Z32 Harts TT restomod build thread

Discussion in 'Member's Garage' started by Harts, Oct 7, 2020.

  1. Harts

    Harts Active Member

    End of week update:

    Engine in, Gearbox and last bits have arrived. Gearbox goes in Monday I believe... here is hoping![​IMG]
     
    MickW, MintZ32, beaver and 1 other person like this.
  2. Harts

    Harts Active Member

    I got a little package at the end of the week with my Targa Straps inside. With the OEM covers I got from Japan, I'm all set to take my Targa tops off and safely store them away... Just in time for Autumn/Winter :rolleyes:

    Eagle eyed pundits may have seen the Radium FPR next to the fuel filter in my last post.

    I'm heading in to see what is happening tomorrow, I'll update as it happens.
    [​IMG]
     
  3. Harts

    Harts Active Member

    Popped past to get some progress shots, all is looking good.

    Gearbox and clutch are in, slave cyl and clutch line are in, driveshaft is in. Wow I need to refresh the bottom of the car though![​IMG] [​IMG]
    New Nismo trans mount[​IMG]
    Owing to the fact that I used all new parts for the conversion (except for the pedals and linkage), there are a lot of parts to look out for.

    Some of the tricky ones I'll list below:

    - Speed Sensor gear circlip
    - springs/retainers on clutch fork
    - clutch fork boot
    - manual trans to engine plates
    - Trans mount T bolt and flange nuts
    - all the other bolts and screws (Trans bolt kit, shifter finisher screws etc.)
    - the correct clutch pedal for your master :rolleyes:

    I will actually have a full list of what I purchased for the manual conversion if anyone is ever interested.

    The guys also fitted up my GReddy oil sandwich plate, you can see a black 90 elbow for the Link ECU's oil pressure sensor and the Defi ZD Advance Oil pressure and temp sensors plumbed up here.[​IMG]

    Check out the absolute lack of clearance to the front bar from the intercoolers, indicator mods incoming![​IMG]

    And finally, one more shot of the Veilside cannons![​IMG]
     
  4. Harts

    Harts Active Member

  5. rob260

    rob260 Administrator Staff Member

    Looking good and glad to see it all bolted together.

    If you have the option of switching that Nismo mount out for a standard one while it’s on the hoist that would be a better choice. The Nismo mount is not for Z32 and will result in the tail shaft being misaligned.
     
    Harts likes this.
  6. Harts

    Harts Active Member

    Oh, interesting info! I'll look into it, if it's an issue then I will most likely BDE the whole trans set up.

    Yes, happy it is all coming together!
     
  7. beaver

    beaver southern zeds

    @ rob, iv'e had the nismo mount for years rob, no vibration at all.. besides that a one piece d/shaft is a few degrees out from the stock setup anyway, still no vibration occurs at any speed that I can detect.
     
  8. rob260

    rob260 Administrator Staff Member

    Hi Geoff, I had one for years too thinking that it was in upgrade.

    They are actually an S chassis part and sit the trans a little higher than stock. The uni joints or uni/CV joint (depending on your tailshaft) disguises this but it’s less than ideal and will wear the joints prematurely.

    Of course that doesn’t stop people selling you the part!
     
    beaver likes this.
  9. Harts

    Harts Active Member

    Obviously the exhaust is now complete and bolted up, I am very happy with the work my shop did on the exhaust, from the dumps to the Veilside cat-back.

    I can now comment on the AMS dumps fitment, mine fouled a fair bit. I passed on the information you guys gave me but my drivers side could not be clocked enough to clear the steering rack after the divider trim, so it was heated up and massaged to clear. A little part of me is disappointed in losing a little flow, but the dumps will be discarded when the new turbos go on at a later date, so it's of no great concern.

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Things keep moving forward, but sadly the car will be getting towed to the new workshop premises on Wednesday and stored until the new workshop is set-up, cest la vie.
     
    IB, beaver and MintZ32 like this.
  10. MintZ32

    MintZ32 Active Member

    Some good looking fab work there on the exhaust @Harts. Will be worth it in the end. Keep the updates rolling!
     
    Harts likes this.
  11. Harts

    Harts Active Member

    I haven't forgotten about it, the Z still exists :D

    It is set up in the new work shop now, things are happening finally. The mechanic is working on it two days a week, since last week amongst his other jobs. From what I gather, the front bar is back on and the whole thing is back together barring the new Z1 Silicon radiator hoses I have ordered (after I was told the current ones are nearing EOL - ETA is soon), and some wiring. The defi link clubsport is installed too apparently. I wish I had photos, but the new premises is 1 hour from my house, so I don't go there without a good reason any more :)

    In the meantime, I finally found a picture of my first car, mentioned way back at the start of the thread, my redtop 180sx.[​IMG]
    That is my mate in the picture... it's strange to look back at that now, 20 years ago, seems like it was only yesterday!

