Upgrading my TT...running journal (Updated!)

[DCaff300ZX]

I missed some things and tried to edit, but apparently we don't get much time to edit posts anymore...???

Basically all I didn't say was that among the various small issues repaired the last round, the oddest one was that my VTC's weren't working (a previously known issue) and Eric couldn't figure out why until he took apart the connector, and found ONE WIRE STRAND crossed and which turned out to be the problem there. I'd have NEVER found that, and it shows that apparently there's still some gremlins running around.
So overall the project is moving at a great pace and closing in on being complete mechanically, hopefully in early March I can post some info and updates as to her performance and settings once that all gets nailed down and the gremlins sent packing.
I will be visiting her tomorrow and will take some pics of things not yet shown.

[Ace2cool]

I missed some things and tried to edit, but apparently we don't get much time to edit posts anymore...???

Limit is one hour now... We had a bunch of problems with people editing classified threads weeks later. If you want something added in, just let me know and I'll make the changes.

And seriously? Just one single copper filament? Wow. That's awesome he found it.

[DCaff300ZX]

Yeah, amazing with the one strand. I've had so many weird things going on with the car the past two years it made me wonder at times if I should plug on since I kept coming up against these things that couldn't be explained, not to mention the bizarro accident and all.
No worries with the edit and I basically covered what I'd forgotten in the next post, and I'll just be sure to not get distracted while editing...or try!

[Nismovs]

You'll have to bring your car up sometime for some motivation on my end. Might be able to talk my club into letting you come on a cruise if you come at the right time

[DCaff300ZX]

That sounds like a plan...I'm hoping to have the mechanics nailed down by early March so any time after that, probably nearing summer, a cruise up your way could be in the picture...I know my buddy Larry is always into a trip Up North!

[Nismovs]

Awesome. We do one big event a month and we kickoff in March until October usually

[DCaff300ZX]

Cool, we'll have to shoot for around May-June then. I'll keep in touch and PM you when I get to that point of a road trip.

[DCaff300ZX]

Some shots of the car, the new mufflers and tips



The ApexiPowerFC. I couldn't get a shot with no glare so tried to get an angle showing each area of the display. Nico plug included...





More as there is more to report...and if you are looking for some OEM turbos/smics or other used stuff (and some new) check the classifieds, I'm posting my extra stuff.

[Ace2cool]

Haha, nice sticker location! I've got mine on the quarter Windows, and a really nice vinyl one Sergio sent me on my passenger side windshield along the A pillar.

[NolimitZ32]

Damnit, I need a hurricane or some kind of crazy electrical outage to happen so I can just stay home for a week and finish mine. Lookin good there sir.

[DCaff300ZX]

Thanks fellas...and yeah Ace, I need a larger one for maybe low on the back window since the 1/4's are taken.
I'm most happy with my "catback" sound and performance and price- ss cans for $250 and my $80 tips plus $40 to weld them together. I'm going to try and get a video with sound of the exhaust...it's a little louder than I normally like, but really nice especially underway.

[DCaff300ZX]

CF Mission spoiler from Powertrix is on order through their spoiler group buy.
I'll be slowly assembling the body parts for the rear 1/4 repairs, and also a new jspec bumper is needed unless I fully sand, rough, and repair the damaged one.

[DCaff300ZX]

Doug is back, and so the Z is back for final tuning and troubleshooting, hope to have her back soon- probably the weekend. In between I couldn't resist getting my hands dirty, having remembered that the PTU harness may need cleaning, and upon inspection it again was definitely corroded. I cleaned that thoroughly and wrapped it all as best possible to seal the wire entry points, and hit the TPS connector as well which is very loose and needs replacing, and will be when Doug is done.
Best of all I met Bob and Laurie today at Fairlady and talked for about an hour, and of course saw their beautiful new Z!

More to come soon, hoping it's more along the lines of how much fun I'm having with my Baby...although she still needs brake attention, and a trip back to Kimballs to inspect their work since I am hearing a clunk from the PS front at times (incorrectly installed tension rod...betting)...

[DCaff300ZX]

