Drax240z

Check out this at zdriver, a VG30 TT setup in an early Z... looks good! I imagine its really light too... http://www.zdriver.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=s30&Number=4097&page=0&view=expanded&sb=5&part=

Scottie search the site, I am not sure where exactly but evan purple posted a link on how to make your own a/f meter. You could probably make it for around $15 and use your existing o2 sensor. I bought mine from SDS (very nice too) for somewhere around $75.

oh yeah! I wish I had sent you back that other bend, its quite crappy. (the same one that had the ding in it) Its sortof got a D-shaped cross section. Anyhoo, used it anyway.... I'll get that out to you asap. Moving on to the brakes... Well I think I can do the stuff myself for ~$500... and I want something lighter than the 4runner setup. And also since its a daily driver I NEED dust seals which rule out the outlaws for the time being. I don't mind putting in the work for making my own brackets since I have access to a machine shop these days... The search continues!

Mike did you use the thick rotors that were allready paired with the Z32 caliper? I thought from looking at one that it was REALLY thick... Looking at options for a cheap/do-it-myself front brake upgrade that is also lightweight... I was thinking in the 12", .81" rotor area... Just wondering if you found a way to make the Z32 ones work with .81" rotors.

Andy, looking good. The reason you couldn't add the 2 pictures is because the Graemlins count as pics as well.

Definately. After sandblasting my POR-15's arms feel like their painted for ever. (its tough!)

Heh, while we're on a roll here, I thought I'd mention something I read a while back about SAAB. Seems that they are prototyping a variable compression ratio supercharged engine. The head is basically on a pivot, allowing the combustion chamber to be resized while the engine is running. They say anywhere from 8.0:1 to 14:1 compression is possible, now with the boost possibility that does have some serious potential I think!! Check out this link: http://www.edmunds.com/news/innovations/articles/43027/article.html Cool stuff, I thought I'd pass it along.

Yes Davy.... This is one sore point for me. About 3 years ago I thought I had this great invention, yes rotary valves. I was overwhelmed by all the pluses as I thought the system through! Almost ZERO time for valve to go from fully closed to fully open, no reciprocating mass, lighter heads, the whole 9 yards. Well about a year later I found out some guy invented this in the 60's and can't get anyone interested in it. Check this link: http://www.hybridz.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=13&t=000021

Sorry to hear the deal wasn't as stated. Scottie raises good points, all of them. I think your idea of offering him an insultingly low amount is a good one. $1000 sounds like WAY too much. I wouldn't go over $500. (though its worth $500 to someone doing a swap into an early car, hell you know it runs, all the right parts are there)

I think you'll be ok with that setup. I just had my tank out yesterday (and back in again) and I opted to keep the vent lines, as I didn't want to be bothered with cutting off the fittings on the tank and welding them up. Anyway, just make sure there is SOME venting available, and I think you'll be OK.

Scottie you keep praising the patience of some of us on this board, but I for one praise you for getting at it so quick! Patience is said to be a virtue, but at some point it has to be a flaw. (I'm there!)

Sounds like you are making good progress dude... I fought with a damn relay I bought today trying to figure out why it wasn't working. I'm not the most electrically inclinded person out there, but I thought a simple fuel pump relay was well within my skills. After scratching my head for about 30 minutes and not getting anywhere, I swapped in another one I had around. Yup, turned out the NEW relay was bad, and that I actually did know what I was doing. (love it when that happens) No point to this story except to say that just because its new, doesn't mean it works.

For $1000 it sounds like a steal. BTW the stock 260cc turbo injectors have brown tops, and of course a barbed connection into the fuel rail.

I've always thought that turbos would get better fuel economy than superchargers, but I suppose its possible to use a magnetic clutch on a supercharger so it won't spin when you don't want it to. I would think that cruising ont he highway, the turbo should get better economy than the same engine with a supercharger... However if you are comparing apples to oranges, who knows. The only way to really compare is the same engine, tested with a turbo and tested with a supercharger. Lets just concede that if you are adding either, economy isn't your primary concern.

Well final cost of parts was about $30canadian. That is using all brass fittings and rubber PCV hose. (and stainless hose clamps) Haven't put it on yet, but shouldn't be a problem. I am simply using a T conneciton where Tim has used the Y connection. It might not quite be as effective, but I am sure this system will function better than the stock one. On a side note, I can't find a PCV valve that doesn't leak either. Seems my old used stock one is as good as all the replacements I could find. One more possibility showing up tomorrow, but I expect that will leak as well.... Is it so damn difficult to build a check valve? Sheesh. I think I might try to find an industrial check valve that will do the job.

Going to see how much (or how little) I can copy Timz's setup for the PCV system for. I'll try to post the results. (can't afford all those nice AN fittings and braided hose unfortunately)

Ah Norm, the 2 stock headgaskets finally went on you? You must have got over a yeah running 2 headgaskets, right? Crazy stuff!

Actually Jim it has 5 cats. 1 in each intake runner, and 1 after the turbo as well. Crazy, but its about the only way to get a turbo engine to have low emmissions when it just starts up and is running cold.. I have a feeling that you could remove all 4 pre-cats and never fail smog, providing that you always tested your car at operating temps. (but don't take my word for it!)

I'm using the Nissan 5 speed in my turbo car. (soon!) I know Jamie T has been through 3 of the transmissions before he finally went to a T5. Though he's 339hp at the rear wheels! That translates to a good 400+hp at the crank, with torque to match.

I found with both the WRX and S4 that I was going MUCH MUCH faster than it felt, especially compared to a 240z. 80mph in a Z feels FAST, while 80mph in either of the others feels very sedate. WRX is 227hp from the factory, and just asking for a fe wmore psi on the dial-a-boost if you ask me. I wonder if there is a FMIC conversion kit for those cars? I've never been fond with mounting the IC on top of the engine.

Uh, your reaction time doesn't effect your 1/4 mile time AFAIK...

OK, everyone needs to take the new S4 out for a test drive. (or the new WRX) Pretty impressed with both those cars turbo systems.

There is a very good article in this months Sports Compact Car about turbo sizing, etc. They've recently started "suck, squish, bang, blow" and there have been some really good fundemental tech articles written for that section.

Doing my intercooler piping today, it really wasn't that tough, and its certainly the hardest part of the 'plumbing' that a turbo setup needs. I used mandrel bends, cut to length/angle, and then welded together once in the right configuration. Total time to have workable piping was about 4hours. I'll probably spend 8 more making them look good though.

Not a lot I can help you with... most people make their own solid mounts... same with strut tower bars. I am just making a rear one for myself today actually. (on a Z) its really not too big a deal to make if you have an angle grinder, a drill, and a welder. Even if you don't have a welder, you could get all the pieces made and have them welded elsewhere. As for brakes, I would say its one system you can't have too good! Even if you go bigger and can apply more brake torque than your tires can handle, you still benefit from increased modulation with bigger brakes in my (limited) experience.