The 260SX Installation Team
Lead Designer, Installer, Vehicle Owner and Maintainer, and Project Financier: Scott Buwalda
Vested Project Time: Approximately 5,500 physical hours and 2,000+ hours in planning (and this number keeps growing!)
Vested Project Funding: Approximately $125,000.00 of personal funds
Notable Functions in this Build-Up:
Assistant Designer and Installer: Brett Nelker
Vested Project Time: Approximately 2,500 volunteer hours (November 2003 - March 2005)
Notable Functions in this Build-Up:
Lead Interior Fabricator: Dwayne Blackwood
Vested Project Time: Approximately 250 volunteer hours
Notable Functions in this Build-Up:
Lead Hardware and Software Engineering: Clay Howard
Vested Project Time: Approximately 1,500 volunteer hours
Notable Functions in this Build-Up:
Lead hardware design engineer in the development of the car's on-board computer hardware profile, which monitors and executes the vehicle's unique suite of functions, performance monitoring (both engine performance monitoring and car audio performance monitoring), and wireless capability. This included the physical design of all serially-interfaced electronics, debugging, and assistance in setup.
Lead software design engineer in the development of both two- and three-dimensional executables for the manipulation of all of the car's electronics functions using a touch screen interface (there are no push buttons in this car!).
Lead Digital Audio Interface Software Engineer and Lead Graphics Engineering: Kevin Lewis, JK Labs
Lead Audio Engineer: Jeremy Carlson, JK Labs
Vested Project Time: Approximately 1,500 volunteer hours (and this number keeps growing!)
Notable Functions in this Build-Up:
Lead digital audio software engineering, responsible for the interface electronics between the Denon DCT-Z1 source unit and the DEQX digital signal processor. All functions relating to the proprietary digital audio interface between these two units was firmware programmed by JK Labs. The interface is one of the items in the vehicle that we are extremely proud of, but are tentative to give full details! Let's just say that the head unit and processor "talk to each other", and the processing can be manipulated on many different levels.
Lead firmware software engineering in the programming of the overheard button control panel for the vehicle's manual functionality.
Lead graphics designer and software engineering in the development of all three-dimensional software models of the vehicle, and assistance with three-dimensional executables to control the vehicle's functionality. Other functions included assistance to Clay Howard in the development of the final executable being used to control both OEM and aftermarket functions in the vehicle.
Lead audio engineering for all improvements and modifications made to the Denon DCT-Z1 source unit and DEQX digital signal processor, including design and installation of hardware within the DCT-Z1 to upgrade digital clocking and oscillation, installation of remote control button panel electronics, installation of 75 ohm silver coaxial digital output, and removal of all unnecessary hardware not needed in the final system design. With respect to the DEQX modification, JK Labs has engineered the replacement and upgrade of operational amplifiers and capacitors for higher-grade audiophile electronics, installation of higher-grade phono connections and replacement of copper wire for silver wiring interior to the unit, upgrading the clocking and oscillators within the unit, installation of a built-in 12-volt regulated power supply for the DEQX unit, design and installation of a single channel subwoofer output using the highest grade parts, and most importantly, the hardware design for the DCT-Z1 and DEQX interface electronics, allowing the DCT-Z1 and DEQX to communicate, and allowing the DCT-Z1 to control the DEQX's digital volume control, among many, many other functions proprietary to the project.
Lead electronics engineering in the design and buildup of the custom Denon DCT-Z1 remote control button panel located in the car's center console.
Lead electronics engineering in the design and buildup of the custom overhead button panel console to operate the vehicle's manual functionality, such as accessory and engine start functions, nitrous bottle open and close, alarm and valet programming, manual door pops for both doors (repetitive command to ensure safety), and prompting of the computer hardware. Additionally, JK Labs designed the interface board for these electronics using solid state parts and firmware encoded chipsets.
Lead electronics engineering in the custom illumination conversion of all dashboard and overhead ceiling components, including the Denon DCT-Z1 source unit, Blitz SBC-iDII boost controller, APEXi Power-FC full computer unit commander, and ambient lighting effects in the DEQX bottom panel. The illumination was changed to red and blue on all units to ensure cosmetic integration with red and blue lighting effects throughout the installation.
Performance/Engine Building: Simon Drummond
Vested Project Time: Approximately 320 total man-hours.
Notable Functions in this Build-Up:
Mr. Drummond has been involved on this project since the very beginning and has seen various iterations in design. He has always been responsible for sourcing hard-to-find parts out of New Zealand, but in 2007 he took a leadership roll in physically building the entire RB26 engine "from the ground up." Mr. Drummond was responsible for all aspects of the current Nissan Skyline N1 RB26DET engine build-up, from sourcing parts for the build, overseeing subcontractor services such as balancing and machining, and final assembly. The only reason the engine produces the reliable horsepower that it does is because of Simon's unwavering support to this project.
Other Volunteer Project Assistants: In addition to the above noted volunteer supporters of the project, Scott Buwalda would like to also thank several individuals for their support of the project since its beginning in February 2003 (if anyone was forgotten, PLEASE e-mail the oversight so it can be rectified!). Here they are in no particular order:
Curt Staat (buss bars and battery venting bar, and likely a new form of distribution system)
Rorrie Mars - United Kingdom (installation attention to detail, polishing, and those little pain in the butt hinge trim panels on the back window)
Mark Stringer - United Kingdom (installation attention to detail, engine details, alcantara door inserts)
Dave Brooks (vinyling assistance and the most killer southern breakfasts you'll ever eat!)
Calvin Thomas (8" midbass trim panel jig fabrication and some engine compartment sanding way back in 2003)
Russ Goggans and the entire Atlanta 240SX community (assistance with the RB26DETT installation---10 guys to do an engine install)
Dwain Stiles (local Sikken representative and painter of the car)
Josh Willets (engine cowl and trunk lid trim panel sanding and fabrication)
John Marsh (the only level-headed guy in the shop during crunch time for CES, ceiling panel installation)
Cameron Wilkinson (suspension installation, fabrication assistance, last-minute details)
Chris Bakay (silly ideas and then moving away to Boston before he could help with the silly ideas, and fabrication assistance)
Bill Pleasant (80's hair metal and booty bass discussions, installation and fabrication assistance, and trips to Waffle House)
Dean Collins (assistance with software icons and software ideas sounding board)
JR at Solar PC (touch screen woes, and getting them handled quickly and effectively), and last but not least,
Jeff Scott (for his unwavering support of this project and assistance with certain hard-to-find hardware. You're a life saver, Werewolf!).
The above represents several hundred hours of additional labor, putting the project in its current trim well over an estimated 10,000 man-hours!