MAJOR UPDATE-
I have my Z again! And yeah, I have a smile on my face that won't go away and a bulge in my pants that ALSO won't go away.
Report card:
I'm in love with the 530's, they really pull hard and quickly so with the square HP/TQ setup I have, it really, REALLY gets moving quickly and I've found without tire spin when I pedal her right and the rear coilovers at a 3 setting. I'm running very conservatively for now with the unchanged 140+K mile block at 8 PSI boost, good for with the tune I'm told about 360HP/360TQ. Sorry, no dyno slips...I'm into what runs right and not some number, that's just part of the tuning info I got.
The clutch is amazing, and the whole setup feels so much more solid and responsive with the HD fork and chromoly pivot, not to mention having rebuilt the shifter bushings and bearings. The upgraded pplate really grabs hard but the whole things feels completely stock with the clutch disk Doug used, he really hit that one out of the park!
The exhaust has really grown on me, still maybe a touch loud but compared to any other non-stock exhaust, pretty quiet. Best of all, NO interior resonation at any speed or RPM! It sounds best when revving lightly under no load, and also just as you get going before the turbos come on and everything quiets down even under heavy throttle, but especially coasting off throttle...anyway, Doug told me it's actually HKS catback pipes and mufflers modified some and with my tips added, for you guys who wondered about that.
The engine is spotless still and acting correctly in all ways, so I'm excited to get back to cleaning things up in the bay (read- deletes and relocates) again, adding my dual intake (sorry, Doug!), and touching up a few areas that won't be part of front core support repairs.

So today Doug tweaked her in all the right places and with an explanation of one small technical issue, I am pretty well set for now. I will really only possibly need one more tweak later after I get some time on the motor and everything settles in...or for some more power, maybe...probably. I think it can handle 10-12 PSI for sure, I may eventually have him give me a tune for that.
I may also be buying a new IACV. The technical issue is that the PowerFC's warmup routine is minimal and so relies a lot on my "good used" Z-1 IACV, which Doug says if not perfect as no used one can be then makes the engine warm too slowly, and gives me the minor hesitation issues until the engine actually hits 65+ Celsius. She needs RPM's for heat! So in between I have to watch the PFC for temp and maybe pedal her a bit to help before starting out first thing.
I'm taking her to work tomorrow, but taking the back way with the curvy roads and no one on them so early in the AM...

So that about wraps up the engine build portion of the proceedings, although I will be inspecting everything (can't help it...) and maybe getting a few tweaks to the tune and suspension if necessary.
Otherwise the body is next and the new cf Powertrix spoiler is soon to be on it's way, I also need to get a jspec coming and to start looking into the 1/4 panel and whatever other pieces are needed. My last contact with Charlie was figuring on this summer for go-time- here's hoping my modest income and lifestyle supports this last expensive, but very necessary venture...

More then, thanks for looking!!

[NolimitZ32]

Very good to hear that you got her going. Our weather here finally changed from 50 and non-stop rain to 80 and sunshine so this weekend will be spent in the garage, doing everything I can to get mine going.

[DCaff300ZX]

Very good to hear that you got her going. Our weather here finally changed from 50 and non-stop rain to 80 and sunshine so this weekend will be spent in the garage, doing everything I can to get mine going.

That's good to hear, looking forward to seeing what you are up to!

[NolimitZ32]

In short, if I haven't posted anywhere (which i'm not sure I have) I smacked a brick wall and a tree (at the same time) in my blue Z, body/frame shop quoted me a ridiculous figure to fix it so I bought a non running complete 95 NA, towed it back to Houston and am in the process of moving the engine and drive train to the new (to me) chassis while tying up some loose ends that I never got done the first time around.

[DCaff300ZX]

Hmm, I see we have more in common than I knew!
Other than swapping into a whole new car, we both have a lot of maintenance and small details to keep us busy for...ever!

Currently I have Doug bringing in some new brake shoes for me today, I have to drop some exhaust parts for Laurie when I get them and will hopefully get them installed along with my LONG-awaited mud guards this weekend...or next if I run out of time. DEFINITELY needs doing now with the powerplant in top form!

[NolimitZ32]

Yeah as for me, I think i'm going to go have some fun watching the ridiculousness of TX2K afterhours unfold on the streets tonight and that should be the push I need to get in the garage early Saturday morning and start wrenching like a mad man.

[DCaff300ZX]

MMMmmmm, dirty nails and dried-out hands...here we come!

[DCaff300ZX]

UPDATE-
So I didn't get to the brakes this weekend, too many other things to do. I did do some engine/bay touchup and odd things like replacing my rear speaker cover cloth and re-re-installing my Selin dual intake while waiting for stain to dry, and other things related to some impending window sill and trim replacement. I also got started refinishing my throttle cover and replacing the red sticker with a Dewla version.

Then, there's the pile of parts replaced from my engine




And that doesn't include the big pieces!
I'll get more pics as I get more done...

[DCaff300ZX]

So here's what I have done so far, other than some touchup of parts on the car.
The throttle cover was stripped down and shaved of the "Nissan", and repainted my "stock" VHT high temp wheel paint gunmetal- same as the timing covers and other things


I also repainted one of the cowls with a hand rubbed bronze color from Rustoleum, decided to give it a shot with some clearcoat. I like the darker color, and may use this for the fan shroud and exterior moldings as well.


Comparison shot


Throttle cover and Dewla strip


And done!


Next up was the balance tube which had many nicks. It's changing color as well...


...so it stripped...


