MY/MOTOR Radio's GRM $2K9 Challenge HB

[Drift21_Hardslider]

I feel that since I am chronicling this build, I will create a new post.

Purpose

The goal of Phase one of this project is to encourage people to get out and participate in grassroots motorsports, like Autocross, local (LEGAL) drifting, and drags. It will also show that while the GT-R would be nice to own and use, you don't need a $75K vehicle to go out and participate in some form of racing. Many of us know that, but some of these younger guys don't realize it, and while I won't reach every single one of them, even reaching two teenagers is better than none.

What Is the Challenge

Grassroots Motorsports Magazine holds a challenge every October called the $200X Challenge. It reflects the year and the dollar amount you can use to spend on your Challenge vehicle, including the vehicle itself. The vehicle will compete in an Autocross, a Drag Time Trial, and a Concours. You are judged on everything from the look of the vehicle to bribing the judges.

Rules are pretty open, just has to be safe for the two racing events. Because of this, there have been Miata-powered, Motorcycle-dampened Locosts, V8 Beetles, and even (yes) a 5.0L powered Zamboni. The rule you must not break is that you cannot spend over $2009 (for this year's Challenge). Tags, Taxes, and Insurance are not counted as parts of the budget and on certain things, you can recoup what you spent on it up to $1004.50 (IE: you can sell parts you don't need on the vehicle, donor chassis, etc). You can use the recoup to get you back in the $2009 budget.

Cars can be driven to the event and there is an award for "Longest Drive." The spirit of the event is to have fun, which is the whole reason the contest started and why there is such a large variety of vehicles.

Now, on to the project.

The vehicle of choice is my 1987 Nissan Hardbody Pickup. It is the 2.4L NAPS-Z Z24i with a five speed manual. I choose it because it was cheap ($250, more on why later), is RWD (RWD RZ TEH BEST FER DRFT), and it's fairly light weight (to subside my GIRTH).

It's stock, other than the custom (read: CRASHED and the $250 price tag) front end. Here is what I'm starting with:



Not terrible, but will need fenders, bumper, radiator, and grille. That will be taken care of once I get the money for the Pathfinder front end I found on Craigslist.

Money is my only limiting factor, so I am looking for spons.. er.. I mean "part-ners" to help with this. [shameless plug] Actually sponsors are allowed and welcomed. MOTOR is also looking for sponsors. I work well with people and the show will be heard nationwide on whap1340.com. I will be covering the Redline Time Attack and the Mid-Atlantic Racing and Automotive Scene. [/shameless plug]

Concepting

Well, I started cracking on the photoshop. My skills aren't great, so don't rag me too much. There were no blueprints or model kits to use to get a side view, so I had to use this as my base:



I leveled the body out and created an outline of the truck, then laid out the background color of the truck, then the foreground color/stripe, the did a pinstripe at the top of the white foreground. It's a scheme similar to what my dad did in his Datsun Pickup, except where mine is that dark grey his was a bright red.



I think I need to tweak the bed and front fender to better mimic the way Nissan did it. This is just to give an idea of the paint scheme and it will evolve to better reflect the final design.

The engine will use a custom ITB setup using liter motorcycle throttle bodies. It will be lowered 2" front and 3" rear, utilizing the American Racing wheels that are coming on the truck, but instead of the 255/65/15s I will be using 195/50/15 Kumho Ecsta ASTs front and rear (stretch tires FTW!). If I can find it in the budget, I will get another set of 15's and use used 225/45/15s R-compounds (or just stickier tires) for the Autocross. I will reuse two of the steel 14's for drag tires and use some used Drag Slicks.

I'll try to keep this thread updated every month, along with videos of the build. MOTOR Radio will have it's own web page (or at least a MySpace and Facebook). And remember, MOTOR will go live in Mid-March and be heard on WHAP 1340AM or if you live outside of Richmond and the Tri-Cities you can here me on whap1340.com!

[breadbox]

Sweet! GL with project. Is this in Richmond? Sounds fun to go see. When is the event?

[Drift21_Hardslider]

Sweet! GL with project. Is this in Richmond? Sounds fun to go see. When is the event?

The event takes place in Gainsville, Fl on October 8th-10th. But, it is an epic event for sure. Spectators are welcome!

[Desert Rat]

Cool post. I look forward to following this.

[Drift21_Hardslider]

Just updating on the fact that I haven't done much to the Hardbody, but have come up with an additional scheme:

"BRE510" scheme.



