Project Slicktop

[Honad]

Just wondering if you saw this post I made about those counter-weights. I didn't notice any effects while driving mine but then again, I have only driven without them. lol I figured since you stripped the interior these won't make any difference to you whether they be on the car or not. I would weigh them but I threw mine in the recycle bin.

Yes, sorry, I missed that one. I actually stripped the rear interior for the simply purpose of weighing everything, it then went right back in the car save a few items like the spare, tools, headlight aiming, etc. to stay legal in my Autocross class, where you have to have your interior in place still.

As far as the counterweights, they are in fact still in place. I think that certainly could be a few pounds for sure, but don't know if the added noise vibration is worth it, though you said you haven't felt any, so hell, maybe it's a good idea.

[Milo (San Antonio)]

Huh? Where are these alleged "Counterweights"????

I like to think I've stripped out my slicktop to the close point of legality for street legallity. I am on a mission to kill 500lbs total. I am pretty damn close, but would like any other suggestions. BTW - got any new pics of updated weight kills?

[Honad]

Huh? Where are these alleged "Counterweights"????

I like to think I've stripped out my slicktop to the close point of legality for street legallity. I am on a mission to kill 500lbs total. I am pretty damn close, but would like any other suggestions. BTW - got any new pics of updated weight kills?

I actually don't. I've been meaning to remove my AIV's but have yet to take off my fenders so I can get to all of it. You can get to most of it through the inner fender, but there is this silly plastic resevoir thing actually in the fender and I want to rid myself of all of it, plus I will be replacing one of the inner fenders at the same time.

I'm waiting for the Summer break from Autocross so I can get to working again. I don't want to risk downtime on some of these projects and not being able to race the car. I also plan on doing some weight reduction in the pully department soon and want to document that, then back to the scales.

[T45]

There is one on the transmission mount. It's cylindrical and hangs down like a dingleberry.

There are 2 more on the subframe. This is the only pic I have and you really can't see much but if you look to the left of the brake rotor, just if front of the front mounting point on the subframe there is one on each side. There are 2 or 3 nuts that hold it on through a bracket welded to the subframe. I actually ended up cutting the brackets off while i had it out too. I used urethane subframe mounts so they would have basically done nothing to help vibration.



I also think there are weight savings in using the urethane bushings versus the stock ones, the stockers have metal sleeves and I believe the rubber is denser and heavier as well.

[Milo (San Antonio)]

I believe you ARE correct on the subframe urethane bushing being a little less heavy than it's stock counterpart.

[Kouks]

eager for some updates have been following this thread in particular for a long time....keep it up!

[Honad]

Crappy phone-cam picture teaser!

[Honad]

All right, enough with the silly teaser and onto the good pictures. Got two boxes today and there are one or two more on the way, but those will not be here until next week. I'm hoping to drop a few pounds installing these over my stock stuff, but if not, the performance gains will be worth the extra weight. I put the car up in the air tonight, got everything all lubed up so removal and installation should be pretty straight forward. It's the setup that's going to take forever... I plan on going with 0.5 - 0.75 inches of preload and down 1.25 - 1.5 inches, but it's going to take at least a few autocrosses and track days to see what works. First, the weight. Front at an even 10.0 lbs, Rear at 11.0 lbs. The boy wants to be in the picture. Sans dog. Box contents. Actually the first part I've ever purchased directly from Stillen... heh. I still feel a little silly buying it, because they are such a simple deal and I could've made them myself for much cheaper, but whatever... they are the perfect edition to the next few planned modifications and they were on sale. I am in serious doubt on the manufacturer claimed 2-4hp gain. Install day is tomorrow!! I plan on starting around 10:00am.

[tg]

hope you have the camber kit to go with them!! I scrap a rear set of 255's in about 5000 miles at current ride height ;\

[Honad]

hope you have the camber kit to go with them!! I scrap a rear set of 255's in about 5000 miles at current ride height ;\

Adjustable arms, tension rods in the front already, rear on the way...

They are in!

However, I discovered a snapped sway bar end link when removing the right wheel today, so I have to wait for mister Coz to send me new ones before I can give you pictures on the ground. Pictures of the installed stuff to follow later on tonight or tomorrow morning.

[tg]

aftermarket swaybar?

[Honad]

aftermarket swaybar?

Yes, Stillen sway bars with CZP adjustable end links. There are no pictures of the install because my camera was broken the morning of the install.

[Honad]

I got the car put on the ground tonight, still sans sway bar end links, but I wanted to start getting the ride height and pre-load on the springs dialed in. It's going to take flipping forever to figure out the perfect combination for street/track use. I'm sort of looking forward to it, but I've had the car up and down so many times today that I'm getting f'ing tired of doing it... heh.

Still haven't snapped any pictures of the car in it's new suspension state. There is Autocross this weekend, I'm sure to get a few then.

Couple quick comparison pictures vs. stock.

[T45]

Wow, that's a lot of drop. I was blessed with the Tein's that I picked up used. They have 3 levels of preload to choose from and that's it. My driving skills don't justify a set of adjustables yet. It'll be a while.

Awesome build!

