| Message |
June 19th, I dropped my Z off at Dave N’s 2nd house, aka, his garage. I was planning on doing some basic stuff…you know, injectors, UDP, boost controller install, etc etc…but we all know how that goes :/ I wanted to do a little bling bling too, so I got some extra parts from Bernie. While my car sat at Dave’s all week, I slaved away in the garage. I started with the water pipes, polished them up. I used a wire drill to rough them up, and wet sanded from 320 to 2000 prior to final polishing with Blue Magic. I even polished the sensors in the drill. I also polished the timing cover bolts and the TB bolts. Same process as the pipes, followed by a clear coating to prevent (delay :/ ) oxidation. Then I started on the actual covers…wow, this was a learning experience. I referenced Greg’s post as far as the method. He claimed no bondo, well he’s the best sanding finisher in the world then. I used his soldering iron method, with some spot filler, about 10 coats of paint, with varying grits of paper between to get to the finished product, which I am very happy with. I forgot to remove one cable holder mount, but I’ll take care of that when I repaint them again. It was tough to get a good pic with my crappy camera once they were installed , but here’s what I could get. 
So the rear main seal was on my list of things to do. Obviously the clutch flywheel and tranny need to come out for this. I had bought a new RPS street disc from Specialty Z (great customer service and shipping BTW) with the intent of resurfacing my JUN flywheel and roughing up the pressure plate. Well, when Dave got it out, he called me with the bad news. The 6-puck disc had busted two of its 6 springs and gouged the flywheel and pressure plate. Fantastic, break out the plastic. OK, so new JWT heavy duty clutch and Fidanza flywheel, CroMo pivot ball and my driveline is bombproof. Add in a Nismo 240SX tranny mount and its smooth and vibration free as well. Then there was the subframe and differential bushings. I had dreaded these, after hearing horror stories, but they actually went quickly with 2 people working them over. This is the face I make when Dave takes too many pictures… :) 
Got the ES bushings in place, but not before destroying my ABS sensors…Yo, Bernie!
Bernie also helped out with the intake cam gears. My passenger side gear had failed, and was the source of a MISERABLE oil leak. Replaced the gear along with the thermostat and I was in good shape. So now I get the plenum and ECU back from JWT. Ridiculous turnaround too, less than a week, I was very pleased. So we start assembling and set in the new Nismo 740’s with extreme care and a little oil lube on the o-rings and seals. 
We did have some assembly issues. Originally, I placed the isolators on the rail, lightly lubed with motor oil, then into the lower plenum. Process related or not, #6 split, and caused a hideous vac leak. I sourced some from a local dealer, and went back on a Tuesday night. This time, we placed the isolators in the lower plenum and oiled them up with motor oil and placed the rail in. Tightened down and pressure tested (Boom!, thanks again Dave) and I was in business. Even with the 740 program in the ECU, I still had to turn the AFC down 20% at 800 RPM to get her to idle. BTW, running on DP’s only is FREAKIN AWESOME!!! Car sounded amazing! I decided to have some parts powdercoated. Balance tube, coil pack brackets, valve covers, couple of brackets on the side of the motor, fuel hard line and I think that’s it. Big mistake. The place I selected didn’t get anything right… Parts were a week late
Parts were wrong color
Parts were not taped off properly
Parts were not PCed correctly, so the PC chipped upon install. Here’s an example of the sub-par work. Very blurry, but look at the hard fuel line. 
KGA Motorsport in Reading Ma. Yeah, don’t use them. What a nightmare. Thankfully I had purchased some extra valve covers from Bernie. I cleaned them up and painted them with high temp semi-gloss black. I think they came out great, need a little touching up, but still better than anticipated. 
I already had the AFC, but we needed to install my Greddy Profec Type-S boost controller. I contacted Carlos, (Cap927) for his fabrication expertise. Dropped off the boost controller, AFC and boost gauge, and he made me a panel exactly as I requested. 
Exactly what I wanted, a ½ glovebox insert, allowing room for my registration and gloves. The panel allows for another 52mm gauge to be mounted next to the boost gauge.
In the process of all this, I upgraded my exhaust as well. Traded my Greddy SP and stock cats for a Olde-Style Stillen stainless cat-back with test pipes. 
Keeps nearly the exact same look, with a much throatier tone and DP back stainless steel. The pass side muffler chucks some black stuff if you shake it when off the car, so I think that’s responsible for the raspy-ness. I want to thank Jamaal (aka Perm (NoVA)) for his quick shipping and good service on the exhaust sale. Overall, the car runs like a top. Feels faster at 9PSI than it did at 14 previously. Driveline shock is gone, shifts smooth as butter rides like a dream. Spools crazy fast with the test pipes, lightened flywheel and underdrive pulley combo. I can’t wait for intercoolers, boogity boogity boogity!!! I need to thank some people for this project. First and foremost, Dave N, for use of the facilities, patience with me and my parts procurement, and his vast knowledge of the Z32. You’re a true Dr. Z and a valuable asset to the NE Z community. YugoBernie, for being a reliable source of used parts and another vault of Z information. Your diagnostic abilities are priceless. Carlos for is excellent fabrication skills and relentless pursuit of perfection in everything he does. If you saw his products first, then saw his Z, you’d understand why his Z products are immaculate. Coz for his quick shipping and great prices. Coz you are the best OEM parts vendor period. I actually felt bad using Medford Nissan when I needed those isolators, like I was cheating on my GF. In a totally hetero way :). So thanks to all who helped me get her back on the road. Got some other goodies coming shortly, then its time to dyno tune and enjoy the cold fall air.
"...Downpipes own. They own everything...anything...all there ever was and will be...they should be stock on all cars. Screw the environment, emissions, noise! I love them...I shall name my first-born after them with glee..." - SeedyRom 05:13:20 10/03/02 "i love the cock" - genic 22:20:47 09/25/03 "I hope you get fucked in the ass with a pringles can." - ni[X]it 14:53:53 02/02/06 "Either ignore him or beat him up. Anything else will be over his head." - Marshall 12:28:23 08/18/04 z32baby: yeah, my memory sucks balls
DJ Juiced: What's your memory doing this friday night? ;) "i've got to the point where i can drive the Z at its limits and i want more" - shadowZ 16:29:56 08/31/04 "I was way more timid then than I am now about getting in there and yanking on things." - TT XTZ 13:30:34 07/25/05
|
 |
7 Weeks ago, I sent my girlfriend to the Z-Farm for some R&R - 
