COBB Tuning Blog

If you have been living under an automotive rock for the past two years, then you might have no idea that the Nissan GT-R is the performance bargain of the century. But chances are, you have been drooling over the thought of owning one of these awesome machines. If you are lucky enough to own one, you probably have an AccessPORT already. With the stock turbochargers in place, these cars are good for about 550whp with a tune and an exhaust system. Add in larger injectors, a fuel pump and some E85 or race fuel and you can increase that power to around 600whp. But what if you really want to turn up the wick? AMS Performance has done just that with their SR850 kit for the GT-R.

To achieve critical horsepower mass, AMS has ditched the factory snails for a pair of aftermarket units, similar to the units found on the COBB Tuning Time Attack GT-R. These are plumbed with AMS intakes, downpipes, intercooler upgrades and a revamped fuel system. AMS then adds some racegas to the soup of go fast parts and tunes the mixture with a COBB Tuning AccessPORT. The result is a hearty 755whp and 731lb/ft of torque, at the wheels! This once again proves that if you want big power in the GT-R, the COBB Tuning AccessPORT is more than capable of delivering when coupled with the right mixture of quality components.

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Check out the latest issue of SuperStreet Magazine for the latest on LA Laker’s star, Andrew Bynum’s, Nissan GT-R. This car features a widebody kit, full exhaust, custom wheels and a COBB Tuning AccessPORT. SuperStreet claims that power is estimated to be around 580whp! You can read more about this very cool machine in the January 2010 issue or online here.

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When one thinks of the collision of NBA basketball stars and the automotive world, you might conjure images of dubs, bling and airbag suspension. However, Portland Trailblazer rookie Power Forward, Jeff Pendergraph, wanted something different. Instead of the G-ride or the predictability of a Porsche or Ferrari, Jeff went for the raw power and performance of the Nissan GT-R. Luckily for Jeff, COBB Tuning AccessPORT. Jeff’s car is now putting down well over 500whp. Check out the interview with Drivingsports TV, you can see more as well as the complete uncut interview at Drivingsports TV’s homepage.

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GT-R ProTuner, GTC, recently traveled all Europe, England, the Middle Aast, Asia and Australia on a GT-R Tuning mega trip that lasted several weeks and successfully tuned dozens of GT-Rs. With demand getting even bigger for custom tunes in Asia, and with the tempture in the U.K. dropping to -17 with 30-inches of snow on the ground, it made sense to fly over to give a personal touch and custom mapping with the AccessTUNER Pro software.

John Banks’ excellent work with the GTR software, wich now allows knock datalogging and proportinal gain boost control, makes GTC mapping a very easy & popular choice. Since getting hold of the AccessTUNER software in 2008, testing on their own R35 demo cars, GTC quickly realised every GT-R appears to like different calibrations. While E-Tuning has worked well, being able to tune in each region made for even better calibrations.

“It was a massive honour and a buzz to meet so many GT-R owners across Asia,” Said Ben of GTC. “I can’t thank them enough for their kind hospitality. The highlight being custom tuning a JDM-Spec GT-R on the tiny island of Phuket in Thailand, no dyno is on the island so we had to tune the car on road but take it slow at elephant crossings.”

“The other highlight was flashing the very first JDM R35 in Asia with the new TCM speed limiter delete,” said Ben. “Again that was another buzz, every time Nissan tries to be clever changing position of limiters the ECU gurus at Cobb Tuning, Joe Graham and John Banks, crack it!”

More Photos and Discussion can be found here!

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What do you get when you take 1-part perpetual Florida Sunshine, 1-part Nissan Supercar, 1-part COBB Tuning AccessPORT and 1-part E85 and mix it all together at the drag strip? A 10-second quarter mile run in the dead of winter, that’s what! Nissan GT-R ProTuners, HP Logics, applied this formula to one of their local GT-Rs and was able to smash through the 10-second barrier to pull a blazing 10.4@133mph drag run. This was done with stock turbochargers with stock wastegate actuators, a full turbo-back exhaust and modified fuel system with dual Walbro fuel pumps and Deatchswerks 950cc injectors. This easy-to-replicate set up is quickly becoming the standard for GT-R power. Corn Juice+Tuning=POWER!!! This car is making a humble 573whp and 577lb/ft of torque.

