My TT Project - Build Thread (Shibui)

[Ziggy1621]

Ok, well I'm almost done! Still have to de-vein the ps pump so I can pull the front Hicas and I've got the Top Speed bar for the rear, then pull the transmission to see whats hanging up. After that, put in the battery and the ecu!!!! I have a few things I didn't get to paint, but I'm getting too anxious, so I'll pull them later to paint (i.e. bolts/nuts on the balance tubes, radiator brackets). Still have some neatening up to do with some wires/hoses too as well as paint the throttle cable cover. Hoping to turn it over mid next week!

Here's a current pic!

[300ZXttZMAN]

[Ziggy1621]

Ok, a few leaks, dirty connections, and finding the hidden fuel pump kill switch.. and IT's Alive!!!! She is running! I'm posting a video below. I'll make a better one this weekend with the video camera, this one is at night with the iPad. I do have lifter clicking, but that should clear up when I get to let it run this weekend. My ecu set for the new 550's should be in on Saturday, then I can run her for a while and really warm it up!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI7LImbR_4M[/youtube]

[300ZXttZMAN]

I wish I had good speakers -_-

Atleast you got it running dude!!!

[Ziggy1621]

I wish I had good speakers -_-

Atleast you got it running dude!!!

Yeah man, Hoping to take it on its maiden voyage to the new years party I'm going to. Got a few odds/ins to take care of, hicas bar, rebuild calipers, get all the lights hooked back up, that kinds stuff.

[300ZXttZMAN]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

[addicted4life]

Sweet man!!! Congrats!!!

[Ziggy1621]

Sweet man!!! Congrats!!!

Thanks dude

[bartZ32tt]

Excellent determination!

Wish it was nice enough weather to work outside on my Z this time of year. Mother Nature took a big white fluffy 10" deep SH¡T on me yesterday...spent an HOUR shoveling my driveway. Need..garage...heater! Anyways, nicely done!

[Ziggy1621]

Well, not to rub it in, but it's sunny with a high of 75

[Ziggy1621]

Still fixing a couple leaks and waiting for my ECU, looks like it won't be until Monday. But nice to do some non, knuckle busting-shove your hand in a tight space kinda work.

Got the HICAS eliminator bar in today.. and used Blue LocTite (Mark, wipe the drool off). Did some cleaning/painting while I was in there.



Broke the calipers down to paint and rebuild


Parts cleaning


One Painted, it's not permanent yet cause I have to go pickup the rebuild kit in the morning, but you get the idea!



Hoping to have her going and stopping by next weekend, here's hoping!!

[nissanfreak12]

Looking good!!! It will feel great when you get it on the road and get the boost up.

[Ziggy1621]

Thanks dude, definitely!

[Ace2cool]

Niiiiiice. Awesome work.

[Ziggy1621]

Niiiiiice. Awesome work.

Thanks brother! Hoping to have pics of all 4 rebuilt and painted calipers on tomorrow.

So, what do you do if you find out after you put a VG in a Z32, that you stripped a bolt on the passenger head's mount for the heater core pipe? You build something that looks like this to fit a 7mm bolt in... that was 'lots of fun' cramming my hands back there. Good thing I deleted most of the pipes back there!

You're looking at a 7mm tap, cut down, then ground to fit in a 6mm socket, then tac welded in.

[Ace2cool]

Oh man, I've had some ghetto rigged tools before, but that's brilliant. My best one to date is the 7 foot breaker bar we made for a Saturn SL2's trans bolts. Even a 750lb/ft impact wrench wouldn't remove them, so I went and got a 40lb, 7' piece of pipe.

[Ziggy1621]

Ha! Nice. Necessity is the mother!

[Ziggy1621]

So Merry Christmas Eve everyone. Got my chipped/tuned ECU in today thanks to Harry at Ztuner. Ran the car for a bit, tweaked the cas, listened and looked for oddities. Was feeling pretty good until I went to get in the drivers seat and saw coolant on the floor so when the parts stores open Wednesday, I'll pickup some hose to bypass the core. Got a small exhaust leak where the test pipe on the drivers side meets the cat back, so I'll get that one knocked out as well. Waiting for my front caliper rebuild kits to get in and my front spacers to clear the calipers. After all that, it'll be time to go around the block a couple times before going for a spin!!

[nissanfreak12]

, such a great feeling when you get to drive around a car that you have spent a TON of hours fixing, rebuilding, swapping.

[Ziggy1621]

Yessir!

[Ziggy1621]

Woohoo! Brakes and wheels spacers are on! Exhaust leak fixed, heater core bypassed, and rear quarters rolled.

She is taking her maiden voyage tomorrow!!!

[addicted4life]

Put a camera in it buddy, let us see how it goes

[Ziggy1621]

Nothing exciting yet, have a coolant leak at the back. Pretty sure it is just something that needs tightening. And when the car is warm and you turn it off, the fuel pump doesn't come back when you go to restart. Pretty sure that is the relay, so going to check that out. Car looks sick rolling tho! I'll have some pics later.

[spec1sef]

I love your posts specially the pictures you post. It helped learn a lot about my Z.

How hard was the engine pull and putting it back in? I need to swap my blown VG30DETT with a JDM VG30DETT and mechanic wants $800 to replace the engine. I am debating should I do it myself or bite the bullet and have them do it.

I have done small four cylinder swaps but never tried something this big where there is no room to put my hands. Another challenge is the snow in Ohio region so its freezing cold when working in garage even with heater.

Your input will be greatly appreciated. Looking forward to some dyno numbers on your Z.

[Ziggy1621]

Thanks and welcome to Nico. It's definitely a challenge if you have to work on anything while its in. Youre better off getting a lot of maintenance stuff done while you've got it out. Search around the threads here and you'll find some great info. Definitely do your homework on just getting a jdm and stabbing it in, some have had luck, others not so much. Good luck!

[spec1sef]

Thanks and welcome to Nico. It's definitely a challenge if you have to work on anything while its in. Youre better off getting a lot of maintenance stuff done while you've got it out. Search around the threads here and you'll find some great info. Definitely do your homework on just getting a jdm and stabbing it in, some have had luck, others not so much. Good luck!

I am actually too late to this forum. I've already purchased the JDM motor. I bought my Z from out of state and the guy pretty much lied to me when I asked him if it had good oil pressure. When I got the car it barely had 15 psi oil pressure and a loud tick when warmed up. It drove maybe 3 times and the rod went out the block.

I just couldn't decide if I should do the swap or have the mechanic do it. What would you say? Save $800 and do it myself or have a mechanic do the swap.

I've already got $7k in the car plus $800 and other $$ to get it running if mechanic does the swap.

How's the GSP intercoolers? Good upgrade?

[Ziggy1621]

I guess it comes down to your confidence. I doubt you will just swap the motor and be good to go. There will be troubleshooting. If you do go with a mechanic, make sure it's one confident with working on a vg. A lot of them are scared of them I like the GSP. They work for my HP goal

[Ace2cool]

Either that, or just don't go to a mechanic.

It's always better to know how to fix your car yourself, and what better way than building it from the ground up?

[andre1038]

Can't wait to see a video of it moving and running


O and Spec1 on the JDM engine thing Ziggy is right you have to be careful.. Remember when he said about some being lucky with buying JDM (I'm one of those guys but i absolutely checked everything on the engine) but i also happen to see the car as a whole before it got cut into a front clip because i needed everything

[spec1sef]

Thanks guys. I will make a new thread for mine. I do want to keep up with Ziggy's build so can't wait for the update and video....specially some dyno numbers