PEZi720... the build thread

[flinterman2000]

I aint got probs wit the leafs. The diff I want to use has the brackets for the radius rods integrated, so I was considering it. I now leafs dont give roll bind but then again, I'm not looking for so much power as yet to get roll bind.

[seang]

Roll bind isn't caused by horsepower and torque, it is a byproduct of body roll, something Pez's truck will see.

[PEZi]

exactly... its just not as recognizable until you have power you're trying to put down

[flinterman2000]

Yet it develops under power.

[PEZi]

Yet it develops under power.

not quite... i already have it when i corner but since i'm not putting much power down its negligible to the point where its like its not there

[Rev_D21]

PEZ, how are your control arm bushings holding up under the punishment of the cones combined with the suspension being lowered?

[PEZi]

so far so good... everything will be getting replaced hopefully over this winter though anyway

[Rev_D21]

Would you be going Energy Suspension?

[PEZi]

yes indeed! how'd you know lol

[Rev_D21]

Because that's the same direction I think I am going to go . Reading your thread has kind of given me a kick in the arse to make mine into a cone dodger starting next year.

[PEZi]

well its definitely fun... the only problem is that all of the typical mods we do to these things puts us in retarded classes made for well handling cars so it takes even more effort to get the trucks going as fast... for example:

in my class to be at the top of my game i'll need to keep up with this guy who took 2nd at nationals this yearhttp://www.photostockplus.com/...nt=45

for everyone else that still has interior, the competition looks more like this:

http://www.photostockplus.com/...nt=45

http://www.photostockplus.com/...nt=45

or possibly this lolhttp://www.photostockplus.com/...nt=45

[Rev_D21]

That Hi-Lux is pretty cool. I have been bitten by the bug, that's for sure. How well I would do? We will see over time. I am just sad that nap time for my truck is coming up in a few weeks when the snow starts to fly up here. I store it during winter, that's when I start collecting parts to install in the spring. Currently I have my sites on a Hellwig RSB, it sounds like a neat mod that I can do in less than a couple hours. I have looked at fiberglass springs and would like to go that route. I am chipping a computer in my office and I have an extra camshaft sitting here waiting to be re-profiled. It all adds up so we'll have to see. Trying to free up some funds, fixing up the house tends to curb my spending quite a bit.

I am excited to try racing out if for nothing else but the fun of it.

[PEZi]

yeah mine is basically out of commission now... we had our last race last weekend and the winter series (which i may or may not attend because its non-points events) doesn't start till december... more or less i have till mid-march to get it up and running again

this winter will (with hope of money of course) be for the torsion bars... bushings... leafs (if i can afford fiberglass ones i'll do that)... fuel system (tank lines and carb)... and then tires (looking for hoosier A6's... used is ok but if i can afford new i'll do that)

engine stuff can wait till next winter if need be...

and if you put a cam in your you'll be bumped into my class FYI!

[Rev_D21]

Reading the rule book it doesn't take much to get bumped into a modified class. I may already be borderline as I sit right now.

I have a set of really light weight 14" aluminum wheels sitting here that I plan to slap some weekend rubber on eventually.

The truck is a part time daily driver right now, I really only take it out on nice days. My main DD is my Millenia which helps take pressure off the truck.

I enjoy following your build thread. I used to own a KC 720 from the vintage of 1981. It was flat black like yours. I got rid of it about 10 years ago and have missed it since. I like your threads because I am wayyyy more interested in fast handling truck than the common bagged and shaved juggernauts most people are building these days. Hell it would be cool to have a NICO truck race team or club someday.

[PEZi]

well once you break open that cover and start working on internals you'll either move into street modified or a prepared class... it just so happens the prepared class has a better performance index thoughbut yeah a truck race team would be sweet!

[Rev_D21]

It would be cool! Racing trucks only. Not street racing, only trucks registered in legally sanctioned racing should be allowed. Through that we would represent NICO on the track in trucks instead of the usuals you see..