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COBB Tuning is committed innovation and performance and to prove it, we present two vehicles converted to run on biofuels. Not only do these two cars, a 2007 Subaru WRX STI Limited and R35 GTR, run on clean burning E85, but they both make well over 500whp! E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol (alcohol distilled from corn) and 15% gasoline. This Oklahoma-grown miracle-fuel is rated at 105 octane and is a great substitue for leaded race fuels.

Both of these vehicles were built at our COBB Tuning Surgeline facility and tuned by lead calibrator, Tim Bailey. For more information on converting and tuning your car for E85, visit us online at Surgeline Tuning or call us at 503-670-9500.

This STI is making 540whp on a GT35R Turbocharger, built fuel system and E85!

The COBB Tuning Surgeline GT-R makes just under 600whp with just an upgraded fuel system and stock turbochargers!

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At COBB Tuning we are never satisfied with good enough and we love to experiment. In the environmentally-concious Pacific Northwest, home of our COBB Tuning Surgeline Facility, we have a ready supply of corn juice, or E85. E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Originally developed as a bio-fuel for “flex fuel” domestic cars in the US, E85 has become the alternative fuel of choice for performance enthusiast. The allure of this biofuel comes from its high octane compared to regular pump fuels – 91 to 94 compared to 105 – and a very low price compared to higher octane race fuels. In many parts of the USA E85 costs as little as 2 dollars per gallon. When compared to 8 to 14 dollars quality high octane race fuels E85 represents a huge bargain. If you don’t know about E85 you’re naturally asking the question “why am i not running e85 every day?”. The answer is you can’t. Most stock vehicles are not calibrated or equipped to utilize ethanol based fuels.

Despite having a higher octane rating, E85 has a lower overall energy density than pure pump fuel. Pure gasoline contains approximately 125,000 BTUs per gallon, while E85 contains approximately 84,000. This means that a greater volume of E85 must be utilized to realize the same energy content. This lower hydrocarbon content is mirrored by the stoichiometry of E85 and pure unleaded gasoline. Complete combustion of pure gasoline requires 14.7 parts air (mixed gas air with 23 percent oxygen) with one part fuel. In contrast, complete combustion of E85 requires a much higher relative content of fuel with only 9.7 parts air required. The distillation of this information means that larger volumes of E85 are required for equivalent combustion when compared to pure pump fuel. Thus, the cost savings associated with lower E85 prices is offset by an overall reduction in fuel economy. (taken from Driving Sports article “methanol injection vs E85″ by Tim Bailey.

The graph below shows the stochiometry of E85 (lamda) is similar for pump and E85 but the volume of fuel required for E85 is much higher by proportion (Air to fuel ratio). Despite these limitation of E85 we wanted to tune our GTR to utilize this fuel. Together, the lower cost, higher octane, and higher overall power potential are simply too much to resist. Furthermore, because E85 has not been used in the new GTR platform I simply couldn’t resist the technical challenge.

Because a stock GTR can use nearly 100% of its available injector capacity on pump fuel the first step in using E85 is to replace the stock injectors with larger units. We chose to use Deatschwerks 800cc injectors. These are ~30% larger than stock and should be able to provide the additional fuel volume needed for E85. The injectors were installed and the car tuned on pump fuel:

Stock – completely stock calibration with 92 octane pump fuel – BLUE

Stage 2 800cc – COBB catless midpipe, COBB prototype cat back exhaust, stock intake, stock fuel pump. – RED

We then drained the tank and refilled with E85 full. I adjusted the calibration with COBB AccessTUNER Pro software and prepared to run the car. The first few runs were done at low boost and all was well. The calibration was then adjusted for higher boost and we attempted a full run. I aborted the run because the motor went progressively leaner at RPMs and fuel demand increased.

This increasing lean condition clearly points out a lack of fuel delivery. Because our injectors are mathematically ideal for ~30% higher flow it’s clear that the stock fuel pumps simply cannot keep up with higher duty cycle with 800cc injectors.To combat the lack of fuel we installed two walbro 255s in the place of the stock fuel pumps. The installation took about 4 hours total as the stock in tank fuel surge tank needed heavy but straightforward modification. With new fuel pumps installed we went back to the dyno with high hopes of sufficient fuel delivery. The results are presented in the graph below:

Stock 2009 GTR – 92 octane – BLUE

Stage 2 800cc – COBB catless midpipe, COBB prototype cat back exhaust, stock intake, stock fuel pump, 800cc Deatschwerks injectors – RED

