Suspension & Cooling- Righting some wrongs.

Discussion in 'Technical' started by Central QLD Z, Aug 2, 2017.

  1. mrkarter77

    mrkarter77 No Really, They do!!!

  2. Central QLD Z

    Central QLD Z Member

    Cool, so what's that worth? :confused:
    So ECU upgrade, these turbo's + downpipes https://www.z1motorsports.com/z1-products/z1-motorsports/gt535r-bb-turbo-kit-p-3084.html and these bad boys: https://www.z1motorsports.com/z1-pr...inless-steel-twin-turbo-testpipes-p-3372.html along with some greater capacity 740cc injectors is about the order of the day I'm thinking. I'm aiming at around 500hp for what it's worth.

    Rob (if you're around) you were supplying the Link ECU plugins if my memory serves?
    Have any of the above or if not, any recommendations as to any suppliers?

    I'd rather support reputable suppliers in Australia, and also avoid the financial raping from the Aussie Government from ordering parts from Overseas this time around if it can be helped :rolleyes:
     
  3. jellybeans

    jellybeans Active Member

    shouldn't you be starting by ordering new paint?
     
    Central QLD Z likes this.
  4. rob260

    rob260 Administrator Staff Member

    I have turbos, injectors, ECU, down pipes etc etc listed at www.rgsperformance.com
     
    Central QLD Z likes this.
  5. Central QLD Z

    Central QLD Z Member

    Ok, so I visited my mechanic today and discussed completely rebuilding the engine.

    What I've had done thus far is just kicking the problems down the road in my opinion and ideally I'd just like to pick the 1991 Z up and plonk it down in 2019 and have everything new. The whole car.

    Needless to say, he wasnt thrilled about the prospect given he's quite busy already. He told me to go across the road and talk to another mechanic whom somewhat specializes in rebuilds and to take a look at a HQ Monaro that his workshop just finished with and that was out the front awaiting collection...so I did.

    Holy shit.

    It had an LS8 conversion and was mint. It had surpassed show-room quality if that's at all possible. I spoke to the guy and he said the HQ came to him as a shell and he had outsourced whatever he couldnt do himself, or with his team and the result was extremely impressive. The body, paint, interior, auto electrics, underbody, LS conversion from ordering it in on the damn pallet was completely done.

    That's what I want for the 300. The HQ build has a price tag of $100k.

    I said that's a bit hectic and that I was looking at rebuilding the VG30 instead to keep it somewhat original, but upon brief reflection, it sounded like that was me ignoring what I was aiming to do, and instead giving the heart of this beast a bypass instead of a new, updated heart.

    60k buys me a re-trimmed interior, touched up body work, re-spray, new wiring the lot. Plus rebuilding my VG30.

    80k buys me the above, but with an LS engine.

    The HQ took him and his shop 10 months to complete with an initial downpayment of 20k and monthly installments thereafter. He expects the Z will take near on the same time and is available to start in 3 months should I wish it, though I might push that out to the new year to avoid starting at Christmas.

    Thoughts on this please? Is biting the bullet and just doing this the best idea moving forwards?

    Thoughts on an LS conversion vs VG30 rebuild?

    What sort of LS engine would even fit in these? Just a LS1 I'm thinking?
     
  6. Boll!

    Boll! Well-Known Member

    Man, if you have that kinda cash getting around to drop in the Zed, I say go for it, because I’d love to see the end result.
    But you wouldn’t see the returns $$ that old mate with the HQ Monaro might see.

    Personally, if I were to go with an engine swap, I’d stay with a TT V6 base.

    Just my opinion
     
  7. rob260

    rob260 Administrator Staff Member

    Do you have a lazy $60k to spend?
     
  8. jellybeans

    jellybeans Active Member

    How dare you? if you harm a single metal flake of paint on that Z of yours I will quit my job, leave my family and hunt you down
     
  9. Central QLD Z

    Central QLD Z Member

    Appreciate the opinion mate.

    I don't expect any returns mate, its not an investment, it's not designed to make me any kind of financial gains. I have spoken to a mate of mine since the post and his opinion is to rebuild the VG. I agree with him, as I don't fancy the idea of a yankee heart in the Zed, but I entertained the notion simply because I know its somewhat of a popular conversion and figured it was such with good reason. I also lack the knowledge to argue against it other than to say that it just didn't feel right when it was mentioned.

    I want to hit the "reset" on this Z to be honest. That's what i'm after.
    It's not limited edition, it isn't the top trim level version of the z32's but it is what I have and i'm happy enough to work off of it as a base.

    Even my mechanic told me to go buy a 370 and go off that as a base, or buy a new mustang for 55-60k. But that's just not the point of it all. You guys know that already though.
     
  10. Central QLD Z

    Central QLD Z Member

    No, but I have enough to go a bit over his deposit required.
    I'd be making monthly instalments as the work progresses. This is also his preferred method of payment.
     
  11. Central QLD Z

    Central QLD Z Member

    Haha, better start doing that resignation up mate! We aren't progressing it any further with the aircon and water leak of the LH side outer turbo water piping now. I'll be settling the bill for it but yeah, it makes no sense to push on currently.

