Just picked up a '02 Sentra GXE 1.8L, I dig it!

[tony22r]

I just bought a 2002 Nissan Sentra GXE 1.8L, 4-door, 5-speed stickshift.
Power Windows/Doorlocks/Mirrors. The manual says I have the "QG18" engine.

I just picked it up a few days ago... can't wait to do some hot-rodding!
It's a tight little car, fun to drive with the stickshift. Smooth-revving (1.8L) all the way to redline, I can squawk the tires every time 1st to 2nd and chirp the tires a little from 2nd to 3rd (stock 185/65-14). Surprisingly tight Suspension even in the GXE! The stock brakes are Great! ..even with the rear drums? (i think.. never bothered to look). Gearing on tranny is nice; good around-town grunt plus decent highway cruising; haven't tried for top speed yet, need to find a long road with no fuzz; feels like it might reach 110-120 mph? I really dig it... tight little car.

Been riding a motorcycle for over 2 winters now and the cold/rain got to be a real bummer. Needed a small reliable commuter car real bad; started lookin at used Civics & Corollas at first, Dang! prices are Steep for those! Buyers were fighting over them at car lots! So stepped away and got this Sentra instead...

I've been out of the scene for awhile; I'm old school... used to rebuild chevy/ford small blocks, rejet/rebuild carburetors, dabbled in torque convertors & shift kits for big 3-speed TH400/C6 trannies of the time, back in the day... it was Mustang vs. Camaro/Firebird.

These little Sentras are real neat! I'm gonna take it easy and just have fun. My 7-yr old son wants to turn it into a Rally-style car with light racks, baja grill, etc.
Some things I wanna do...:
-short throw shifter (the stock one is kinda long and not very precise; after rowing thru gears on a Miata i got spoiled.)
-ghetto airbox mod (engine's too quiet, just want some intake noise)
-header
-maybe hi-perf Chip?
(does anyone make a mild Chip that runs on 87-octane? I don't mind going to a cooler thermostat (a cooler engine would prolly last longer, Toyotas run real HOT these days outta the factory, I've experienced Oil Sludging/Gelling on my brand-New V6 Toyotas!). But having to run Premium 91+ octane gas for a Chip these days would really $uck on the pocket book... $2.21/gallon in Kalifornia today! for 87-octane Unleaded! GRRrrr...)
-light bar on roof
-brush guard with light bar
-dump the 14"s for 15" rims for better tire selection.
-better muffler... i'm not sure what to get.. is Dynomax still around? I once had a 2-chamber Flowmaster on another car that was Obnoxiously Loud!
I just want something with large air volume (bigger), and a *little* more Growl, not high-pitched scream. IMO the big factory mufflers that came on Mitsubishi Eclipses looked very nice and seemed to have good flow.

I'm gonna try to keep engine mods mild... open up the powerband, try to get some more top end without compromising the low end. A little at a time, keeping it fun for me and my kid.

Oh yeah, I wasn't sure whether to post in the "B15" forum or the "QG18 1.8L Engine" forum, what's the difference between those?

Happy tuning, ride safe...

-tony22r

[chimmike]

unfortunately there's no chip.

want some tuning ideas? check out my website. I recently added SAFC II install instructions....that'd be the closest thing to an SAFC for ya, but you need to have it dyno tuned.

QG18 engine forum is where you should post engine/power related questions. b15 is the chassis forum.

your engine code is QG18DE.

[Hendrix]

Congratulations on finding NF!! Check out the 1.8 Sentra in NissanPerformanceMag.com.