Promise Land's '95 Zenki Rebuild

[Promise Land]

This thread is for my '95 Zenki rebuild. I bought the car in January 2011 and it didn't run. It sat under a pine tree for 4 months before I picked it up. I have been able to get it running and am slowly rebuilding it as I have time for fun.

I typically do everything via video more than I do pictures. It gives me a better chance to catch minor details, so I record everything that I am doing and I'll put it up on YouTube. I am still fiddling with the software on the new video camera I got at Christmas, so bear with me a little bit on the editing process.

Here is the project start:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pho1tVH39cg[/youtube]
The car came with....
Exterior: all OEM
Interior: Nardi Torino wheel (already replaced), Alpine radio (already replaced), was pretty dirty, broken shifter finisher (was able to fix), many blown bulbs
Suspension/Wheels: KTS coilovers, 5Zigen 17x9 +15 FN01R-C (3 black, 1 polished), Tanabe front swaybar, Nismo Power Brace, 300zx front brakes + SPL conv. lines (recently added), Tanabe rear sway bar (not yet installed), aluminum differential bushings (not yet installed)
Engine/Trans: KA24DE w/ 213,xxx miles, Ebay CAI (already installed), Isis radiator + fans (already installed), 5-speed trans, Bee-R 3" cat-back exhaust, test pipe, aftermarket header

I plan to completely tear the car down and rebuild it over the next couple of years. I'll have the engine redone with forged internals and go with a turbo setup in a couple years.

Any advice or comments, post them up in here or on my YouTube page. Thanks for the reviews so far.


I lost the radiator a couple weeks ago in the car, so here is a video of my installing an Isis radiator + cooling fans from Enjuku Racing.

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

[The_caveman]

I like the pics more...I get on here to read about cars not watchva bunch of vids...

On the off note goodluck with it zenkis are best

[Caveit77777]

I like the pics more...I get on here to read about cars not watchva bunch of vids...

On the off note goodluck with it zenkis are best

Didn't realize that the site should be based on your wants and needs.

I enjoyed the videos actually. Something different for once and you get to see EVERYTHING about the car.

[240TKE128]

Great Walk-through's man, Looking Good its always good to see something fresh i presentation of a build. plus added bonus if you do something someone else might be looking at doing its a better walk-through then just photos alone IMO. Keep it up i cant wait to see more.

[BadaBing7189]

fact of the matter is kudos to you for changing it up and doing a video instead of pics, for once someone had my full attention lol. anyway im going to be checking in on this project for i am currently in the market for a 240 myself i recently moved to staten island (it sucks so bad out here) so ya i need a project just to get the days going by a little faster GOOD LUCK bro!!!

[Promise Land]

Thanks for the positive and negative feedback. Some like the photos and some like the videos. I was always used to photos because that is what everyone typically does. I found them to be limiting if I wanted more info on a specific piece of the build. When I built the NISMO Versa project last year, the videos were a big help to get sponsors to help with parts. It was something different than most people do, and that was my goal (to be different). I also did most of the videos as a way to get some NICO attention for the Versa section too. I am carrying that momentum to the 240sx project, looking for product support (money is always good too!) and to be different. If I can help with anyone else's build let me know. I can always use my 240 as a test vehicle, depending on what it is.

[gigabit240]

Haha the roosters in the background... Nice car!

[Promise Land]

I redid the undercoating on my car this weekend. I stripped the car down, scrubbed it with a citrus degreaser, and power washed it. It took me 7 hours to apply all the undercoating with a brush, but it was worth it.

Before:






After:

[Promise Land]

I had some time this week to work on the subframe and differential bushings. They weren't too bad to do, but took me longer than I expected. I used a propane torch to burn them out, wire brush to clean up the surfaces, and then put the urethane bushings in. I have the subframe back in the car and have started the suspension bushings and new Isis arms. I haven't made much progress yet and it's raining the next two days. i hope to have them done before the end of the year.

[Eikon]

Looks really good so far! Keep the updates coming when you have the chance.