BTW, the copper color is going to reflect the velocity stacks that I'm going to make out of copper tubing for the ITBs.

[Drift21_Hardslider]

I have a question, has anyone taken off the fan and clutch on the Z24i? I want to use an electric fan to free up space between the radiator and engine. I know normally the clutch is part of the water pump, but there must be some way to remove it.

[Drift21_Hardslider]

I'm going to just have to find out on that water pump. Need a new one anyway. Here is what I have done thus far!

Took off most of the front end off, kept the hood on for now, but I do have it, too.





Found some rust, but nothing bad that will kill the project.



Where the air pump was!

Battery tray

For those who don't know, the '91 Pathfinder front end is different in appearance. For one, the headlight has the lower, inner corners filleted (rounded). (The picture show the headlight upside down)

The fenders are also flared out, as you can kind of see here. (Hard to tell from the original, wrecked fender)

The badly worn Grant GT wheel

A better picture of the rusty American Racing wheels.

Not pictured, I have a pair of Honda Civic seats to replace the bad, worn bench seat. I also have an intake from a KA24E 240SX. I have also replaced the seized slave cylinder.

I've also been thinking, I found a T3/T4 turbo I had bought months ago for a BMW E30 I had. Also, after looking at the money I am using to just get the truck right, I'm going to eclipse the $2009 budget constraint that GRM puts on the challenge (if I include the performance enhancing parts).

So, the question I pose is this, how many of you would be disappointed if I decide to drop the GRM $2K9 Challenge, BUT, come up with a new budget, enter even more events, and make Phase One the E30 M3 equalizer instead of waiting on Phase Two. Me, I won't be either way, but this is going to be a radio show for you guys who love racing. This is that show's project, so it's as much my project as it is yours, too. Give me your input, do you want the new Budget, or stick with the 2K9 Challenge? Reply here or send me an email at [email protected]! I want your input!

[ca18datsun510]

you can use a 280zx or simliliar l series waterpump, but you will need to work on the pulley to make it work with the crank and alt.

and what are you planning on doing with that 240sx intake? it wont work on the napz.

[Drift21_Hardslider]

you can use a 280zx or simliliar l series waterpump, but you will need to work on the pulley to make it work with the crank and alt.

and what are you planning on doing with that 240sx intake? it wont work on the napz.

I'll have to try that water pump, then.

I've heard that the intake from the KA24E (which is the intake I have) will work, but the thermostat housing won't. I think I've found a way around that, though. I want either ITB's or just multi-port fuel injection for an easier way to install a turbocharger, depending on which route I go.

Here is where I base that on:

(EDIT: it's on Nissan Forums, but for some reason, NICO isn't liking the link. go to their site, then type "truck-suv/100147-ka24e-z24-manifold.html")

If I'm wrong, I'm wrong and out $30. I might have to make my own intake if that's true

Modified by Drift21_Hardslider at 4:01 PM 2/8/2009
Modified by Drift21_Hardslider at 4:32 PM 2/8/2009

[seang]

When I heard what your plans were for the z24 engine, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. However, don't get carried away with anything too radical. Just keep it simple. You have high hopes for this thing. Its just like a supercharged 5.0 Mustang, its faster than stock, but theres just something about modesty that remains timeless. The turbo sounds pretty cool if its good for low rpms 1000-5500. I also like the itb setup you first had in mind. The stock ka24e manifold is already enough without the itbs. Its really up to you.

[Drift21_Hardslider]

Don't get carried away with anything too radical. Just keep it simple. You have high hopes for this thing. Its just like a supercharged 5.0 Mustang, its faster than stock, but theres just something about modesty that remains timeless.

I can understand that. I also started to wonder if I can turbocharge it as is, it can probably be done since Chevy guys have been doing it with TBI trucks. Bet I could do it.... GAH, this is what happens when I start thinking.

[seang]

The turbo would work better with the 240 intake mani. It is the 240 version right and not the truck version?

[Drift21_Hardslider]

The turbo would work better with the 240 intake mani. It is the 240 version right and not the truck version?

Yeah, it's a 240SX mani.

[seang]

I can't wait to see it when you're done.

[Drift21_Hardslider]

I can't wait to see it when you're done.

Heh, same here. I'm still concerned about the intake fitting, guess I'll find out Saturday. In the meantime, look what came in Monday!







I'll also be cleaning these up on Saturday.

[ca18datsun510]

are those out of a burned bike?

