A Paratrooper's 300zx build thread... reboot

[A Paratroopers 300zx]

I have not posted to this forum in a long time... almost 3 years. For whatever reason, I decided to look you guys up again! While browsing, I noticed that none of the pics in my original build thread work! I'm assuming this is due to system changes and the like. At any rate, I like having public documentation of all of the work that I have done to my dream car. There have been a few big updates since last I posted... and I still really enjoy taking a break from being an engineering nerd and escaping to a curvy, thunderous and exhilarating ride in my Z. Please excuse the massive size of this post and enjoy what I take great pleasure in.


Cheers,
Morgan


I'll start things off with a link to the original build thread and my current mods list:

paratrooper-s-build-thread-pic-intensive-t492602.html

Green font denotes new mods since last post

A Paratrooper’s 300zx

-Vehicle-

1992 Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo
Color: 326 Super White
Emissions: California
Transmission: Manual
Estimated Horsepower: 450 - 500whp un-tuned
PSI setting: 16 low, 21 high

-Exterior-

1999 J-spec front fascia
1999 J-spec rear tail lights
Concept Z Performance rear wiper delete plug
eBay clear rear side markers (smoked)
IonicDynamics carbon fiber door pillar appliqués
IonicDynamics RT cowl panel
KarumaZ belt moldings
Magic Drift custom modified side blade skirts
New OEM third brake light panel (de-badged)
PowerTrix carbon fiber fog light ducts
Swapped hatch and nose panel from my old 1990 N/A
Synergy Composites carbon fiber T-top bar appliqué
TwinZ Type II rear bumper cover with diffuser
WINFactory aluminum front splitter
ZSpec Design “Fairlady Z” front license half-plate
ZSpeed Performance engine splash shields

-Lighting-

AutoVizion 6000k HID kit
LED rear markers

-Wheels and Tires-

McGard chrome spline drive locking lug nuts
Nitto NT05 255/35/R18 front NT05R 285/40/R18 rear
Yokohama Advan Siena Gen II wheels 18x9 +37 front 18x10 +45 rear
Z1 front and rear hub centric wheels spacers 5mm

-Braking-

300 Degree master cylinder brace
StopTech front 332mm 4-piston slotted Trophy big brake kit
StopTech front + rear stainless steel braided lines
StopTech front + rear street performance pads
StopTech rear slotted rotors

-Suspension/Steering-

AMS front inner tie rods
Carbing rear strut bar
Concept Z Performance front end links
Energy Suspension bushings
Energy Suspension rear end links
PowerTrix adjustable front upper control arms
PowerTrix adjustable rear upper control arms
PowerTrix adjustable rear traction rods
PowerTrix HICAS eliminator bar
SPL front outer tie rod ends
Stillen front and rear anti-sway bars
Tein Flex coilovers with full EDFC (F-8kg/R-6kg)
Tein pillow-ball tension rods

-Interior-

300 Degree 3 gauge cluster DIN mount
Concept Z Performance polished gauge rings
Custom cluster (red) and pod (blue) LED conversion
Custom SMZ replica carbon fiber shift knob
Momo 300zx hub
Momo 300zx seat brackets and sliders
Momo Millennium Evolution steering wheel
Momo Speed II seats in charcoal alcantara
Redline Goods custom shift & e-brake boots in charcoal alcantara laced in green
REV Imports carbon fiber rear seat paneling, center piece and arm rest
Synergy Composites carbon fiber e-brake handle
Takata 3” 4 point racing harnesses
ZThirtyTwo carbon fiber door sills with green "300zx" logo

-Electronics-

Audiobahn 1 farad capacitor
Audiobahn A6004T - 75W RMS x 4ch. amplifier
Autometer Cobalt wide band Air/Fuel ratio gauge (x2)
Car Concepts custom enclosure
Custom (hand-built) tweeter pods
Defi Blue Racer boost gauge
Defi Blue Racer oil temperature gauge
Eclipse 12” Titanium DVC subwoofer
Eclipse 34230 - 370W RMS x 2ch. amplifier
Eclipse CD - 5441 head unit
GReddy Profec B Spec II boost controller
GReddy turbo timer
Kenwood 4” rear speakers
Phoenix Gold Xenon 5.25” component front speakers
Tein EDFC

-Deletes-

AIV system
Carbon canister
Cruise control
EGR system
Fog lights
HICAS system (full removal)
PRVR system
Rear wiper
Secondary clutch bleeder line
Throttle body water bypass
VTC function

-Drive Train-

350Z cast iron clutch fork kit
Concept Z Performance stainless steel braided clutch line
Nismo transmission mount
Shaftmasters aluminum one piece drive shaft
Specialty Z High 5-puck clutch
Specialty Z lightweight flywheel
Z1 premium short throw shifter

