So firstly I had best put up a WARNING: Contains gratuitous Mills & Boon type inclinations towards a vehicle! If you cannot stomach gushing and infatuation please read no further, and even if you can - get a bucket ready. So I picked up a junker. I didn't mind, I liked the overall appeal of the lines, the sleek styling and the obvious intention of a vehicle like the Z. I was naive, so not a car person. My motto has always been "Four wheels move the body but two wheels move the soul." However this project landed in my lap along with a written off slicktop. The blue Z had a blown motor, chugging, coughing and blowing smoke like a teenage metalhead hoovering down his first bucket bong. The write off: The Roadeater as received: I knew nothing about a Z32, in fact I don't actually recall ever seeing one (or maybe taking notice?) before in my entire life! So I guess you could say that I jumped from a very high bridge into icy, treacherous waters at midnight... I spent a SH!TLOAD of time pulling things apart, swapping out, tidying up, funnelling money into what I basically found out was a junker. A vehicle that would have sooner found it's way to the wrecking yard rather than the street again. Engine: screwed. Interior: screwed. Suspension: screwed. Brakes: screwed... I had made a decision though, and as I look back now recall it having the kind of effect on myself as Christine did on Arnie in the Stephen king novel. A mental commitment, I was going to treat her right and she was going to teach me. As the depth of the sh!t went from ankle height to waste, then to elbow height, I remember thinking "Alright, show me." Weekends saw many hours of just cleaning up tools and mess from where I had been tinkering and trying to mine the gold that I felt was hidden some place under the skin of the Z. Many of the efforts I put in were undone in a single fell swoop (including drilling through the HICAS line, I'm sure some of you will recall that), and I found myself constantly restarting from scratch just trying to get things right. Trial and error, error and trial. I sent the write off down to Barry at Adelaide Z Cars so he could extract the engine and give it the Angry Baz treatment, while I soldiered on with the weekend warrior stuff on the blue Z. Barry called me late last year and requested the vehicle I was holding back - it was time for him to play Dr. Frankenstein. The Z getting ready for Adelaide Z Cars: I let Barry have his head. I neither pestered nor pushed (although I did put out a few suggestions that I'm sure Barry was shaking his head about). All I wanted was an engine that would serve as a workhorse not a hand grenade. No modifications for Kw gains, just a good old fashioned going over and updating everything, so when it went in it would be hassle free. He blinged it out . I had input into the bling but so did Barry. So then I get a call, "Motor is in, running, FMIC mounted and it's ready to drive away". My skin prickles. I'm off to Adelaide to pick it up. Barry ushers me into the passenger side and takes me on a little joyride. I had only chugged the Z along a back road around Quorn once before, just to try and garner some idea of what I might expect one day... I was not expecting what Barry put me through. As soon as he entered the street he popped 2nd and gave it a boot. My head snapped backed, my body pushes into the seat as everything outside instantly blurs and the horizon is catapulted towards us! Barry says almost nonchelantly, "It's a nice motor and I don't know what sort of ECU* that is but this is not normal". *I started a thread over 6 months ago asking if anyone knew about D Tech Performance, which is where my ECU comes from. The engine that Barry built: After that little rush I settle business with Barry and gingerly slide into the driver's seat for my first REAL drive of the Z - I am taking her home. The button (something or rather, Barry did tell me the name but I now forget - 1 day later) clutch is difficult to get used to and I nearly stahl her the first time I am taking off from traffic lights, it gets easier as I start to feel how to use it correctly. The journey from south of Adelaide to north and further out is smooth, I baby the Z along, watching gauges, listening for noises, checking for smoke or anything abnormal. Then I am free of built up areas and I do what I have dreamt of doing for a very long time... I pull over and take the roof off (bet you were all thinking otherwise). I'm on a freeway, a big wide, dual laned freeway. The warm late afternoon sun makes the atmosphere balmy as the wind buffers the tufts of my ever thinning hairline. Driving with no roof is mesmerising, I am looking up far too often, taking in the expanse of blue sky and whispy white clouds that I now have access to on a whim. Fantasy becomes reality as I now feel somewhat "Hollywood", or Burt Reynolds-ish with the open roof. The afternoon hues turn to solid gold, the dried summer grasses lining the side of the road are positively luminous with solar reflection. Then I see it. the silhouette of the Z skipping through the grass. Those sleek lines dancing over the field in shadow, connecting right back to me. The spoiler is like the tail fin of a man-eating shark, careening through a gently rippling sea of gold. It's starting to sink in, I'm starting to feel it, I am tapping into what you have all known all along. I get a sense of what a Z really is. The animal: Much like a big cat of prey, hunkered on it's haunches as if to launch as soon as it's victim is in striking distance. The stance of the four wheels feels purposely widened, as if to offer stability or as though poised in a set of sprinter's blocks. Now imagine that big cat of prey in high heels... The supermodel: A mature one at that. This supermodel has been around for a long time, has seen the parties, has snorted more coke than Elton John, knows every bit of the aristocratic lingo and has impeccable timing, poise and grace. She can do her little turn on the catwalk, yeah on the catwalk. She has no time for the girlishness of the youths she mentors. She is a seasoned show stopper, she still has that certain look that earthbound housewives can never emulate. She