853 replies to this topic

[Mikelly]

I bought this car from Chris Cloude in Spring 2002. I'd originally picked the car up with Chris in Summer 2000. We'd taken my truck and a rented car trailer to North Carolina. Chris had his dad make a rotissary and they fixed all the rust issues in the firewall and battery box, and welded in Pete P.'s frame rail design. Chris then removed all the sound deadening and then all work stopped...

I bought the car from Chris for $1000 for the car and three loads of parts that I promptly sold for about $1500.









Early pics of the car...

Mike

[Mikelly]

The suspension is all my ZFracing front Stuff:


This is a very old add and no I don't sell them anymore...

[Mikelly]

So I finally settled in on brakes after having some of the best known suppliers sell me brake kits over the last 10 years... Can you say requirements creep?







They're OEM Mustang Cobra brakes from 93-2004. They work with Jamie T.s aluminum front hub and MMLs rear stub axle. I went with the forged version.
Mike

[Mikelly]

And no "track car" could be complete without a "track car" interior, right?

[Mikelly]

So in the "end" we settled on Viper metalic silver with blacked out MSA Type3 air dam, Beta Motorsports carbon hood, Juan's Carbon tailight panel, euro tail lights, blue plastic headlight assemblies, and ZG flares. I'm running a rear pedistal mount fo-carbon wing.

Before installing spoilers, flares, wheels and other goodies...


Mocking up flares/testing wheel clearances.





mmmm Carbon fiber...



Pre-Carbon hood/MSA Type3



And with the MSA Type3 and Carbon hood...

[Mikelly]

So what's left to be done...

Awaiting the front Q45 mount from Techno-toy, and then the driveline will be buttoned up.

The fuel system is currently in development. Still sorting out the fuel line routing, the mounts for the twin pumps, the surge tank and the filters.

I need to fabricate the enclosure for the cell/lines/filler, so SCCA and NASA won't have kittens about the driver being exposed to all that fuel in the event of an impact.

Then I'll fabricate the airbox for the radiator/cooler, and close in the MSA Type3 a fair amount. I believe that will be a huge help in the aerodynamic department... More to follow there...

I still have some wiring to deal with under the hood and in the cockpit, and I need to fill all other associated parts with fluids/bleed brakes & Clutch and then it's off to the exhaust shop and then to a tuner to sort the fuel injection mapping.

[Mikelly]

Latest Updates...

Over the last Zcar shindig I was able to conn the guys into helping me (actually they really drug me into it) get the hydraulic release bearing bled. It was a good thing, because they got it to work properly and bleed properly and now it works...

So over the last couple of weeks I've plumbed the fuel lines, dual fuel pumps, regulator, surge tank, and all related lines...

Today I got a burr under my butt and bled the brake system after repairing another bad connection between two lines. I'm happy to report that there are no leaks, and I have a very full pedal.

I'm also somewhat optomistic in reporting that we've made a decision to move from the Porsche and into the Zcar by spring. I've got to get the exhaust installed, we've got to get some lexan installed, and I've got to finish up the wiring, and I've got to finish up the sheetmetal for the radiator ducting/under hood.

I think we'll have some major progress over the coming 30-45 days, and I'd like to fire up the motor here soon...

Mike

[Mikelly]

I spent today clearancing the motor mount on the driver's side, then also removed the transmission and adjusted the release bearing so it would engage sooner, so I won't have to deal with this when the clutch wears in. I still need to do a "stop" for the clutch pedal...

Also managed to get the driveline adjusted properly and permanently mount the tranny... Real close to getting the exhaust installed on this puppy...

Mike

[Mikelly]

Soooo I can edit THIS post, but none of the posts above??? So much for cleaning up those links above to make the pics show up in the proper locations... Anyone wanting copies of pics of the car project can contact me at dat74z@yahoo.com...

Update:
I've spent the last two weekends cutting out the crimp connectors used to test the wiring harness and am in the middle of going wire by wire and soldering/ shrinkwrapping every wire. This process is taking longer than expected, but since the car is a track car, I don't want to take chances with vibrations or track abuse causing problems with the electrical system. As of now:

The rear of the car except for the hot wires for the fuel pumps is complete.