[PEZi]

well... i figured i'd update this...

upon reading up on rules for my class i have basically unlimited suspension play... i don't have to retain any of the stock suspension not the mounting points. this means i'll be doing a custom suspension (quite literally).... now i just need to get some tools to learn to cut and weld with

my engine build is now sorted out too... i know exactly where i'm going with it... i just don't know what brands of stuff i'll be using yet... if you guys have favorite brands let me know and i'll research them! i will be doing:

high compression and lightweight aftermarket KA pistonsall new valves, guides etc...port, polish and shave the head (polish the chambers, blend the bowls, polish and port match the ports, and run .030" squish)upgraded camindependent throttle bodies with either megasquirt or 034EFIleaded race fuel!!!

now i have to look into how well my transmission and the rest of the drivetrain will take to the mods lol

[seang]

Pez, I have been reading about your 250hp goal, and I have to tell you my honest opinion. You aren't gonna see more than 180. This might sound laughable, but I was surfing some forums awhile ago, and one of the memers said he spent thousands of dollars on a naps-z24, and ended up with 180hp. He said if he could do it all over, he would have gone a different way. And your 3500 dollar EFI, now Pez, thats extremely extremely expensive, I don't care what it can do, because it can't possibly be that good, (all it does is mix fuel and air). At least not 3500 dollars good. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of the easy way out. I'm just saying, the line between traditional hot rodding, and irrational one-upsmanship is a blurry one. But alas... A good carb setup can rock and roll for way less than that.

[PEZi]

the EFI is expensive no lie... i may have to settle for megasquirt.. but i know someone using the 034 and says its worth every penny...

as far as the power... i don't know for sure what it will make... i'm trying for 250 at the crank... after all its a 2.4L that i'm gonna be throwing well over 12:1 compression at... it'll come down to handling more than anything for autocross but i need the power to keep up as well

[PEZi]

just some other random info to throw out there... there was one guy who built a Z24 block with the KA head in the exact same way i plan to and he got 300hp at the crank... now i don't have the luxury of the KA in my class (since its illegal) but i think with the right mods and careful tuning i'll get this thing crankin

[seang]

just some other random info to throw out there... there was one guy who built a Z24 block with the KA head in the exact same way i plan to and he got 300hp at the crank... now i don't have the luxury of the KA in my class (since its illegal) but i think with the right mods and careful tuning i'll get this thing crankin

Well, I know the GT3 ka24e makes about that figure, (300hp). You are gonna have to spin 8000rpm or more to get that 300hp. It'll be a badass setup, for sure. I also know that the GT3 ka24e dosen't last very long, so constant maintenance/rebuilds are gonna be in store. Behold, the tyrants of progress.

now i have to look into how well my transmission and the rest of the drivetrain will take to the mods lol

I think the rear end would hold up since the power isn't gonna demon drop like a torque monster v8, (and even that might not break it), it sounds like it will come on in a peaky fashion like any other higher revving 4cyl. I don't know exactly what transmission you've got, but my 87 HB had a FS5W71B which would grind on 6k rpm 1-2 upshifts. Your motor is gonna be spinning even faster, loading the synchros even more, so you are gonna want to make sure that all your synchros are in awesome working order and use only the best synthetic manual transmission lube. I wonder if you can get double or triple cone synchros installed in the stock transmission? It might not even need it, but this just crossed my mind. How does your truck shift when you are autocrossing it?
Modified by seang at 7:25 AM 1/6/2010

[PEZi]

the synchro is a little weak from 1 - 2... other than that everything shifts fine... the problem is that the 1 - 2 shift is what i generally have to do the most. it doesn't really 'grind' at all though... just a slight ping as i throw it in

on the plus side... i may be able to swap in a completely custom transmission... i don't really need more than 3 gears and a reverse gear is not required so maybe i can get one made out of the stock housing with some beefy synchros

[85NIS720]

What kind of header did you put on? All I can find is the Pacesetter, and I wanted to know how well it fit.

[PEZi]

yep... mine is the pacesetter... fits fine

the b****iest part was getting the old manifold out without using a lift

[Project Trucker]

dont you mean block because i thought manifolds where only on fuel injection?

[PEZi]

that ugly piece of crap 'header' on there stock is called an exhaust manifold...

[Project Trucker]

o ok i got it now the exhaust manifold

[PEZi]

but yeah even the intake is called a manifold... even the straight ones for sidedrafts are called manifolds... i dunno why but they are

[Project Trucker]

i have a question is there any way to put a turbo on a carburated engine? i know you can use a blower or supercharger right?

[PEZi]

it is possible... the process is weird though... and i don't really have details

but i believe the maserati biturbo was a turbo carb setup