Nissan Frontier - Exhaust "Y" Pipe Mod

The first steps in modifying a car for performance often lie in the intake and exhaust systems. My 06 Nissan Frontier Truck is no different. However with 265 stock horse power, I did not find a need to gain more power. Last fall however I was out four wheeling and got the truck stuck on a large rock. The truck was dragged over the rock, and in the process a section of exhaust pipe was crushed. The decrease in exhaust pipe diameter was not very bad so I did not do anything about it. However after many hundreds of miles of driving it, I did notice that things were a little off. The idle was rougher, the MPGs took a slight hit, but the main thing that got my attention was the smell of rotting eggs after a hard pull. Since the crushed section of exhaust was on one bank of the V6, I suspected that those three cylinders were running richer the other three. This was made worse with my air intake modification. More available air would mean more gas into the system; and if one side was not running as efficiently as the other, excess unburnt gas was being pushed into the catalytic converter: the most common reason for the rotten eggs smell. Not counting hotsprings and skinky roommates.

My truck is V6 with a single exhaust. This means that somewhere in the system the exhaust pipes from the two separate engine banks need to be combined. This truck does so with a "Y" pipe. The factory Y pipe is constructed by crimping two circular exhaust tubes into a half circle and jamming them into a third pipe. The result is a very restrictive junction. As we know the more free flowing the exhaust system the better the engine runs. Lets not start an argument about back pressure now. This is an excellent place for a little performance modification. As some of you know I, like many other people, suffer from WYAIT (while you are in there), so while I was getting my crushed exhaust repaired, I might as well address the bad Y junction WIWIT.

Since blending two tubes to make a smooth "Y" junction is not very easy to do, I decided to buy a pre fabricated "Y" pipe. I found that Magnaflow made one that suited my purpose. I took some measurements and decided that the 2" in and 2.5" out was the perfect pipe. I then source the part online for $26.83 from autoanything.com. Perfect.

http://www.autoanything.com/exhausts-mufflers/69A2680A0A0.aspx

Shawn's Muffler and Welding in Tahoe City is a local muffler shop. There might better and cheaper muffler shops, and I am sure there are worse and more expensive ones too. However he is close to my work and does pretty good work. He bent and welded in a new section of exhaust pipe as well as the new "Y" section. He charged me one hour for his time and the materials used.

Preliminary result show a return of my MPG and a little more pep. No additional exhaust volume, maybe a deeper tone. Throttle response is a quicker and ass dyno estimates a 5hp gain.

Vroom vroom!!

Ski Hard - Stay hydrated with Platypus water bags

Skis, boots, poles, pass, helmet, goggles, gloves. Check. You go through the standard check list as you prepare for a day on the slopes. Dressed in your sleek ski jacket, you heft your skis onto your shoulders and start hiking towards the chair lift. Did you happen to bring any water?

Carrying that trusty sticker encrusted Nalgen water bottle is almost impossible in your form fitting ski jacket. The heft alone will throw you off balance as you shred the steeps, utilizing every bit of coordination to stay upright. So what are you suppose to do when thirst overwhelms you after a lengthy tree run? Go to the lodge? Pssshh

Carry a better water bottle. Or not even a bottle but a bag. For the last several years I have been carrying a Platypus bag. Several sizes are available and they conform and bend to your body. Sure you can not over fill it, and it will not hydrate you for those long all day backcountry excursions. But for a little thirst killer to hold you over till lunch, this is the ticket.

It seems that many blogs these days are centered about pushing a product. Buy this buy that. But I like to think that ideas are still the important thing to push. If you do not want to buy Platypus's products, you can also use a small disposable water bottle instead. The 10/12 oz size is about perfect, and the thin material is flexible. Newer bottles are being made thinner and thinner to save on material and shipping cost. This is a big bonus for us because it makes the bottles even more flexible. Often times I will carry two bottle to offset the weight of each other. One thing I do not like about using such bottles is the fact that they are disposable. Shame on you if your consumption of water comes exclusively from cases of bottled water. Buy, ski, drink, wash, fill; ski, drink, wash fill, repeat!

