2009 240Z build

[gmac708]

So this is going to be my little Z build. I hope it doesn't take long, I really want to get it up and running soon. My hopes are to take this Z, and swap a RB26 into it. Plan "A" would be keep the RB as stock as possible first, upgrade it later. The car itself will need lots of work and we are going to do a bunch of upgrades right away .

After hundreds of hours reading, it is finally time to get dirty and try and figure out how it all works and have some fun. I do not know everything and will most likely make a few mistakes.

A journey of 1,000 miles must begin with with removing the hood (sorry Lao).

So I picked up the car is AZ. It came with a cool surfboard and a funny front plate that said "HORNEY".



My dad went out and looked at it for me and said it was a keeper. He had checked a few cars out for me before and was getting pretty good at it.



A little dirty, but everything was there.

The sun had eaten up anything plastic, but the metal was good and solid.



I had it delivered "door to door" but it only made it as far as my work. The guy driving the transporter was freeking out over the snow and ice on the roads. No biggy. I took the opportunity to wash the car, top and bottom.



I also weighed it to see how much it ends up changing.



2253lbs

We finally got it home.




Up on jacks, did a little photo inventory.


Started taking it apart today.






Looks pretty good!

I found some sort of Holley water injection stuff. I was told it was for that daang-nabit unleaded fuel they started sellin a while back.



I got rid of the Air-conditioning compressor and condenser and hoses.



I am beat! That's it for now.

[FlatBlackIan]

I knew there was a build thread coming.

I cant wait to see how this things pans out. As we found out with your S chassis build, you know how to build a car.

[NSR_s30]

Definitely interested in your build. Gotta keep us updated.

[evildky]

2250 is kinda high for a series 1 chassis but you have the early heavy huge add on a/c but still heavier than I'd have thought

[boro drift]

AAWW, that car is so rust free!! I'm jealous!

The car I'm going to pick up has the usual rust in the usual places.

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

[snwbrdr435]

Awesome!

[gmac708]

Time for an update.

Got a lot done today, I am really sore and tired.
Need to make some space for the new engine , so I started getting ready for the engine pull. A few loose ends here and there.

Here I got the fluids drained and pulled the rad, fan and belts.



Everything pretty well removed over here.



Got the alternator out of the way too.

Exhaust came out in one piece. I could not separate the components. Letting the soak over night.



No sense in smashing them up. All original stuff, still in good shape.



Anybody need an exhaust tip?

I started working on the inside. whoever did the A/C mod should get their a** kicked. Total hack job. Tons of poor quality connectors that showed signs of overheating.




Nothing we cannot fix



I got the dash out. Anybody know a good refurb shop? Not having much luck locating a good used dash, I might have to send out for repair.

No we have some space in here.





These hoses need replaced. All rotten.



Getting ready to clean up.



I think that is it for today. I need to start ordering some parts for the interior. Any recommendations and past experiences would help.

[boro drift]

Gordon, I saw a new dash on e-bay last week. NOS, $1200.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Nice thread once again! At this rate, you'll have the car done in no time!

[gmac708]

Gordon, I saw a new dash on e-bay last week. NOS, $1200.

I saw that, I think it was listed by Courtesy Nissan. They must have been getting rid of the old stock.
I have a few e-mails out to a few refurb places.
Just dashes: http://www.justdashes.com/Index.htm and
Dashboard restoration: http://www.dashboardrestorations.com/contacts.htm

We'll see if they reply.

[gmac708]

Nice thread once again! At this rate, you'll have the car done in no time!

I'll keep trying but this is going to take a while.

We did make some progress today. Here is an update.

I keep running into small wiring hacks that are starting to get me angry. This looks like the wires ran out to the engine (blue wires).



So far, I have the starter wires have been by-passed and hacked. The fan blower motor was spliced and bypassed for the A/C system, The splices in and around the fuse panel had poor quality crimps. The alternator wires were not even hooked up. I also found two wires that were spliced into the ignition system, had been mistakenly trapped and squished under the rocker cover. This was probably giving ignition troubles. I found them when I was removing the A/C compressor.


They interior removal is progressing s l o w l e y. Everything is baked to a crisp. The plastic cracks and turns to dust, the glue is crispy, the firewall insulation even came apart to the touch.



Cam was working on getting the engine out by removing everything down there.



Drive shaft disconnected, removed and reinstalled the yoke to prevent oil from pouring all over Cameron, (learned that the last time).

Alex was here to help today as well, you can always use more hands.




Up and out



Lots of room



Need to keep cleaning!

More of the wires (those damn blue wires). The ground points were loose and showed some heat damage. Good place to check for problems.



We'll. I can lift the car up off the stands. Getting a little dangerous to lean on now.