    At least with a rebuild, the lightweight flywheel, exedy clutch etc. can be thrown back on, so that's a plus in my book.

    Thoughts JB?

    P.S. Good to be speaking to you again, am happy you're still floating around!;)
     
  12. Central QLD Z

    Central QLD Z Member

    Also, I have been put into contact with another shop that has a focus of imports so I will be touching bases with these other guys aswell before pulling the trigger.

    So I will have options, if indeed only 2 come recommended. But I take recommendations seriously, particularly so given how much I trust those whom gave them.
     
  13. jellybeans

    jellybeans Active Member

    Well ive been playing with a navara so have been too busy to think about your Z

    I just spent about $10,000 on a 1986 kingcab that was worth about $3000 and is now worth $5000. A terrible investment but we just got it off the dyno today and it's so bloody good I have forgotten about the money already.
    So i understand you basic thought process but on a much smaller scale.
    if you spend $60K it would probably be worth $30-40k for the next few years. What happens after that I don't know it might go up it might go down. If you spent 60K on a mustang it would also be worth 30-40K in a few years. Same as any new car really so they are a terrible investment anyway.

    But i am concerned that you say you have enough for the deposit and then have to keep up the payments. Life can get pretty hard pretty quick. As Rob says do you have a lazy 60K? if not id say be very careful mate, its one thing to spend money poorly its another thing totally to get yourself in a hole. Could bite you hard if you end up with a loan to cover costs.
     
  14. Central QLD Z

    Central QLD Z Member

    I have enough for the deposit to spend on the Z now. We have money allocated to certain things and my Wife handles that side of things. If I'm looking at the rebuild, that's 60, I have over his deposit now and he can't start for another 3 months at the soonest so i'd be saving for it through this period now and pulling any overtime at work that I could.

    The cost of it shouldn't be a problem, but I appreciate the concern regardless, trust me when I say that I wouldn't stuff my family up at the expense of the Z. To put it bluntly, if things went belly up, i'd put a pin in the Z, settle my bill for where it sits and throw it in a container until such time as work might resume.
     
  15. Central QLD Z

    Central QLD Z Member

    Saying the cost shouldn't be a problem sounds like i'm on an ego trip. Let me clarify, I don't go over the top on just anything. It's always been the Z. It's not boats, jet-skis, motorbikes or a combination of all the above. I just don't go in for all that.

    This is viewed as a long running ambition that might now be grasped, done and enjoyed.
    There won't be another project after the Z.
    This is it.
     
  16. Boll!

    Boll! Well-Known Member

    Yeah I get what your saying, I agree with the concept of keeping the VG, but for me it was a matter of working with what was available and I also liked the idea of keeping things “within the family “ so to speak.
    If your well aware that it won’t be worth what you put into it, as most of us are, who spend money on cars, and your not going to put yourself into financial difficulties, mate I say go with what ever you want to do.
    But I would be as involved as you possibly can be, learn on the way as much as you can and understand what is getting done and why.

    What ever your decision, I hope it goes well, and updates are expected :)
     
  17. jellybeans

    jellybeans Active Member

    Like i said you will lose just as much money if you buy a new car. I havn't read your whole thread but it seems that you mentioned you wanted to drive it to the beach and into the mountains. Probably with the wife so I would suggest you keep modifications to a minimum. A tt is fast enough with a few sensible mods and only gets less usable the more you depart from stock. I have 2 fast bumpy dangerous shitbox z cars. id swap either for a decent stock one.
     
  18. Boll!

    Boll! Well-Known Member

    Fast, “bumpy” dangerous......any of these for sale??? Lol
    maintenance requirements definitely do go up with HP, but I think reliability can stay within reason if your not pushing the boundaries to hard
     
  19. Central QLD Z

    Central QLD Z Member

    Thanks mate, the support is nice and part of the reason I joined this forum in the first place.

    I'll no doubt start another thread as this one has diverged somewhat off of what was my initial endeavours. Once a plan, date and details of each process and steps is sorted out (such as subbies doing the paint & panel work etc.) I'll start a build thread if that's deemed acceptable. I do wonder if mod's will have an issue as I won't be working on it myself and I understand the build threads are generally thus. I'll still be seeing the progression and photos and details shall of course be thrown up on here to justify the thread creation.

    Agreed regarding being as involved as possible. Unfortunately my work takes me away for swings at a time, and may indeed take me away from my home town as I am putting in at different jobs around the place currently, but the Z shall remain here regardless until it's finished. I was contemplating a 3 x 9m self storage unit for it should that eventuality come to pass. But having it progressing in a workshop is preferable to that option so that it might find it's way to me on its own steam and not on a dam.

    Updates will come no matter what happens. If it doesn't happen, then I'll update and say that aswell.
     
  20. Central QLD Z

    Central QLD Z Member

    Roger that!
    I recall you saying something to that affect previously if I remember correctly and rest assured that I am listening to that and taking note mate. I don't want something I'm fearful of driving.
     

Share This Page