-Power Plant-

300 Degree fuel rails with stainless steel braided lines
ARP connecting rod bolts
ARP L19 head studs
Blitz oil cap
BDE motor mounts
BDE solid exhaust cam valve cover plugs
Cometic metal head gaskets (0.060 thickness)
Concept Z Performance 2.5" aluminum intercooler piping kit
Concept Z Performance (Concours) polished upper intake plenum (machined inlet ports to 58mm to accommodate the Z1 throttle bodies)
Eagle connecting rods
Holley adjustable fuel pressure regulator with 100psi gauge
Jim Wolf Technology pop charger intake filters (x2)
Jim Wolf Technology tuned ECU (91 octane, manual, 740cc, Cali)
JUN adjustable intake and exhaust cam gears
Koyo Aluminum radiator with CZP stainless brackets
LaMco oil tree sensor adapter
Mike Smith Performance turbo exhaust manifolds
Mild Intake and exhaust port work on heads
Nismo 740cc injectors (95+)
Nismo thermostat at 62ºC (143.6ºF)
OEM 95+ EFI harness, CAS & PTU
Power Enterprise Kevlar timing belt
Ramey Z heavy duty idler studs
Selin dual MAF translator with elbow kit
Specialty Z (Sebring) 3" 5 bolt stainless steel expansion down pipes
Specialty Z (Sebring) 3" stainless steel test pipes with dual wideband bungs
Specialty Z (Sebring) 3" stainless steel quad round tipped cat-back
Unknown Coatings powder coated parts in Illusion Green
Unorthodox Racing crank pulley
Unorthodox Racing overdrive water pump pulley
Wiseco pistons bored to 88mm (0.040 over)
Z1 bronze valve guides
Z1 EGR block off plates
Z1 GT675RS (GT2860RS) turbochargers
Z1 HL-15 cams (270º duration and 0.385 lift)
Z1 lower radiator hard pipe (chrome) with silicone elbows
Z1 magnetic drain plug
Z1 oil cooler
Z1 polished 58mm throttle bodies
Z1 side mount intercoolers
Z1 silicone accordion hoses
Z1 silicone hoses and lines
Z1 stainless steel engine bay bolt kit
Z1 valve springs

-Miscellaneous/Fluids-

ATE super blue DOT4 clutch & brake fluid
Concept Z Performance battery tray
Dewla Design throttle cable cover strip
GZA brake master cylinder and power steering cap covers
HKS Limited Edition Black SSQV blow off valves (x2 re-circulated via HKS 29mm fittings)
Redline MT90 transmission fluid
Z1 aluminum door lock actuators (left & right)
Zspec Design battery cable bracket


And now some catch-up pics:


























And now the updated mods:














Here's a little impromptu photo shoot that I was invited to:
Photo credit: Marc Pickering & Gavin Pouquette









I'm tired now... more later.

[Rogue One]

Sorry, I'm not quite getting why you needed to start a second thread for the same topic.

[A Paratroopers 300zx]

Sorry, I'm not quite getting why you needed to start a second thread for the same topic.

Well, build threads aren't very effective nor interesting without pics. Also, I like having an update-able place to document all of my progress. The old thread wouldn't let me edit any of the posts and all of the pics weren't viewable.

[Rogue One]

OK. Just a heads up, there was a change to the system awhile back that sets a time limit for editing posts. IIRC posts cannot be edited after 24 hours.

[DCaff300ZX]

Sorry, I'm not quite getting why you needed to start a second thread for the same topic.

I had the same problem, old hosted pics not showing and unable to edit to compensate...time for a new thread!

BEAUTIFUL car as always Morgan, IMO the nicest on the site...keep it up!!

[A Paratroopers 300zx]

I had the same problem, old hosted pics not showing and unable to edit to compensate...time for a new thread!

BEAUTIFUL car as always Morgan, IMO the nicest on the site...keep it up!!

Ya, I read your new thread! Great work man! Thank you for the kind words!

[A Paratroopers 300zx]

*UPDATE*

Over the past few months, I was able to find a great deal on a set of legit JDM 3-piece wheels and decided to completely rebuild and refinish them. As it happens, they are one of the most rare and hard to work on wheels that I could find lol. There is very little info on them and were discontinued over 10 years ago. The biggest pain was disassembling them and finding the right tools to do so. The bolts were partially hidden behind the lip of the faces and nothing in my garage could reach the heads. I ended up modifying a double ball-end hex key and held it with vise grips.

The faces were originally chrome and were peeling in spots, so off to powder coating they went. Unfortunately, I forgot to tell the powder coating guys that they needed to tape off certain parts of the faces, so I had to sand them down a bit to fit. The lips went to a metal polisher and each nut and bolt was replaced. Once everything was ready, I was able to put them all back together with a great deal of effort... 39 bolts on each wheel!

Yokohama Advan Siena Gen II wheels
18x9 +37 front
18x10 +45 rear
Refinished in metallic gunmetal
Total cost (including purchase price): $1350

How the looked originally:



Tools I used:



The process:









All done:

[Dino V]

Wheels turned out great and you got a heck of deal on them! You're running pretty much the same setup that I have with my Volk GTM wheels. Offsets are perfect and fit like a glove.

[A Paratroopers 300zx]

Wheels turned out great and you got a heck of deal on them! You're running pretty much the same setup that I have with my Volk GTM wheels. Offsets are perfect and fit like a glove.

Thank you! I love your wheels too! I ended up using 5mm spacers all around, but haven't set the car down yet to see how they look. I'll post up pics when I do.

[DCaff300ZX]

Awesome looking wheels and a great deal indeed, they look great!
But I also loved your originals...do you still have them, and perhaps willing to sell them?

[Dino V]

Wheels turned out great and you got a heck of deal on them! You're running pretty much the same setup that I have with my Volk GTM wheels. Offsets are perfect and fit like a glove.

Thank you! I love your wheels too! I ended up using 5mm spacers all around, but haven't set the car down yet to see how they look. I'll post up pics when I do.

Thanks! I am running 38 offset in front and 42 offset rear, sits flush with fenders. I am on all stock suspension though.

[A Paratroopers 300zx]

Awesome looking wheels and a great deal indeed, they look great!
But I also loved your originals...do you still have them, and perhaps willing to sell them?

Thank you! Unfortunately, I already sold them. They were not very wide at all and I needed more meat to the ground.


*UPDATE*

So, I won a raffle and got a Haltech ECU!!!!



... and then I got a little dress up item... it's a new dipstick handle from Ztek Manufacturing.

[DCaff300ZX]

Wow, nice with the Haltech!
I also got that dipstick handle from ZSpec, it looks very nice installed and actually works well also...easier to grab in that mess in that area!
Now, if I can only have some money to spend on MY Z...