Poor engine, deserves a good home rather than being cast aside and sitting in the corner of the garage.


SOMEBODY ADOPT ME! (and the trany)

The new engine and mounts should be here shortly, then we can have some more fun!

Gord

[boro drift]

Man, I can't wait to see that RB26 between the frame rails! Did you find a tranny yet?

[gmac708]

Man, I can't wait to see that RB26 between the frame rails! Did you find a tranny yet?

Yup. Ordered the engine and trany from coolwhip at Raw Brokerage.

[evildky]

fabbing your own mounts? or buying the mckinney mounts pan and pickup?

[DJ Raijin]

you went with an RB26? That'll be a mean machine.

Though you coulda saved some money with a VH45DE...but hey, an RB26 will have much more support.

[gmac708]

Time for an update.

I spent the good part of Saturday looking around in junkyards for an R200 diff and Z31T axles. I also went and checked out a few welders. It was cold out but I enjoyed driving around and unwinding from work. Any body have a setup for the rearend, please PM me.

Today I wanted to finish up cleaning out the Tar-mat stuff that is glued all over the inside floor. I read that dry ice helps break the stuff loose. I figured it was going to be in the teens this morning, so why not leave the garage door open and start chipping with plastic scrapers. It worked perfect.



Things go slowly, but every once in a while you hit a big patch that breaks loose. I had the "frozen toes" and "snot-cicle" thing going early on but it did warm up a bit towards noon. Keep the plastic scrapers sharp and move around. Come back to the difficult areas later if you get stuck. No sense in destroying anything. Eventually you are done.



The engine mounts are here from McKinney. They look awesome I had a little problem at first (they sent two of the same front mounts), I called Mac and he sent the correct mount out right away.

I got some stuff from Coolwhip @ Raw Brokerage.



Intake, water pump, belts and pulleys, BOV, harmonic balancer. I think Cameron is sleeping with the intake and I haven't seen it in a few days, I hope to get it back. The engine, transmission, clutch should be here shortly. I ordered a radiator last night.

That's it for this weekend. I'm going to try and warm up!

[nissan_star]

cool beans man. Its tough to work on a car in these midwest winters

[hbpignosePA]

this thread is gonna be sick

good work man

[evildky]

going to this extent I highly recomend a custom chassis harness, run the modern internally regulated alternator and yout wipers and headlights might actually wrk at the same time

[FlatBlackIan]

You are my hero.

[hbpignosePA]

i got an r200 diff from my 78 with the output shafts

idk how you would ship something that heavy.

u got any ideas on how to ship it, ill let it go cheap i want it gone

[Logan76]

Wow, your threads are always quality!

[breadbox]

Sick. what color are you thinking in the end?

[sebazztard]

your builds move along so quickly, subscribed for sure.

[ilovesideways]

nice work so far It will be a mean machine for sure

[boro drift]

Don't leave us hanging! lol.

Got any updates for us Gordon? You must have the engine by now?

[gmac708]

Don't leave us hanging! lol.

Got any updates for us Gordon? You must have the engine by now?

As a matter of fact...I do.

I did sneek a little post over in the RB section. Time to give some love to my homies over here in the "Z" section.

I purchased the engine from Raw Brokerage. Coolwhip (I keep thinking of the Family guy episode when I say that) acted like a broker (suppose that's where the name comes from) and went down to the docks and picked me out a nice fresh one. He looked it over and made sure they replaced the MAF that had been substituted in error. He made sure they replaced a damaged part or two, on the hot pipe. I guess that's why I used them! Thank's



here it is off the truck. I got the RB25DET trany from them as well. Got a little credit for the RB26DETT AWD trany. Like I needed another transmission in my garage! I still have the old engine and transmission if any one is interrested in it.





Home at last.



This thing is freekin huge. No really, it's way bigger than I ever expected.



OK. I need to get rid of the stuff I don't need. Air-conditioning compressor....gone, Power steering pump...gone, harness... need to modify, baffles?...BAFFLES?...WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING BAFFLES!...Gone. Fuel hoses and filter...bla, bla, bla. Any way, we got it striped down.





TA-DA.

that's it for today. tired. need beer!

[hbpignosePA]

hey do u plan on going to any shows this summer? if u end up goin to carlise and still need an r200 let me know!

looks amazing so far

[gmac708]

hey do u plan on going to any shows this summer? if u end up goin to carlise and still need an r200 let me know!

looks amazing so far

Lookie what I got



I got the R200 covered. 1982 280 ZXT w/CV axles and companion flanges. I see a KAAZ 2 way in my future.

I did sign up for Carlisle, the Z won't be done, but me and the kid will be there.

[boro drift]

OOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH damn!!!! Thats so awesome!

Thanks for the update! Your build seems to be going very well so far.