Stage 2 800cc + E85 – COBB catless midpipe, COBB prototype cat back exhaust, stock intake, Twin walbro 255 fuel pumps, 800cc Deatschwerks injectors – GREEN

This E85 Stage 2 configuration is now the highest HP and torque stock turbo car tuned on our Mustang dyno. When the weather clears here in the pacific northwest we’ll find some dry test roads and report V-box data. We’re also planning to rent a local drag strip for development and testing so ETs and trap speeds are coming. As a next step we plan to install some custom intakes. If our early observations are correct this car will make more than 600 whp on stock turbo’s with E85…. all while retaining the factory downpipes.

To continue with the conversation, head on over to NAGTROC to see what other GT-R enthusiasts are saying about this amazing fuel!

Original text by Tim Bailey, Head Calibrator, COBB Tuning

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COBB Tuning announces the immediate availability of COBB AccessTUNER Pro version 1.8.1.2 for the Nissan GT-R. This new software release allows professional Nissan GT-R tuners to create new engine calibrations using COBB’s proprietary Proportional Gain Boost Control logic for AccessPORT equipped Nissan GT-Rs around the world.

Proportional Gain Boost Control is a more simple and elegant RPM dependent boost control system that offers a great leap forward in Nissan R-35 performance. This new method of boost control has been responsible for many recent impressive GT-R racing accomplishments, including a 787whp time attack racer and a slightly modified daily-driven 10 second quarter-mile weekend warrior.

This latest version of AccessTUNER Pro software now covers even more global regions with the addition of the 2009 East Asia GT-R and the 2009 JDM GT-R. COBB AccessTUNER Pro currently supports Australia, East Asia, Europe, Gulf, Japan, South Africa and United States specification vehicles, making it the only truly global OEM ECU custom tuning software available for the Nissan GT-R.

COBB Tuning is dedicated to bringing the most comprehensive tuning solutions to Nissan GT-R tuning enthusiasts and continues to lead the way with innovative engineering, advanced OEM ECU control and global vehicle compatibility. Install a COBB AccessPORT on your Nissan GT-R and experience a whole new level of obscene performance with the push of a button.

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COBB Tuning announces the immediate availability of the COBB AccessPORT for the 2009 model year Nissan GT-Rs manufactured for East Asia and Japan. 2009 GT-R owners in these regions can experience the massive increases in horsepower and torque that GT-R owners around the world have been enjoying.

The COBB AccessPORT for the Nissan GT-R now comes with pre-installed v2.00 maps from COBB Tuning using our proprietary new Proportional Gain Boost Control logic. Proportional Gain Boost Control is a more simple and elegant RPM dependant boost control system that offers a great leap forward in Nissan R-35 performance. This new method of boost control has been responsible for many recent impressive GT-R racing accomplishments, including a 787whp time attack racer and a slightly modified daily-driven 10 second quarter-mile weekend warrior.

The new Nissan GT-R firmware and v2.00 maps are also available for existing Nissan GT-R AccessPORT owners. Simply plug the AccessPORT into your PC, run AccessPORT Updater, and your Nissan GT-R AccessPORT will be updated to the same specification as the new AccessPORTs coming off the assembly line.

COBB Tuning is dedicated to bringing the most comprehensive tuning solutions to Nissan GT-R tuning enthusiasts and continues to lead the way with innovative engineering, advanced OEM ECU control and global vehicle compatibility. Install a COBB AccessPORT on your Nissan GT-R and experience a whole new level of obscene performance with the push of a button.

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Everyone knows that the Nissan GT-R is already a very powerful car, but what happens when you add larger turbos from Switzer and the power of complete access to the factory ECU with the COBB Tuning AccessPORT? HUGE POWER!

Switzer’s newest big turbo package for the GT-R makes around 800bhp and 820lb/ft of torque thanks to a pair of Switzer turbochargers. The car comes pre-tuned with a COBB Tuning AccessPORT for both pump and race fuel for even more performance.

Along with the larger turbos, the kit also comes with an upgraded thermostat, larger “Monster” intercoolers, a larger, dual core radiator and other upgrades. The price? Just under $21,000. For more details on the Switzer R850 Tuning package, visit the Switzer Homepage.

To learn more about the COBB Tuning AccessPORT for the GT-R or other supported vehicles, visit the COBB Tuning Website.

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