Lowe Hummingbird - A skiing Ice axe for hard snow and neve

Ice axes are meant for just that: ice. However that is not what always covers the ground in the winter. Often times the slope or chute you are climbing is covered with hard snow, or neve. This is especially true if you are looking to ski down the same slope you just climbed up. Such conditions are difficult for a standard ice axe to gain a good purchase. The relatively thin blade of an ice axe cuts through the snow like a knife. A cold dull knife blade, but a knife never the less. Because of this fact the tube pick was invented. Rather than the standard ice axe blade, the pick of a "snow" axe has a semi circle cross section. This half moon shape has a much greater cross sectional area to hold the snow.



I recently came across this particular axe: the Lowe Humming bird. This is a very versatile axe and can be configured for many conditions. The configuration which I received the axe in is quite unique. It purpose: to climb snow. Not only does it have a tube pick on one end, but a extra large tube pick for an adzes. This is something I have never seen before, and I have seen my share of ice climbing tools. The axe appears to be a hammer only axe, without the option of switching to an adzes. An adzes is flat blade used to chop steps in the ice. Ice axes are often constructed so that both the pick and the hammer can be removed and replaced with another type of pick or an adzes. If this option is not present, most likely there is another version of the axe with a forged adzes.



It then begs the question, is this an adzes attachment or an extra large tube pick attached to the axe's hammer. I would imagine that it is in fact an extra large tube pick for the following reasons. The full circle design of the piece in question would hold the snow in place. If it was intended to be a chopping tool it should be destined to be self clearing. Sure a second "chop" would drive out the snow lodged in by the first bite. However this is a small amount of snow taken with each bite. No very efficient for making steps. Next the short shaft design is intended for vertical or steep travel. In the steeps, crampons are a necessity and thus negates the need for steps. Finally chopping steps is an old mountaineering technical. One would chop steps if they are not wearing crampons, on low angle and/or if they are marking trail for others to follow. If any of those conditions were true one would be using a longer mountaineering axe rather than a short climbing tool.


If you ever find yourself out on a steep snow field, and your ice axe isn't cutting it, or it is in fact cutting through the snow; know that there are specific built ice tools for climbing the NEVE!

Skiing In Shorts

For most of us, the first thing we do in the morning is to stumble to our closet and pick out some clothes to put on. OK maybe a trip to the potty and the coffee maker might beat out getting dressed. But sooner or later we got to chose what we will layer our bodies with for the day.

If this is a ski day you might take a look outside to see what the weather might be. Many options exist for your upper body. However your choices are limited when it comes to your legs. If it is warm, you might wear ski pants only. If it is cold you might throw on a pair of long johns underneath. What if it is kindda cold, or really cold. I often ski in a pair of shorts.

No I am not talking about those bone heads you might see out on a spring ski day sporting a Hawaiian shirt and shorts. I am talking about adding a pair of shorts to your layering system. In the winter many of us put away our summer clothes and pull out the winter garb. Included in this change out are most of our shorts. After all you most likely will not be able to wear them for six months or so. Shorts for summer, pants for winter. Whoever shorts make for a very good layering system. On those kinda cold days I will throw on a pair of shorts underneath my ski pants to give me a little more insulation. Short pants are great for this cause they insulate your butt and thighs but do not interfere with ski boots. On very cold days I will add a pair of shorts on top of my long thermal pants to add another layer to my system.

The shorts of choice for me are synthetic "basketball" shorts. Not too short, not too long. Synthetic material that does not get clammy when wet. Silky smooth so that it slides between the layers. No cargo pockets to bunch up and cause extra bulk. Does not limits a full range of motion. And very inexpensive. Who says all ski stuff cost a lot.

