New aquisition

[pintovit]

No idea really... I'll open a thread for that one... Maybe someone else has a clue...

[pintovit]

So!

so my z32 was not in its best shape on the looks departement:
- the front bumper was a mess

- dented and scrapped front wheel covers


- dents all over the place



- antenna mast was always up (and it is huge and recently even got bended)

- one of the T-tops had a rough ride in the trunk and got this

- windscreen/T-tops rubber stripes were... old and badly painted (previous owner)

- rear spoiler was like this





So after some loving (read new paint job) this is how it looks like now. Enjoy!










So besides the regular paintjob, just in case you haven't noticed, the aileron was removed, along with the aerial mast and rear wiper. The roof (2 strips before and after the T-tops) was painted black. The rough paint (gravel gard) on the most lower part of the car was removed as well...

Hope you liked it! I did!

[pintovit]

hummm... No feedback?

[Z31toZ32]

looks very clean. nice.

[ztommyx]

looks good.
you went with original color?

ps. i didn't realize the rear bumper had the lights. i think usa models do not have them

[ffrpwner]

wow i just notice that too haha I like the color

[GsaSlick]

Absolutely beautiful. Such a deep blue. mmmmmm

[pintovit]

looks good.
you went with original color?

ps. i didn't realize the rear bumper had the lights. i think usa models do not have them

Yes, it is the original colour... At least I was told so.

Yes, European (and Australian I believe) models come with those. They are fog lights... I'm not in love with them, but there is no way around that one...

[ztommyx]

^^ fog lights in the rear? i'm guessing it's just a turn on light (night light)

[pintovit]

Yes, it is a brighter red light. I have to turn it on with fog so I can be seen further away...

Here is a picture for you to have a clearer idea:


Regular presence lights on the edges and much stronger fog light in the middle.

[JDMricist]

Regarding the car vibrating, both calibration and alignment were off... Mainly calibration...

Calibration? What is that? I had TERRIBLE shakes after 80 which went away somewhat after an alignment, but I never checked calibration.

[Initial_Z]

^ tires balance /rotation

[pintovit]

I'm still having issues with the car shaking...

It now shakes mainly above 110... That and some mechanical noise (and high frequency vibration) specially when taking the foot of the gas from higher revs and in lower gears.

I changed tires, all the bushing, driveshaft, differential, driveshafts, one of the hicas arms (besides the obvious wheel balance/alignment)... And it always improved somewhat but it aint quite fixed yet. Starting to be out of ideas... Next step will be looking into the gearbox (since one of the main bearings is making noise)... New suspension is also on the cards but since I want to go for some nice coils (Nitron) I still need to save somewhat for that...

It kills me to have so much time (and money) put into such a "small" issue and not being able to fix it... But I'll get there!

[89Fairlady]

Did you say you paid 25k for that? :s

[pintovit]

Hum... What "that" are you talking about? If you are refering to my car (in a almost insultuous form), welcome to the world (you know? That place that not everyone speaks "american" and things have a different prices from place to place).

6th post... ah... That puts things into perspective. Hint: a Z is never "that", no matter what.

[zain1003]

Hum... What "that" are you talking about? If you are refering to my car (in a almost insultuous form), welcome to the world (you know? That place that not everyone speaks "american" and things have a different prices from place to place).

6th post... ah... That puts things into perspective. Hint: a Z is never "that", no matter what.

[Ace2cool]

Hm, nice bump. Never saw the pictures. I really like the one with the sun setting behind the building. Absolutely beautiful.

[pintovit]

Happy that you liked it!

It was a really quick bunch of snaps just before the sun set. 1-2 more minutes and I would be out of light.

[Ace2cool]

I honestly think that's when all Z's look their prettiest. Right at sunset, when the sun is just barely still visible and casting a Auburn glow over the landscape.

Wow, that was pretty philosophical, huh?

[pintovit]

Yeap...

I also like them when they are mid corner cornering flat with that "look" of eating asphalt...
Or with a pretty face inside... That always works for me...
Or just sitting clean and pretty...
Or... Well, maybe they look good in several different contexts but on the sunset it def looks the part!

[BigTDogg (MA)]

Now one question... The "new" diff is a little different. I never thought there were several diff models for the z32 TT but apparently there are. Mine has a vacuum line going into it and the one I found doesn't. Does any one knows what's that for?

First off, gorgeous Z (or is it Zed there? ). Love the shaved wiper and antenna. I do plan on doing both to mine if/when I do bodywork.

Second, the hard "vac line" is probably a breather port, to allow pressure to vent from the diff. Any pictures? IIRC, the euro-spec (which your car appears to be) Z32s had a differential fluid cooler.

Diff bushings will add slightly more vibration to the cabin, but it does no harm (other than you not liking it.). Red vs black are no difference, just a change in color. That is, if they're both ES, I know Nismo makes diff bushings, but I don't know the differences in durometer between the two brands. If you haven't replaced your driveshaft yet, it's possible that is the cause of you driveline noise. A one piece driveshaft may alleviate that. The center bearing goes bad in the OEM driveshaft over time.

Tension rod bushings would have been my diagnosis on the front end vibration as well. If replacing those hasn't helped, have you replaced the steering rack bushings? Other than that, you've done everything I can think of for front end vibrations. I think you've done everything in this post, but just in case, I've linked to it.

I don't agree with the fuel line set up you've run, but as long as it's not leaking for you now, or rubbing anywhere is shouldn't be, then rock on.

Wish I saw this post years ago, could have saved you some headache on the Goodridge lines. It's apparently only a few cars they suck at, because my DD lines (Corolla) are great, with no fit issues per my mechanic. Just so happens the Z32 is one of those cars.