is Elle Macpherson, she is Claudia Schiffer, she is Cindy Crawford. The day turns into night and the engine is smooth and powerful, the tone is one of harmonic resonation, like operatic throat singing. Wave after wave of euphoria never ceases and my big shit-eating grin has not deminished all afternoon or night. The noise of the engine, the feel of the road gives me a pervading sense of a cool, endless velvet scarf being drawn over my being. Rapture. The stars are now my ceiling, putting the roof back on is the furthest thing from my mind, I am free. Free with my Z. I don't want the journey to end but as I pull into home I take solice in knowing that it isn't the end - it is only the beginning. I now have the base on which to build a beautiful Z32, one that any self respecting Zedder would be happy to own in time. I am not one for going overboard, I am just going to do this right! :br: You have all seen and read my signature. I can confirm that it is true. I do not own the Z, I am now her human. I am Roadeater, but she is The Roadeater. Pics taken today. The Roadeater:
Glad to see the engine's finally off the stands and in the car Can't wait to see the Roadeater finished in the flesh, you should definitely bring it down for the Old Skool and New Age auto festival in a few months (I refer you to the thread in Coming Events )
Oh Hell yeah... Welcome to the land of ecstasy Not just the feeling, but the looks of admiration as well
brought back memories of my first drive on my first day of ownership, took the roof off just as you and was in love so damn bad. word of advice, don't ever sell it. regret it every day. p.s WTF do you live? looks like the middle of nowhere! perfect for 700hp +
sounds like you're more of a bike bloke. so for you to get interested in the zed I can only assume you get the x factor this car has. ah that first drive with the targas off. mine lasted for 2hrs and nearly wrote it off 10 mins from home going too fast around a corner. hung on for dear life and somehow it stayed in the right lane and didn't plow into oncoming traffic. one of the scariest moments of my life.
Thanks very much people. It is absolutely scintilating to be out and about. Heads are turning, commonwhore owners are bristling, and I am enjoying every second of it I live in a bit of a weird triangle, but open roads are the norm. Roxby Downs is mostly home, with 254km's of straights for the drive to their from my secondary home, Quorn. That gives me access to a nice windy mountain pass which is perfect for both Z and motorcycle. Last home is Hawker, the Hubb of the Flinders Ranges, more open cop-free roads to the outback and beyond, or to the magical national park roads of Wilpena Pound. Thats right, I'm more of a biker type of person... or I used to be. I still have my Yamaha XV1700 Warrior to play on, but the Z has all of my interest currently. I'ma do my damned best to get there! Looking forward to meeting yourself and the rest of the Crow-Eater Z crew. The Z still needs a hell of a lot of work (and money) to make it into a worthy specimen. Getting to shows such as these can only help with know-how. Those looks are just bliss huh. I was setting up the town hall for my mum's 60th yesterday and spied a person walking past the Z parked out front. The full lap that he walked around the car was just priceless to me Sure thing Anti, will do. Thanks again people. I reckon I might have used a bit of literary larceny from all of your feelings about Z's.
After having this as my background for the last day, the only thing I'd change about it is the brakes. Gold.
I'm royally chuffed that you'd make my car your background! Quite the honor - seriously! The rotors are definately getting swapped out. I will take recommendations for any/best style for road use, as well as pads (and possibly caliper assemblies?). The current rotors have scoring and require machining, but screw that - replace/upgrade. A few things that are happening inside of the next 6 months are: Brake rotors and pads (calipers?) Re-trim seats + trims (Group Buy) UAS side skirts added (currently sitting in shed) Intercooler piping kit (for added bling) Replace shagged suspension with KYB shocks/Eibach spring kit (car is already lowered) 2K style tail lights installed (picking them up tomorrow) Stainless dumps, hi-flow cats, Magnaflow 14807's, mandrel bent exhaust (all components are in shed too) Window tinting (25%) Touch up paintwork and remove a couple of annoying pin-dents I've been preparing for all of these upgrades for quite some time, just want her to be mechanically sound before I apesh!t with all the bits on the above list. Soon as the exhaust system and suspension are fitted she's off to Adelaide to be dynoed and final tune. I'm sure that along the way I'll find more to add to the list, things like stereo upgrade and other minor bits & pieces. I might leave it like that for a while...
Those sound like some great plans. The calipers is what I was thinking - red fits well on 90% of cars, but not so well on blue ones. Gold calipers would be sweet If the rotors are really shagged, check this place out: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...tem=&sspagename=STRK:MESINDXX:IT#ht_924wt_939 Comes to about $140 after shipping. Amazing price.
First up, I gotta say... would you consider redoing the baby blue lip on your wheels? I don't know if I'm a fan, but if you are then don't let my opinion sway you too far Other than that; R33 GT-R Brakes are a thoroughly praised swap, relatively easy to find as well Just keep an eye out on SAU and you'll pick up a set eventually
Hehehe. The rims are a bit of a novelty, nicknamed "Grandma's dinner plates" on here a long time ago, you really have to see the them in the flesh (on car) to appreciate the colour. I wanted to blend them from centre(silver) to car, so the dishes got coated wedgewood blue... not exactly the effect I was going for, noted when first I saw the finished product but they've grown on me. R33 GT-R rotors and calipers, is that right? Brakes are pretty much one thing I'll pay anything for if it means safety.
Can I have a copy of the hi res too? I saved The small pics but I wouldn't mind a copy of the big pics