[Honad]

I went to get the car aligned this morning. Before the alignment I installed the new front sway bar endlinks. I popped a couple pictures of the stillen sway bars and CZP endlinks since I never got them taken before, dirty stuff!

CZP Front Sway bar end links.

It looks like Concept Z has changed the attachment bolts to a harder grade than the ones that broke, that's good.

Left side rear end link.

Right side rear end link.

Left side front end link

Right side front end link

The car aligned out nearly exactly how I wanted it to. I'm no self proclaimed suspension guru, but according to what I've read, this should make for a good compromise between maximum grip and street use tire wear.

The car has been dropped 1.1 inches on all 4 corners with a 3/4 inch preload on the springs on the right side and a mm or two less on the left to compensate for the weight of driver.

Left Front:-1.0 camber9.5 caster0.04 toe

Right Front:-1.1 camber9.5 caster0.03 toe

Left Rear:-1.8 camber0.03 toe

Right Rear:-1.9 camber0.03 toe

I went for about a 2 hour drive this afternoon. Adjusting the damper level as I went. Either way, I think I know what levels I'll be using this weekend, but it's going to interesting getting that sorted out to my driving style. Either way, the butt suspension dyno says all is go. The car f'ing sticks. I have never been more excited to autocross as I am for this weekend.

[Marquinho]

Good stuff - seems like you're doing the right thing with this car...Do you know what the current weight is?

Cheers,Marco

[tg]

yeah any significant weight diff from the coilovers to the stock shocks/springs?

[Honad]

Quote »Good stuff - seems like you're doing the right thing with this car...Do you know what the current weight is?Cheers,Marco[/quote]I actually went to weigh it yesterday and the weigh station that I use actually had the scales turned off for once. Crazy. I'd assume it's hovering a bit north of 3000lbs now. 3100lbs to be safe.

Quote »yeah any significant weight diff from the coilovers to the stock shocks/springs?[/quote]I don't have pictures yet, but I took some preliminary weights of the stock stuff and the rear coilovers are just a tad heavier and the fronts a few lbs lighter. Takes some weight off the front of the car, which is a bonus. It's nothing significant though. I'll take scaled pictures of the stock stuff some point this week to compare to the 10lbs F and 11lbs rear coilovers.

[Honad]

Hey, you know what's awesome? Being flat through corners.

Autocross today was a flipping blast. Though it took every bit of my 5 runs to get the new **** dialed in to my liking, even on the worst run where the car was pushing a bit and I couldn't get the car to rotate, it was still more solid, flat and faster then anything I have ever experianced in this car. I am thrilled with the new setup.

I promised a few pictures of the car on the ground, so here they are. Nothing spectacular, just a few shots in the grid and then at lunch with some of the Kansas City Z Club autocross crew after.

[nghtrain88]

1000th post!! looks good Honad!

[jmd8590]

do you have a rough estimate of the total cost

[Cured13]

Nice!

[Marquinho]

Awesome stuff - funny to see an MR2 right beside you; that's what I run on track days:

Mine is also a slicktop and run Hankook RS2...

[Honad]

Awesome stuff - funny to see an MR2 right beside you; that's what I run on track days:

Mine is also a slicktop and run Hankook RS2...

Yeah, MR2's are basically awesome. I've spent a fair bit of time in an E-Stock car, which is probably the most fun driving with no power car I have ever been in. They rule. Makes me wish there were affordable MR cars today.

do you have a rough estimate of the total cost

I have the exact cost of the entire project from start to current. Unfortunately, I do not have that information at work here. I can post it up at some point later.

[Milo (San Antonio)]

Looking good. How much of a drop you think your running? Can't really tell from photos.

Keep up the good work.

[500dolla]

So would you say that the recent suspension were you the best mod you've put on yet?

[Honad]

Looking good. How much of a drop you think your running? Can't really tell from photos.

Keep up the good work.

About 1.2 inches or so. Stock ride height should be at about 26.6" from the ground to the highest point on the fender well on all 4 corners. I'm just a tick under 25.5

So would you say that the recent suspension were you the best mod you've put on yet?

For me? Yes, absolutely. The Coilovers + Swaybars actually change the way the car feels. It's no longer a Z, this combination of modifications has somehow turned the car into a Stock AP2 S2000.

[RCA]

About 1.2 inches or so. Stock ride height should be at about 26.6" from the ground to the highest point on the fender well on all 4 corners. I'm just a tick under 25.5

For me? Yes, absolutely. The Coilovers + Swaybars actually change the way the car feels. It's no longer a Z, this combination of modifications has somehow turned the car into a Stock AP2 S2000.

Yea a friend of mine has a AP1and that thing sticks to the road like none other

BTW I found myself looking through your thread like a p0rn mag...Just fly thought the words and drool at the pictures. Awesome job!Its cool to see someone documenting the road less traveled by. You are making me want to buy a Z32 REAL BAD

Keep the updates comming!

[tg]

Any other work/undocumented wins???

Whats the final weigh-in?

[JDMZ32]

as you once said, slicktops are lame

looks great! KTS... i don't think i've heard of that brand. how do they feel?