...and was painted! Yes, the "fade" is intentional


A few other minor pieces got shot, too


And those rear speaker covers I mentioned


All done with a "Home Improvement" project as well!
Window wrap materials for a repair project for my Mother, getting stain and clearcoat


I'm hoping to have everything for the car installed this weekend, and MAYBE those brakes as well but we'll see if I want to get dirty or not. Of course the other project has input...it never ends!

[Ace2cool]

Ooooh, now I'm excited to see the finished engine. If you're painting the balance tube like that... I think I have an idea of what you're planning altogether.

[DCaff300ZX]

I'm definitely changing it up some, what with the valve covers and coil packs CRP now. So much red with the silicone, with the valve covers showing more than expected (but I LOVE them) it needs dialing back.
Edit- Here's how it's coming.






I also have been chasing some pinholes in the ps cowl, and then found two cracks so I tore it down again for repairs with 200 mph tape and epoxy.
The pinholes and crack #1


Crack #2, and the part where it holds the fluid hose was also split some.


The crack was epoxied and the 200 mph tape applied over it to hold it closed and provide a mesh when epoxied again.
I had originally fixed a huge cracked midsection, which now gets epoxied too.


I also made sure all of the mesh was fastened in epoxy.










All dried and painted.

[DCaff300ZX]

So today I realized there's no way I get everything back installed this weekend, too many new things getting done each time and lots of time spent with the details- removing, masking/protecting, waiting for dry/scuffing, and clearcoat.
No worries though, quality does not come with speed.
Several items have needed rework or repairs which also has hurt production.
I did get the DS cowl off along with the wiper arms and such, all laid out and cleaned/scuffed/painted today, clear on the back of the arms.The cowl still needs sanding and repairs to the mesh, hoping to have it ready tonight for paint tomorrow.


I also got the HICAS wrapped and protected, painted it the oil rubbed bronze color and got the clear on as well.

I also hit the DS hardpipes at the radiator as they were open, same darker color- PS and fan shroud tomorrow.

I was surprised that my stainless steel" boost hose clamps were rusting, so they got a touchup as well.


More tomorrow!

[DCaff300ZX]

So I wisely decided to just finish what was already going and get everything put back together before doing more, and it was a wise move as finding all of the little bits and pieces drove me insane today.
So I quit for cleanup and pics a little early, I'll do the shrouds, reservoir, fan shroud, and ps hardpipes later.
Sorry that the crappy cellphone cam decided to be extra-crappy today...
Starting out with the HICAS unit.


Battery hold down, cable holder, and cruise control now gunmetal (battery, cruise top) or the darker bronze (cruise front). I also pulled all of the wiring together cleaner with zip ties before burying, and organized the vacuum hoses neater as well.


DS hardpipes painted bronze, and the bolt heads for the "stainless" Z1 clamps as well.


Undone PS for comparison.


Throttle cover repainted and with the Dewla chrome applique, installed.


Balance tube installed, as well as a little organizing of that rear wiring disaster area.


Front view of done, sorry it's always so dark in my parents' garage trying to take pics.


More of an over the top view.


I also got the final clearcoat on the wiper arms.


I'm extremely happy with the way the engine came out, VERY little left to do there.
Meanwhile the remaining accessories need attention, as well as a good cleaning of the bay and that area should be a wrap!
I'll update with final shots when that occurs.

[Ace2cool]

You're.... you're keeping the HICAS?

[DCaff300ZX]

At this time, yes.
I have the delete kit, but Z1's "kit" consists of that and a crush washer and small length of hose of which I could never figure a use...plus all that was wrong with the HICAS was the two end connectors, which I had replaced along with the bent ps LCA much more cheaply ($80 for both) than the delete was going to cost. They (Kimball's in Tacoma) also couldn't actually figure out how to do it either, and so I told them forget about it then I later realized I needed to supply a NA ps pump to make my method work.
I may still do it one day but the HICAS works well and is tight, and I personally have no problems with it driving as I think it makes the car more responsive and I've never experienced anything negative about it.

[DCaff300ZX]

So I was able to spend some time today with my Baby, and got a few things done.
I got the PS reservoir painted the bronze color.


And most happily for me, I got the cowls installed and the ps one now can come on and off easily, but stays in place now. I like how the allen fasteners look with the bronze paint.


From the outside, lots of dust from the finish work...




Best closeup I have of the color. Has a very small metal flake, but the brown is VERY dark and it really works well with the OEM trim color.


I also began to strip down the trim and mirrors, which are all in bad shape for color/c.coat and need attention. Been putting off the brakes since the weather has been rainy anyway, and getting the small details knocked out in between!

More to come...

[gugga4u]

Just got done reading the entire blog from first post to the last one. Dave, you've done an amazing job on your Z. I wish you were in Boston area - we could have done business