ZR8ED

What was after the light at the end of the tunnel?? didn't anyone tell you to never walk towards the light at the end of the tunnel?? LOL Sorry, I just couldn't resist...

Sound to good? Damn straight its too good, but that is what this one particular Z owner is expecting and he is complaining that he's being ripped off!!! :malebitchslap: This is what my mechanic is dealing with right now. (same mechanic who built most of my car, engine, rollcage etc..) A guy out on the web found me and my car. He came to several Z websites looking for info, and I directed him to my mechanic because he was a local as well. Nice guy mind you, I'm not bashing him. But man is he niave. This guy bought a used l28 turbo engine/harness/ecu/afm etc.. fairly complete. except the oil feed line was disonected and the turbo was bad (broken shaft) it did have decent compression... prime candidate for a rebuild.. this guy wants to stuff it in as is... he also had a GNZ i/c that he wanted installed, and a SS muffler that had a big hole in it. (he wanted it patched up and installed) He also had a bad tranny and needed a new one. (72 240 with auto tranny) He got a quote for 700.00 to install the engine and get it to fire. (no i/c) My mechanic is tooo nice, and now it starts. The guy comes back a week later expecting to have a running car! he didn't have a fuel pump or proper gas tank, the ign coil for the turbo, and he actually thought that 1 week was too long. even the turbo was broken and had to be replaced! To make a huge dumb story short, its been almost 2 months (waiting for the guy to buy parts, bring money etc etc), the engine starts and runs has a new (used) turbo, a new (used tranny) a fuel pump, and my mechanic modified the fuel tank to work with FI (guy had no money for a new tank) His bill is at 700.00 and the guy is crying (literally once) that he's being ripped off. and thought that he was going to end up with a 300hp l28 turbo with intercooler, and detailed motor and engine bay like mine!!!!... LIKE MINE???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This guy knows my car, and I told him long before he even found a turbo engine what a swap would cost..(2-3K to start if someone else installs it) even told him what MINE cost Anyways.. he paid his bill minus some of the parts, and has refused to call the shop to inquire further even after repeated phone calls. He is going to get 1 months notice from this week (i/c install work is halted untill the bill is paid up to current status) after which it will be put into an impound yard and be billed what the yard is owed as well. Still no word from the guy. What do you think? My mechanic feels terrible about the situation, but what do you do with a guy like this? We found out after from his many other connections with speed shops in the Toronto area that this guy has been kicked out of all of them for being so stupid. most said to get that piece of shit out of there unless you got $5K up front to get started. (the rest of the car is in reasonable shape, but you all know, that highperformance motors require highperformance suspension/brakes, chassis, etc...) Heck he even went to another Z speed shop and was told $10k min to do it right. (they do high end stuff ie twin supercharged viper, but the guy has a passion for modding Z's) I'm not really looking for answers, i'm just ranting a bit. I just can't believe some people... and I sent him to my mechanic... My mechanis is a stand up guy, honest, will go out of his way to help you. We are friends as well, but I can call him anytime, and he will try and fit me in when I really need something.

ROFL!!! SOOOOO true! Now send this to all the newbies who think you can install a 400hp v8 or l28 turbo etc etc.. into a z for $1200.00 because "its practially bolt on" Bwahahahaha

I'm always seeing and hearing from guys about using stock rims from other cars. ie toyota supra mk II's, and a few others.. Now I also know that many people like the panasport rims... Now for the info. mid 80's Saab 900's (i had an 85 900 S) had Saab factory rims made by Ronal (name cast into rim), and they looked very similar to the panasports. Size 15x6. They fit the Z, though they are the wrong offset. With a simple set of adapters, these rims will fit nicely on the Z. Give the car a cool look, and I'm sure Saab rims are fairly easy and cheap to find in JY's. Newer Saabs use 5 bolt, so the older style are not compatible, thus those rims should be plentiful as they will not fit many other cars.. Just an idea folks.. I have tried them on a Z, and they dooo fit. I figure a 1-1.5 inch adapter should work awsome at bringing them more outboard. Thanks.