The dash/gages are complete.

The OEM datsun stalks are complete and weatherpacks have been isntalled inplace of most connections.

The Moroso Swithbox is complete.

The battery master switch is relocated to the dash and complete.

I still need to finish the front of the car (headlights/turnsignals/parking lights).

I ordered some toe hooks and tierod end kit from ZCC-JDM and must say their quality and service was excellent. I'd recommend ordering from them again, and just ordered a second set of rear toe hooks, since I've got a 280Z and I bought a mount for the 240Z. The hook may work on the back of my Porsche, so I'll keep it for now...

Which brings up the subject... "Mike, it's a track car, why are you using that stuff?" I plan to drive the car on the street with an antique tag so I can debug it. In an effort to keep the local cops happy, I figured I needed the minimum to do so. So I've wired all that stuff in.

To those who think "Mike doesn't even work on his Z anymore since he got that other car", I say write me a check for $20K and I'll be done. Otherwise, kiss my arse and mind your own business. Until then, I'm finishing this car. Once it is done and has proven itself on the track, it may well go up forsale, unless of course, someone wants to pony up the $20K sooner.

Until then, I'll keep this thread alive with constant updates.

We expect to start the car before January 1st. After that, I'll need to instal the lexan in the rear and the windshield up front. And of course an exhaust system will need to be fabricated. After that is done, I'll work on upgrades to the MSA front airdam and some other aero mods I'll be working on, including an airbox for the radiator and additional bracing in the engine bay at the front of the car.

Mike

[Mikelly]

I decided to remove the front passenger fender and check how I had originally re-routed the wiring with the new harness over three years ago. Glad I did. The harness was rubbing on the unibody under the fender. So, since i was in the "soldering" mood, I went ahead and finished up the headlight connections with some weatherpacks, along with putting some wire loom inplace in those areas, and drilling a hole at the battery box and re-routing the wiring thru that area, of course with a grommet. I'll use some cushion clamps to secure everything so no "rubbing" will take place in the future.

Oh, yea... I'm working on the DATSUN, just so we're all clear.

Mike

[Mikelly]

Oh SNAP! I'm at it again...Working on the D-A-T-S-U-N (Not the OTHER car)...

So I finished up all the wiring in the engine compartment/headlights and tested out everything.

I'm going to re-instal the dash and schedule the windshield instal. I also am going to finish up the fuel pump wiring, and prime the fuel system. Depending on how the holidays fall out, I may try to fire the motor between now and the first weekend of January.

Yea, can't wait to fire this thing up... God forbid after oh NINE years, I would finally get to start this car up... instead of pushing it...

Wonderful way to spend money and time...
Mike

[Mikelly]

We're going to test the ignition system and attempt to start the Zcar this coming Saturday... This will be the first time since 1999 that I will have a Zcar running in my garage.

And people wonder why I've gotten sidetracked with other project cars that actually move under their own power...

If all goes will I'll have the car at Summit Point in April to start the "debugging" process.

Mike

[Mikelly]

Tomorrow, We will start the Zcar, if "god" smiles down upon me... Some would say that... "If god smiles down upon me"... Please...

My god, the god I believe in, has given me a brain, and the ability to do and think for myself. He, this god I pray to, has provided me with many great tools and abilities, to function on my own without troubling him with such trivial nonsense... I've always been amazed at those who would waste our lords power on such personal drivel. But hey, that's just me.

So tomorrow I'll start it up, and we'll see how it goes... I wont' trouble "my god" with such nonsense... But I know others would... That right there says a whole lot about much...

Those who care to keep track of my life, my projects, and my track day exploits can contact me at dat74z@yahoo.com...

I'll report the results of tomorrow's efforts later in the weekend...
Mike

[Mikelly]

A day of triumphs and tribulations...