[Promise Land]

I was able to edit the undercoating videos this weekend. Enjoy!

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

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

[240sxAli4Life]

Looks good man, keep up the good work! You plan on turboing the KA after the rebuild?

[Promise Land]

I am finshing up the Chassis this winter (suspension arms are the next project), rebuild the engine with my tax refund, drive and work on it for a couple years, go turbo, and somewhere get the paint redone. My biggest goal for next year is to have the Chassis work done and back to drivable again. I want to go turbo or s/c in the future, just not sure of the timeframe yet. I don't think the 155hp is going to be enough for long.

[240sxAli4Life]

Well its an old motor your lucky if you have 145HP left... but yea rebuild it turbo it, and do all the suspension and paint... its gonna be a sweet build.

[Promise Land]

I dropped some coin on the Isis suspension arms and a suspension bushing set from Enjuku Racing last month. I had enough time and nice weather today to get it all in. Each side took about 4 hours to remove the parts and put all the new pieces back in. Check my blog to see the videos of the undercoating and the suspension arms going on.

Here's a teaser of the arms all done.



I still need to do the front tension arms in a coming weekend, plus clean the rear subframe up (dirt and grease).

[Promise Land]

I had time to edit the videos last night. Next up will be the front arms and bushings.

Subframe Install:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OSoKq1WJGQ[/youtube]

Rear Suspension Arms:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1oMg602CDU[/youtube]

[JKL1031]

oh haaii Canaaann

[Promise Land]

Today it was 70° on the last day of 2011. What a day to end the year. I was able to get out there and finish up the 240 suspension. I had previously put on the front Isis tension rods and didn't do the bushings. Today I knocked the bushings out. The job was pretty easy even though you have to burn the OEM bushings out. It was pretty simple after getting through the whole rear end. I changed the swaybar end link bushings out also. The passenger side was really in bad shape. I was able to adjust the rear coilvers also. The previous owner had them 3/4" off (right taller than left), so they are within 3/8" now. Why that guy never adjusted them correctly is beyond me.

Here is the completed front end:

[Promise Land]

I had some time today to work on the 240sx before the rain came in. My driver's side door would not roll the window down anymore, or became intermittent recently. I took the amplified out as it would make a "click" when I tried to roll the window down. Low and behold, as most threads would state, there was a corroded connection.

Notice the top-right looks a bit rough:



It's easy to fix. Just heat up the original solder and add a little new on the top. It doesn't have to be pretty, just functional.




After fixing the door, I moved on to the dash lighting. My gauges were dull. The center bulb didn't work anymore and the a/c lights were out (the button settings), the cold/hot was out, and the blower fan didn't work. Talk about hard to drive at night! 1995 had to go, and it was time for some new upgrades. I hit SuperBrightLEDs.com and bought some of their "natural" white and cool white bulbs. Below are exactly what I purchased. The total was $26.47 including shipping and a 5% off discount code.

WLED-xHP5: LED T10 Wedge Base Bulb
Options: WLED-WHP5: Natural White -> bought 3

NEOx-xHP: NEOx High Power LED Instrument bulb
Options: NEO3-WHP: 3mm NEO3-xHP Cool White -> bought 3

Everything was easy to change out. Just take it easy removing all the pieces as they are 15+ years old.

Here are the original bulbs.






And the LEDs...

[420sxWETDREAMS]

I had some time today to work on the 240sx before the rain came in. My driver's side door would not roll the window down anymore, or became intermittent recently. I took the amplified out as it would make a "click" when I tried to roll the window down. Low and behold, as most threads would state, there was a corroded connection.

Notice the top-right looks a bit rough:



It's easy to fix. Just heat up the original solder and add a little new on the top. It doesn't have to be pretty, just functional.

Is this on the power door control switch, I am having the same issue with my car and cant figure this out if you could help that would be great.

[Promise Land]

Is this on the power door control switch, I am having the same issue with my car and cant figure this out if you could help that would be great.

The circuit board is on the window amp for the driver's door window. it's the white box below the handle if you take the door panel off.