I briefly looked into the Nitron coilovers, and they look amazing. And amazingly expensive. If I may suggest other alternatives for you to consider, Powertrix is running a group buy sometime this spring on their coilovers. They're an excellent product, and won't break the bank. The SS (sport street) model can be had for under $900USD. I run the SPL coilovers, which run about $1100, and they are fantastic. I see the Nitron product as more of a track-use set up. Great product, but perhaps overkill for the street. SPL and Powertrix also sell all the adjustable links for our cars. IMHO, SPL is the best, with Powertrix being a close second.

Again, great looking car, glad to see your work you've put into it.

[pintovit]

Well, thanks for all your input! All ideas are more than welcome!

Mine is a eurospec. Since replacing the diff made no difference to the vibrations, I'll probably re-install the original one and keep the other "just in case"... I replaced the driveshaft with a single piece aluminum one from ShaftMasters. At the same time I installed the ES Master kit (or whatever it's called) that included everything, from the diff bushing to the tension rods and steering rack... At the same time, also installed new engine mounts (OEM) and new transmission mount (nismo)...
I feel two distinct vibrations that might be correlated. One where the entire car shakes above 100-110mph... This one doesn't produce any special noise besides the vibration itself. The vibration is VERY noticeable everywhere (doors, steering wheel, etc)...
The other one is very different. Although it can be felt (in a much higher vibration frequency) through the car/cabin, it is not related to the vehicle speed but with the RPM. In any gear (including reverse), when decelerating (high rpm, foot off the gas, in-gear, foot off the clutch => speed dropping) it makes this huge mechanical resonance. If this is done above 6000, you would need to scream to be able to talk to me, it is that loud! I have the feeling that the lower the gear, the more the vibration can be felt but that could be because the road noise (greater in higher gears) drowns the vibration...

Another mechanic that tried the car said: "it feels like there is a rotating part touching the chassis..."
Aparently there isn't but it is the way it feels. This can't be caused by the harder bushing (although it might not be helping) because felt this already before changing it (it was what triggered me changing the bushing and the driveshaft and the rear halfshafts and the diff and the motor and transmission mounts and the fluids and.... you get the picture)...

About the goodridge... Yes... Shame... Anyway... Another $100 or so down the drain... Those weren't the first ones and I can bet those won't be the last... Don't worry about it... Rather that then a broken leg!

The nitrons... Yes... They look the part and I know they are top notch. Thing is I'm in Portugal. I rather spend "some extra" in a reliable brand that I know I can get assistance fairly easy than on a brand that I have to ship the coils to the US (and the costs shouldn't be that low since it is a heavy part) to get something sorted or simply maintained. I'm not saying that the SPL or powertrix aren't good (for what I read, they are amazing), it's just that shipping part that worries me. If you had to pay say, $200 (going on a under-estimate here of $100 each direction), each time you had a SPL/powertrix coil needing maintenance, versus another brand costing 3x more but you could go for maintenance around the corner, which would you choose?
I just don't know the level of maintenance these parts need...

Yes, nitron are more seen on track machines but I have very good praises from them (including a friend that is involved in motorsport as a way of living that told me that it completely transformed a Lotus Exige - brand new one - and that's a superb car in stock form)... Still, a alternative 90% as good for 30% the price, I wouldn't complain at all (nor my wallet!).

Again, thanks a lot for the inputs (and the complements, of course!)...

[pintovit]

Oh, regarding the fuel line... Mixed feelings. I bought it because of the fuel smell in the cabin.

After installing it the fuel smell is still there. Twice already I got a big scare because I was leaking fuel (LOTS)... Really easy to quick fix (but apparently it is also really easy to get unfix) although it's been more than a year without any major drama... Except the fuel smell is still there.

It is rubbing the plenum really slightly so that more than 1 year gone now and it is almost un-noticeable. And that's because I'm being lasy. The metal link between the two tubes can be bolted down to the plennum. I just need to find the right screw.

See? Another $100 down... you know... where...

[pintovit]

Long time no changes...

After 1.5 years, the old girl is pretty much the same as before. Same vibrations... Nobody seams to be able to find anything...

Anyway, spotted a good deal for some Tein HA coils so I bought them. Turned to Coz for the RUCAS, FUCAS and adj tension rods all from Powertrix, unorthodox puley for the power steering (I was missing that one), braided brake lines (this time from stoptech - hopefully these will fit) and just now front and rear struts from Powertrix as well...

All will be fitted any time soon so I'll get back to you with the feedback as usual! Hope things improve...

We are also thinking about opening the gearbox for examination. See if we can find an explanation for the vibration when stepping out of the gas on higher revs... Everything points to the gearbox having a worn main shaft bearing so that's an excuse to go in there...

Hope you guys are all doing well!

[canadian booster]

good to hear from you! haven't seen you around since i put your Z in the calendar one year

[pintovit]

Yeah... Bought two of those... It was very cool of you... Never thought my Z would make it!

There wasn't much to say until now and lots of work with little internet time all together meant that I really stepped away from the forum.

Now things got moving again so hope to have better news regarding my car and hopefully more time to troll around here!

[pintovit]

small update after installing coilovers and new wheels...





And me and the misses all proud... :P

[Trimble Epic]

Gorgeous... Sexy... Hawt!


Your Misses is cute too

[pintovit]

Gorgeous... Sexy... Hawt!


Your Misses is cute too

[Ace2cool]

Oh man Vit, she is looking mean with the new stance. Bravo.