The fuel pump I bought from some vendor on ebay isn't pulling fuel out of the can i'm using to prime the system. On the plus side, we were able to confirm that the starter is working properly, and that a number of "other" electrical components are functioning as designed. We were also able to confirm the motor is firing properly. I also managed to pull the holley 750 double pumper and go thru it. The carb had 70 main jets, but I upgraded it to 73s in the primary and kept the 80s that are on the secondary side. I only had one pack of jet extenders, so I couldn't install any on the secondary side. I'll pick up some next week and take care of that... I'm also pretty sure the Odyssey PC680 battery may not be sufficient to crank this car over... Also spent some time making sure the suspension was going to clear under full travel, and wrapped some fuel lines and wires in flame resistant wrap to make sure I don't have any serious issues at the track... We're getting there...

Maybe more news tomorrow, as I do have another fuel pump, and will attempt to use that tomorrow to pull fuel from the can I'm using to "test" everything...

Mike

[Mikelly]

New pics from today... didn't resolve the fuel issue yet, but did start working on the radiator box. No pics of it yet though!

[Mikelly]

Will it fire? Will it Start? We'll go for round two this weekend. I stopped at my local speed shop and spent some of my megamillions on a Holley Black pump and some more jett extenders. I also splurged on some very fine and super expensive hardware store Grade8 bolts for the waterpump pulley. I'm sure that will drive the haters into overdrive with my excess in spending!

I fully expect to mix fuel and fire and get this party started by this weekend.

Edit: It's 3 degrees outside this morning, and I just walked down to the shop and built a fire... It's 29 degrees inside the shop... Not sure how much I'll be able to get done today, but I'm waiting until we have sufficient heat in there!

Mike

[Mikelly]

My ADD kicked in today... That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

I had never been completely happy with the location of the primary pump placement outside the rear hatch. It was bolted up in the rear undercarriage, as the stock OEM pump was located initially. I never liked that location because of two critical things: The car will have dual exhaust and dual mufflers. The filter I use is very large and needs more room.

So today, I took all the components for the fuel system and re-engineered the design/layout of the system.

My fuel system is comprised of the following:

Summit Racing 15 Gallon fuel cell contained in metal case
1 quart surge tank with main feed/return/vent ports
Carter fuel pump
Holley Black fuel pump
Canton fuel filter
Summit Racing fuel filter

I now have the Canton filter now running between the fuel cell and the Carter pump. The Carter pump feeds the surge tank inlet. The line then runs to the Summit Racing filter, and onto the Holley Black pump. All components are sitting in the right rear portion of the hatch where the original OEM surge tank would have sat.

Doing this really took much of the morning to re-do. I had to re-make my AN lines/fittings/bracketry, but all works now. I also finalized fuel pump wiring and soldered/shrinkwrapped and secured all wiring.

So now I'm hoping tomorrow I can fill the fuel cell and prime the system.

Edit: Forgot to mention earlier... I'm using a 5 toggle switch box with a starter button. I had planned to run switches to independantly control the ability to turn these pumps on. I haven't done this yet, as I was contemplating using my safety switch as well. I'll sort the wiring for that tomorrow and then complete that.

Today I also started looking at my fuel cable/pedals and routing of my vacuum cannister. I'll need to get some more 3/8th line to run the routing for the cannister to the brake booster.

Mike

[Mikelly]

No major updates as I'm awaiting some parts to come in that I ordered. I did manage to start laying out the initial design for the air box for the radiator ducting. I'm stealing from Preith's box pics... Search is your friend!

Mike

[Mikelly]

Hard to believe but right now a steering wheel (Bought one from a vendor on ebay, nice OMP unit, but haven't received it yet!) and a fuel cell filler hose are all that stand in the way from me starting this thing and driving it down the driveway. I poured a cup of fuel down her yesterday evening and got it to belch some fire while cranking over and she wanted to start... So, that's a very good sign... I'm so close to firing it up, I can almost taste the raw fuel and hear the open headers...



Mike

[Mikelly]

Ebay has not been kind to me on this build...

Brand new Holley black pump didn't "pump" right out of the box, and still isn't working... Replaced with a local speedshop's Holley Black pump, that's pumping fine now...

Holley 4150 750CFM double pumper sprouted leaks and every gasket, and the threads on one of the bowls are damaged.

I'll rebuild the carb today after I helicoil the bowl bolt holes...

And then there's that OMP steering wheel I still have not received.

Think my "Ebay" days are done.

Mike