Yes I ski in shorts. The Hawaiian shirt however, we'll save that topic for another post.

Romanesco Broccoli - Trippin out on Vegies

I just came across a picture that I thought was an alien life form. Turns out it is just broccoli. Actually it more resembles cauliflower and is also know as a Roman Cauliflower. If the shape is familiar that is because each of the buds are arranged in a logarithmic spiral. Log Spirals are often found in nature. Way to make eating your vegetables fun.

Pozi Drive - Phillips not GM

By now you have probably figured out that there are different size Phillips screws and bit. Good Job. But did you know that there are more than one type of Phillips screw and drivers.

If you are a ski bum you know that a #3 Phillips screw driver is best for turning those large screws on your skis. Be it the DIN setting or the mounting screws. If you have a keen eye you might notice that the face of the screw might have a few extra lines than the standard four found on Phillips screw head. Four standard slots and four additional "star burst" set of 45 degree angles. This is known as Pozi Drive or Suredrive screw.

A joint patent for this design is held by the Phillips Screw Company and the American Screw Company. The purpose of this screw is to increase the torque which can be applied before the screw and driver interface "slips".





A regular screw driver can be used to turn Pozi screws however a Pozi driver should not be used to turn non-pozi Phillips screws. The four extra spline will prevent the pozi driver from sitting properly with in the screw and cause rounding of the four Phillips slots.

The term Pozi Drive is often confused with Posi-Trac. Posi Trac is General Motor Companies term for a limited slip differential. LSD not the screws on your skis.

The American Screw Company...Imagine all the marketing material you can come up with for those guys!

Hand Warmers - Part 1 Disposable Chemical Heaters

If you have spent any amount of time outdoors in the winter, you most likely know of a little wonder called a hand warmer. Rip open a packet and these little babies get toasty hot. Stick them in your pocket or glove, rub them all over your body. Sometime when you are chilled to the bone there is no way to get warm but to add additional heat to your body.

Though I do not use them on a regular bases I keep a few in my ski bag; just in case. The temperatures around here are relatively mild and dressing appropriately usually keeps me warm enough. However when the temps drop to close or below Zero these puppies can really save your skin.

Over the years I have learned a few things about hand warmers that you might not know. Tips on how to use them and ways to make them more effective. There are also several different types of warmers that I will share in following post.

Chemical type hand warms are made by many different companies. They also come in various different forms, such as toe, foot and sleeping bag warmers. These type of chemical heaters are activated by oxygen, once you open the package, the heater is exposed to air and a reaction begins. When the reaction is done, the warmer becomes hard.

-Since warmers last for many hours (7 hours according to some packages), and your outing might not, you can save your hand warmer by placing them in an air tight zip lock baggy. This will stop the chemical reaction. You can then save the heater for the next time you need it again. Make sure to suck all the air out of the bag before you seal it.

-when buying heaters, give the packet a squeeze. The material in the packet should be loose, like a bag of sand. Often the outer wrap develops a hole, and the warmer becomes activated and is already spent even before you get a chance to use it. Also check it before you pack a warmer with you off on your adventure. It is a real bummer to have an ineffective warmer to fall back on.

-some gloves have little zippered pockets. These are for your hand warmers to be placed in. Very effective.

-Skiing is the only time that I have needed toe warmers. In fact toe warmers are so effective that I have never needed foot warmers. Toe warmers are triangular shaped warmers that have a sticky pad on them. The directions tell you to stick the pad on the foot bed of your boots. I have found that placing them on the foot bed negatively effects the way you ski or walk. Instead place them on top of your toes. There is usually space in your boot above your toes to spare. This also makes is easy to insert and remove.

-Since the warmers need air to heat, sometime they become oxygen starved and do not produce the optimal heat output. Glove pockets and zipped up pockets often do not have enough air flow. Remove the warmers from your pocket if you suspect that they are not working effectively and give them a shake and replace. You might get a little more juice out of them.