[Drift21_Hardslider]

are those out of a burned bike?

Yeah, a ZX10. The throttle plates are stuck, but I'm going to get some throttle body cleaner, PB Blaster, and (worse case) carb cleaner and get everything cleaned and working again. It doesn't look bad, as the part I'm looking to get working is just the throttle plates.

[Drift21_Hardslider]

Well there is some bad news to report. I will not be having a radio show, the station is under new (well old) ownership and it will be a month at the earliest, if at all considering the format the station will be under (soul music). There may be another option (internet "radio"), but will have to see.

The truck is still going to be built, despite this.

[breadbox]

Sweet. I want to see nicely fitted ITBs.

[Drift21_Hardslider]

If I do ITBs, it's going on the KA24DE, now. I'm going to use the Z24i engine to set up the MegaSquirt and Ford EDIS.

[Drift21_Hardslider]

As I said, I haven't given up on this so most of the '91 Pathfinder front end is on now!





Straight bolt on affair, no snags or anything!

I've also gotten some rather different ideas, as well. Considering the love I have for pre-runner trucks and the need to stand out in drifting, I started thinking. What if I installed a pre-runner front bumper and skid plate, spare wheel holder (removing the tail gate), installed off-road lights (half of the strobes, the others as off road lights), kept it low, and gave it an "Urban Camo" paint scheme, this could be a very intimidating looking truck. I would also use fitting tires instead of stretched tires, too.

Now, when I'd take it to a Time Attack or any other real downforce type racing, the tail gate would be back on and would have a different front bumper.

I'll start to concept it tonight, along with the bolt-in roll cage I have in my head.

[Rev_D21]

Very interesting, I love reading the updates.

[Drift21_Hardslider]

Very interesting, I love reading the updates.

I'm trying, but money is a controlling factor in the speed of the updates.

[Rev_D21]

I'm right there with ya on that one. My list of projects for this year has ended and I am already spending money in 2010.

[Drift21_Hardslider]

GREAT NEWS! My radio show premiers tonight on WHAP 1340AM (whap1340am.com) at 6pm EST! Be listening!

[Rev_D21]

Truck has come a long way BTW.

[Drift21_Hardslider]

Truck has come a long way BTW.

Still got a ways to go, too. Rear semi-permanent roll cage, bolt in front cage, bed sides, Pathfinder rear conversion, rear spoiler (Time Attack aerodynamics using the old rear bumper attachments to have affect the actual frame), tube "drift-runner" front and rear bumpers, Tacoma "Drift" or Colorado "SS" aftermarket front bumper with splitter and under-tray (more Time Attack areo), and some more I'm not thinking of.

I'm going to see what it would take to body drop the cab by just removing the rubber isolators tomorrow. I want to get some more of the weight lower, but don't want to cut the cab to pieces, for now .

[Drift21_Hardslider]

Gah, never got to anything this week. Been busy with the radio station. Since we have the Baltimore Orioles games, I'm going to be engineering the Friday games after my show. Saturday, I'm going to tear down the KA24DE block for hot tanking and honing. My dad is using the shop all weekend so no work on the truck (unless it's really nice, then we'll see).

I'm also working on Video diaries for the show and build, so be looking for them soon!

BTW: I am going to do the rear mounted radiator! Before I do, will the KA's water pump be enough for that?

[Drift21_Hardslider]

Small update, the truck's new primary mission: Drifting and AutoX. Psycho Racing now has a Sidekick 4-door to race in Time Attack, so now I don't have to worry with creating multiple aerodynamic parts to remove and take off. So, Hardslider is now just a Drift-Runner.

Bought some 16" GM wheels, but I'll have to machine the centers out.



Don't worry, I'm not keeping the tires, or maybe.....

Anyhow, here is the center of the Nissan Wheel



Not much to take off.

Also, I'm going to save a bit of money and try something a bit different. Instead of going out right away and getting custom spindles, I'm going to get a 4WD center link. As you can kind of see here:



The idler and Pitman arms connect away from the outer tie-rod. The 4WD centerlink:



has the OTRs connect right with the Idler/Pitman arms. My theory is that it will be just like adding spacers to the outer tie-rod of a Rack-And-Pinion setup.

[Drift21_Hardslider]

Well, the tires won't fit, so don't worry, but I do have a question. What spacers are you guys running to use Titan wheels?

They have the small centers like these Chevy wheels and if I don't get a trade offer, I'm going with spacers.