    And one of the Z for good measure... hurry up I say! I'll update as it happens.
    [​IMG]
     
    MintZ32 likes this.
  12. Harts

    Harts Active Member

    I received a call from the mechanic on Friday morning. All mechanical work is complete except for adjusting the clutch, and then the car is ready for a tune.

    The car is running on the Link base map, it fires on the first turn over (I snuck up and saw it). There are no apparent oil leaks, and the coolant system was pressure tested and showed zero leaks as well. The power steering is the same. The defi couple package is reading perfectly and the factory oil gauge is happy again. The car doesn't blow any smoke and the exhaust sounds great at idle, that is all I have heard of it as yet. So far so good!

    So now I just wait for the flex fuel tune and then she finally comes back after 6 months and 5 figures multiple times over!

    I just hope that I get the last sunny day before winter sets in to take the targas off and give her a hills run. Hopefully I'm back very soon with a dyno graph and some action pics!
     
    MickW, MintZ32, beaver and 1 other person like this.
  13. Harts

    Harts Active Member

    Nothing exciting to report, I had another look today though. Talking to the mechanic regarding the fitment of components, more specifically the Z1 intercooler and piping kit fit-up, here are some thoughts for those considering the purchase:

    - Intercoolers fit perfectly in standard locations and using standard mounts.

    - Intercooler clearance to front bar and indicators is zero. Indicator rear housings need to be cut and rotated 180 degrees to allow loom to plug in and avoid fouling on the intercooler body (This is decsribed in the printed Z1 installation instructions).

    - Intercooler pipework is hard to fit, especially the drivers side lower hardpipe to silicone intake section, it points directly to the Power Steering reservoir and the silicon portion deforms a little when installed. Hardpipe can't be clocked due to fouling around radiator area. Also the passenger side silicon pipe to the intake manifold gets in the way of working in that area and is typically off everytime I see the car, apparently devious to fit as well.

    - Clearance between to engine>pipework>strut towers in close to zero, mine has some padding installed to protect the area.

    - Intake manifold needs to be slightly shaved on both sides to allow for foul-free fitment/clearance from pipework.

    - Low-profile BDE mounts made it much easier to fit intercooler pipework.

    I hope this info helps anyone looking for a 2.5" pipework and larger intercooler kit .

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    MickW, beaver, lidz and 1 other person like this.
  14. Harts

    Harts Active Member

    Saw this come up for sale, it's on the way to me. Will be far heavier than my Tomei Duracon item and ties in nicely with the other Veilside bits.

    I'll give it a resto before it goes on the car :)[​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    MintZ32 likes this.
  15. NI85

    NI85 Active Member

    The Turbo car I have, (before I owned it) the parker lights were trimmed off at the back and a LED strip was glued in due to the large side-mount intercoolers.
     
    Harts likes this.
  16. Harts

    Harts Active Member

    There is a massive lack of space at the front of this car due to those awesome 60 degree projectors. As much as it effects the engine bay, it does the same behind the nose cone. It's like the Hong Kong/Sydney of automotive real estate in the front end!
     
  17. Harts

    Harts Active Member

    After many months I have a dyno date set for next Tuesday, very keen. It has been a long road, and I am more than ready to have the car back to myself for a while before the next stage.

    I went up to the workshop yesterday to check her out, the car is running a base tune on the LinkG4 and they let me drive her into the carpark to have a look in the sunlight. I am very impressed at how the Exedy HD clutch drives, super easy to use.

    I am due to pick her up Thursday next week, so more posts then! Once I get her home I am going to attempt to tidy up the engine bay a little, re loom and hide some cables where possible, and install some new factory emblems and a little paintwork.

    In the meantime, enjoy these!



    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    beaver, MintZ32 and lidz like this.
  18. lidz

    lidz Well-Known Member

    Looks fantastic, you must be dying for a drive now!
     
    Harts likes this.
  19. Harts

    Harts Active Member

    Beyond dying @lidz :rolleyes:

    It's raining the day I pick her up, of course! I think she is ready just in time for 3 months of rain haha
     
  20. Harts

    Harts Active Member

    I have her, a day early mind you, because I wasn't going to let a worsening covid situation prevent me from picking the car up!

    I had my mum's birthday last night and picked the car up after work, so I did not get a chance to give it a good run, but it is a 50 minute drive from the workshop to my current residence, some of that on a freeway, so I had a little chance to experience the car.

    I must say, the car is more fun than I thought it would be, much more outrageous than I expected. I limited my workshop to 14psi for the tune, I didn't want to lean on the 19 year old turbos too hard just yet (they were installed as refurbished units in 2002 according to service records). With that in mind, I ended up with 245rwkW on e85, which was a little less than what I had pictured, but feels great in the car. I still have the stock wheels with some semi-slicks on them and 100% throttle sees very little traction through the gears! Apparently, more boost on the e85 tune will see it closer to 300, so I'll consider that when I get bored.

    I have a work imposed long weekend this weekend, so hopefully I get a bit of time to tweak, clean, play and drive and can post up some pictures and vids along the way.
     
    lidz and MintZ32 like this.

Share This Page