From the engine, an Exedy carbon-carbon clutch transmits power to the reworked trans and down to a set of FX-modified axles. The high-performance axle set spins a pair of 10.5-inch wide Volk Racing CE28n wheels in the rear. The 18-inch CE28's are wrapped in Toyo Tires RA-1 rubber in a 275/35R18 offering. Up front, 17-inch Volk CEs with 235/40R17 RA-1s were chosen. The NSX is plants to the ground by a set of Comptech Pro coilover suspension. The Comptech coilovers combine a 1000-lb spring rate up front while an 800-lb spring rate is used in the rear to best benefit the Ferrari-like handling. To bring this mid-ship sports car to a stop, Racing Brake two-piece rotors were teamed with Hawk Performance pads.