jakeoster

Well finally got insurance on the Z and got the tags after a major hassle with the DMV. Well lets see where to begin, I have no turn signals, no headlights, a fuel gauge that doesnt work for some reason today, a radiator pulled out of a SOHC 4 cylinder Datsun at the junk yard, no coolant catch can, a small single fan that is zip tied on to said radiator, doors that cannot be locked/unlocked from the inside, no interior panels what so ever, an overloaded relay system, a temp gauge that doesnt read right, a non working tach, a speedo and tach that fall out because they arnt mounted, just so happend to be a 105 degrees today, sounds like a recipe for disaster right? Well, I couldnt help myself but to do it. I pull out of town without a hitch and get on the freeway. Boy do I sure feel cool driving my Z down the freeway for the first time. Well just as I begin to give it the beans my eye creeps on over to that temp gauage of mine, and to my surprise it is half way!!! After some testing when I first got it running I determined that half way is about 250 degrees. So I pull over and it boils over. Dont I feel stupid right about now, I have no extra coolant and Im stuck about twenty miles from home in the middle of nowhere. Its blisteringly hot outside and I decided to sit and see how things play out for a while. After about an hour I call up my father who is on lunch and beg him to come give me a hand. Reluctantly he comes out and brings me some coolant. I fire it up and LIMP it home, probally was coasting at 50mph in the slow lane. I finally make it home and relized that mayyyyyyybeeee I need to fix a few things before I try that again:mrgreen: But I can assure you for those miles that it wasnt running too hot, it was running great:) Everything seems to be fine because I caught it in time and let it cool down right away. That is my first legal Z experience, hope you enjoyed reading haha.

Sweet dude! It's looking good! Curious, is that an R34 engine, or did you just change out the cam and coil cover? Keep up the good work.

Ive been considering adding an EFI nitrous system to my Z for some cheaper HP gains. Ive been considering this one from the Holley brand NOS, http://www.holley.com/05122NOS.asp Do you guys have any experience with this kit? I would be running a safe shot, nothing too crazy. Just wanted some feedback from you more experienced guys. Im running an RB25DET S2 with stock internals and standard mods, with a newly installed fuel pump.

I put it in as a single unit and had to mounts on it ready to go. Took about ten minutes to get it in. If you have a 280z your going to have to beat in the transmission tunnel a bit to fit in the speedo sensor.

Got me a Suede Momo course wheel and am cleaning up the interior. I have collected most of the interior panels and such for the interior to make it look clean and hide all the wires and guts. Still need to install a number of them but cant due to a few wiring problems.

So your gonna do an ITB set up with the VG? That would look pretty beastly. It'd even look sweet if you made some kind of surge tank and turbo'd it

Anyone know where to get an inexpensive short shifter similar to the one below that will fit the RB25 transmission. The only one Ive found is the Nismo solid shifter and thats a bit out of my budget:icon45: http://www.twmperformance.com/shortshifters/mazdashortshifters/images/twm-msp3-ss.jpg

Stick with an L if your on a budget.

I wonder what my shabby old RB25 would through down. Still eager to get it on the dyno...

More on the Boost controller... Here is the solenoid that connects to the wastegate. This is the the vacuum side. Here is a short vid of it operating. By the way for you guys that have just gotten one of these, MAKE SURE you change it into PSI mode if that is what you want to read or else it will screw you up. If you have one of these controllers or are thinking of getting one don't hesitate to PM me if you have any questions in regards to the RB25 installation and programming. I would highly recommend one of these, they are easy to use, install, the directions are in English and easy to understand, its not overly expensive and has performed beautifully so far.

Sweet, thanks. Gives me something to look through and find a good deal

Doesnt seem like it would be a bad idea.

Google around, you might be able to get a 200zr harness from a Japanese wrecking company or have an importer find one for you.

Well it was spewing out the oil before I even turned up the boost which is set to 8.6psi right now with the Greddy Profec B Spec 2 controller. I had to take off the I/C piping to install the fitting that reads the pressure the turbo is putting out and that is when I discovered the oil. It had puddled up in all the silicon fittings and there was a slick inside the piping itself, even past the FMIC. I was thinking of just buying a new Garrett turbo that fits on the stock manifold and fits under the crossover pipe just like the stock one. Does anyone know what turbo(s) would meet this criteria? I dont think it would be worth it to fuss with the stock one...Thanks for the great information so far guys.

I got a Greddy Profec B Spec 2 for the Z and have been tuning it, the car runs a lot better with it. I am going to get the boost up to 10psi, I got the peak boost pressure up to 8.6psi so far. The Box Heres the head unit installed on the car Ill post more pictures soon and a video soon.

Well, I installed a boost controller and had to take off the intercooler piping to install a pressure source to the solenoid. I have a stock RB25 plenum and a large front mount intercooler set up and when I took it off I noticed a fair amount of oil past the intercooler and all the way up to who knows where. Whats normal for oil in the I/C piping?

Wow that's one clean Z! Was wondering where you got your side view mirrors, I've been looking for a set like that for a while.

If your really thinking about the swap it would be a better idea to buy the engine and 5 speed off eBay. You have more options and stuff to protect you then just buying it from some random site. Also you will not end up using a lot of crap from a front clip anyway. The radiator etc. Do not fit in a Z. You'd save some money, just a thought...

Haha:biggrin: I havent even made a video of me boosting the car yet. I was short shifting in that video because I wanted to break things in a little before pushing it.

I put the Z up on jacks today and put it into 1st gear and to my surprise both wheels spun forward at the same speed. I was unaware that the person who owned the car before the person I bought it from had installed a LSD and Im pretty happy about it seeing as I bought the entire car for a whooping $100:eek::eek::eek: Im not really sure which one it is but it is a long nose one.

Thats kind of funky looking, give it a try guess it cant hurt.

I see a crap load of Q45s at the junk yard (missing their throttle bodies of course because I need that haha) and always thought how itd fair in a Z. Cant wait to see it running. You going to run the automatic box or go manual?

I know theres a thread on here about this but it is confusing to me and doesnt really say exactly what you need, where to get it and how to install it. I have gotten conflicting information from serveral places including Jim Wolf and have not gotten it to work yet. I fear I may have blown out the terminal in the computer by following autometer's directions on how to install it (is that a possibility?). I have some resistors with the resistance that Jim Wolf said but I dont know if they are pull up ones or not. I have an Autometer Monster Tach with a stock RB25 Series II ECU. Thanks in advance.

I'm running a bone stock R200 non LSD rear end. Apparently the PO changed out the rear end on my 280 for a 78' one. Yeah I kinda figured I was. I'm such a newbie with turbos that I originally thought the sound my intake makes under boost was the belt slipping xD

Let me know what you guys think. I doubt Im driving it to its potential because I am stumped on how to get my tach working and the engine has not been tuned. Im pretty sure my next purchase will be a Power FC & commander.