TwinTurbo.NET: Nissan 300ZX forum - recap 4 years of Z ownership
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Subject recap 4 years of Z ownership
     
Posted by tt_703 on September 20, 2013 at 1:57 AM
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Message Well, finally my car is back on the road after 4 yrs of working on it, uncounted hours of labor . First of all, thanks to tt.net and all of you who had helped me to get this project done. I am not going to write a lot , I don't call this a build thread either because I am suck at writing. Second, I apologize for poor phone quality pictures.

4 years ago, my friend and I drove 5 hours to pick up this 1990 twin turbo z. Not knowing anything a Z32 , just love the way it looks. Knowing that it had a blown turbo, the owner offered a replacement turbo with the sale .Silly, I thought that replacing turbo on this car is just a one hour job. so I got the car and I made it home the same day. After two days, the car developed a rod knock. This is when I discovered TT.NET , I was so happy that I have found so much information about this car on the forum, so I decided to rebuild this car all myself . Here is she sitting on jack stands after 2 days of ownership

The plan....
Rebuilt engine (stock)
Gt28r ball bearing
Nismo 740cc
300 degree fuel rail
Ash's ECU
Dual Mafs Selin
JWT pop chargers
Avs intercooler
Mishimoto radiator
Z1 Oil Cooler
MaxFlow Turbo Manifold
JWT Heavy Duty Clutch
Fidanza flywheel
Upgraded Clutch Folks
New 95 Harness and CAS
Top Speed Downpipes
Czp Testpipes
Labree Catback

Get to the work:

so I sent the engine to the local machine shop to rebuild the had head and the block. They found one bended rod, and said that everything else is within spec including the pistons. They said that everything will be done in a month. So let them do the work. While waiting for the engine, the car will get new paint. My dad know a little about paint, he painted some small boat before, never had painted a car. So I decided to paint my car in the garage . I picked a BMW M3 blue
my dad cleaning and prepping the bay

quite some orange peel, and I did not like this blue at all. We I decided to do it all again, this time I picked a darker blue , Daytona blue (350z color)


for now I am ok with this color, just not so very happy :(

engine is back so I started putting everything back

So I started working on the interior
Is this typical ??/

to this..

Time to get to the bottom of the car
Complete ES bushing - not so very fun job

So I though I was done, for the first time in 3 years, I finally started the car, everything was good according to plan. I really love how this car and started to enjoy boost. Here is a picture I took it out for the first time

Waiting at emission /inspection station

Skyline Drive - a good place to break in an engine

Problem emerged - I discovered that the motor was swallowing oil- every 300 miles , I lost 2 quarts of oil, compression tested in the 135psi. So I continue to drove the car while I kept top off oil and hopefully that the rings will seated more. At 2000 miles still no changes, I knew that the builder fuck up my engine. So here again, enjoy the Z for only one month after 3 long years

engine pull again!!!

2000 miles, this was how it looked

This time I sent my engine to IPP, and going BIGGER
-Wiseco 0.20 over
-Eagle Rods
-Arp hardware
-3 angle valve job
-polished exhaust side to match my AMS manis
Basically , a stage 2 what they called

In addition, I upgraded to Z1 2.5 pipping , z1 throttle bodies, 1 piece DS, Ash Massive Ic, z1 short throw, and Powertrik Coilover.....

While waiting for the engine to come back from IPP, I decided to painted the car the 3rd time because I though it wasn't shine enough, I sanded down all the orange peel clear coat, spay one very thin base coat and 3 clear coat. This time it looked lot better, only need minor wet sanding and she will be all set.
I also cleaned the bay a bit more, shaving, wire tucking , ps reservoir relocation ect...

Kyle Told me that my oem pistons were way out of spec, This was why It burned so much oil..

anyway, engine came back from Ipp, putted on stand and get to work

my son offered some help

engine went back in again

2nd Rebuild took 1 year, she is finally on the ground again

also, got her a good used set Volk Gtc

this is what he got for helping daddy

I have 100 miles on her, so far so good. I just love this car, can't stop smile while driving her.

At work today, checking out thru the glass window,

thanks for reading , hope it is not too bored , anyway welcome all opinion..

     
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