TrumpetRhapsody

Welp, got her all put back together and went for a test drive, and I'm quite pleased. It might be my imagination, since we didn't get above about 40mph, but it seems like it drives much smoother and there isn't as much shimmy in the front end. I'll see about getting an alignment sometime next week, if it still needs it (likely). The brakes just make me smile. It feels perfect, like a modern car. Love it. Didn't get around to swapping diff fluid since I slept in a bit today, but maybe I'll get around to it tomorrow.

Well at least I now have my endlinks installed. I went by Autozone to get some brake fluid, and Dan found me some bolts that ended up working. I think they were only about a 1/2" longer. The nut did bottom out on the threads, as you can see, so I hope it's tight enough. Also ran out to Gentry and got my 240sx transmission. Came with a 240mm flywheel and clutch, so that'll be a slight upgrade from my 225mm.

Loved the video, nice music, lol.

Alright, some progress tonight... Got both LCA's redone in poly, the forward TC bushing is poly and the rear is stock shitty rubber till I can get a new OEM rubber replacement. Hit some major snags doing the front sway bar. First off, I unknowingly grabbed the rear sway bar instead of the front, and ordered front bushings based off that size (1"). If the front (which is 1.5 hours away in Oklahoma) isn't 1", I'll have to order more bushings and wait for them. Sucks. So, I decided to re-install the stock bar with the new endlinks for now. No dice. There is no way that bolt is long enough to get the nut on. I'll have to hit up the hardware store tomorrow and see if they have two longer ones. I'm going to wait to do the rear end bushings until I have a spindle puller. Might as well do it all at once. I'm planning to replace the tie rod ends and ball joints when I upgrade to coilovers. I'll replace the various steering bushings when I pull the motor to drop in the L28ET. Tomorrow I'll try to finish up the endlinks, install my new brake booster, and flush and fill the diff fluid. If Nissan is open, I'll take it for my friend to align as well, if not then Monday.

I just noticed that the first evo's intake plenum is similar in looks to the one jmortenson fabbed out of mandrel intake tubing and such. Interesting.

Yeah I'll be starting that after work tonight. Can't wait, lol.

Sweet lord! I'll be looking at these all day tomorrow.

Lol it doesn't really look that much different. There just aren't HUGE crooked gaps between panels like before. The crappy bent hood still makes it look pretty shitty. Next pics of the full car will be bodywork progress.

Alright, got the Z back from the bodyshop. Verdict is that it had been hit from the front, left side went down, right side went up, all of it shifted to the left some. They got it all straightened back out, and the body panels line up pretty well now. They'll look even better after some shimming and tweaking. This does show me how bad of shape the hood is in though. It was pretty bad to start with, before it fell over in the gravel, so no big loss b/c of that accident. Good thing I have a spare... no vents for it though, yay. It still lists a little bit to the left, but they said it's the springs, which I could definitely believe. Coilovers should fix that problem. Hopefully this weekend I'll get most of the bushings installed and take it to be aligned. So that's $500 knocked out of the budget. This is turning into quite the cluster$@#^ of surprises. Now I just need to swap out the crapped tranny (around $300 ) and replace the dead brake booster and it'll be DD comfy. From there I'll install the bushings, get coilovers, do the bodywork and paint, and then I'll be in my happy place with it for awhile till I can afford megasquirt.

I thought about it, but the master bushing kit laying around and the fact that I'm getting the Z back from the body shop is playing a LARGE part in my decision

Taking the reservoirs off is just to give you more breathing room, it's not a necessary step of removing the master cylinder. Where the master cylinder bolts up to the brake booster is what you're looking for.

You should be able to remove it using just the two (maybe four, can't remember, think it's just two) bolts holding it on, and unscrewing (had to use vice grips on mine) the brake line fittings.

I wondered why the torque was so "low" on the third run. Didn't want to ask a stupid question though

Congrats man! Inspires me to get mine going. Keep tuning and take another run!

What's worse are the people that insist that they're right. You can be like "Dude, I own one, I should know", and they still won't believe your corrections and will continue seeding misinformation. Lol, you hate telling about your 280z? Try telling someone you have a 260z, all I get around here is "huh?".

Air dam looks good, did you wet sand it at all?

Lookin good! Get some exhaust on that ho and start driving it What be your plans for it sir? (like I don't already know )

Great info, thanks a bunch Nigel! The guy asked me if I preferred S13 or S14, I'll change my answer .

Digging up an old thread, seemed the only one pertinent to this swap. Can someone that's done this swap post a pic of their trans mount modifications? A few posts back someone said it had to be "reshaped". Will that involve cutting welding or drilling, or just some bending? I need to know what I'm getting myself into if I pick up a KA tranny.

12: http://www.acid-runner.net/downloads/Wangan_Midnight/Wangan%20Midnight%20DVD%2012.WMV 13: http://www.datorrents.com/torrent/36523--darkzero-wangan-midnight-13-avi/ (torrent)

So I was going to order the master bushing kit from summit, but they were backordered on the black (graphite impregnated) version until September. I go into Autozone, they not only can get it, but it'll be here Thursday! On top of that I don't have to pay shipping. Autozone is considerably more expensive though, so go talk to a manager. They should price match Summit ($177 currently). Part number 7.18102G for my 260z, and likely 280z's as well (G = graphite/grey?). Just thought I'd post this to help out anyone else looking for the black bushings.

After all these type of posts recently I've been triple checking my lugs, and doubting myself on the highway (bad alignment right now). You guys are making me paranoid!

Those look great... and are just what I want out of HIDs... no bulbous housing that requires headlight covers. Great job! That link you posted didn't show up though.

Uuupdate! It's monday

Happy B-day!