Well I read through this thread, and figure I've got a couple of points to add that I've said more than once. VG30ET and VG30ETT's are not a very easy swap. Clearance issues around the frame and steering are no small feat to overcome. I know this for a FACT as I have done the VG30ET swap. As far as hp potential goes..well money talks, bullshit walks. 8) I can also comment on the handling because of the engine weight is set back much further on the car... My front pully is behind the front crossmember. Can I say "no understeer"?.. Yes I can... Last one.. Weight of engines. The VG30ET completely dressed was listed at 394lbs. I got that info from Nissan... take it or leave it. My L28 which included the full block/head, cam etc /flywheel, front pully, oil pump, distributor, nismo header, NO intake NO clutch, no oil, and enough port/polish work on the entire engine that it could be considered a weight savings bonus!!! Sitting on a 44x44 inch softwood skid, and wrapped with 1/2 plywood weighed in just a hair under 600 lbs!! Weighed at a shipping company who was shipping my motor to CA. I know the weight of the empty skid, and figure the skid and plywood covering weighed in close to 60lbs. Just sticking this out there for you guys to consider as well.

You can take your 83 degrees!.. my turbo loves 50 degrees!! yehaa! Been a long winter...Think I'll hit the local beach for a swim on the weekend...I'm sure the lake is almost 55 degrees by now!! hehe I think 83 degrees would cook me to death right now.. I'm climatized..or is that traumatized? to 10 degree days this winter, and I've actually relished 25 degree days this winter! :malebitchslap:

Clickety click.. fresh charge on the bat did the trick!! What a beautiful day! (very low 50's).. T shirt and shorts weather for Canadians! She lives!! Alt belt squeaked for a bit, but other than that, she just fired right up. Had to add air to one tire, but the car seems to have survived winter well. Now I have to get some mileage on that motor.. I'll just have to suffer through it till the engine is fully seated and broken in (so to speak) .. Thats ok.. cruising is cool. Car is dirty though, so I'll have a good time on the weekend giving it the full treatment!! To finish the week off, all I need is my new wheels.. To top it off, I saw my (soon to be "kill") that darned Yellow viper with the black stripes.... hehe it'll probably take all summer to find him again.. Ahhh life is good! 8)

I've dealt with Top End for many years now. Though I've only dealt with them mail order, and only for Weber carb parts. I've had excellent results in dealing with them. As far as engines go, I hear they are a bit pricey, but seem to build some fairly stout engines.

I have abolutely no help for ya. I'm posting this because one of my co workers has a 95 elantra automatic, and is complaining of similar problems (more probs going into overdrive) He just had them start giving him probs just this week. We've been talking about solutions all week... BTW a rebiuld (he was told) would be a couple of $K. His current solution is to run some of that tranny reconditioner through it, and see what happens... if all else fails, he is going to buy another car..

First things first...WAAAAAHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Got a call from my wheel/tire supplier. Wheels should be ready on Fri or Saturday.. depending on customs/shipping inspections etc etc...not good with a war on the go... Anyways, they will be here imminently.. Cool? yes...but there is more! Got a call from my Z storage owner/operator 1 hr later... Snow is all gone, and although its a tich early, I can come and get my car out of storage!!! less than 12 hrs from now, my little turbo is going to happily whirr along again. Wow.. did this week just get suddenly busy?..and the weekend?..well lets just say its just been re booked.. .... I dunno if I can contain myself... I just might have to try and fit these wheels on the car and see how they look!!! Oh man... just when I was getting some seroius cabin fever...I've been taking extra shifts on weekends, double shifts, anything I could get at work because I've been going stir crazy, and bored out of my mind just sitting at home by myself. At the very least, I'll post pics of the wheels when I bring them home..Doh!... I have to find some way of bringing them home!!! ...hmm I wonder if I can fit a 4 in my Altima? even with the seats down it'll probably be a tight fit...hehe might have to put one in the front passenger seat!... It will have to be a front tire, cause if i have to look at the dish of those rears wheels, I won't be able to drive, look at the rims and jerk off at the same time!! Oh yea! its looking to be a great week!!

Cool I'll just tell people that my car..since it is older than the 83 280zx they list on that site, must therefore be inferior and thus slower...hehehe that way I can race all the low 16 sec cars out there fairly! Wanna bet i can't beat a bone stock Accord? Sure my car always looked like that right from the factory...and no that isn't a turbo sitting down there, 78 280's didn't have turbos...hehehe Ok enough sillyness, back to reality..

Seriously fast! Probably all he can do just to hold the steering wheel.... man impressive when he floored it while moving along..... Think Skyline's evil mutated little brother... I recall a story of a guy in my Z club who was working on a formula V car (1200 or 1600) or ???? whatever... one of them small open wheel racers, that make that Super 7 look like a heavy tank... Anyways, the owner of one of these cars brought it into this guys shop and had an idea... take two Suzuki GSXR's 750 engines, and have a custom block made and crank, and make it a v8 with a 11+++ rpm redline. entire engine could be lifted by one person!! (under 100 lbs if i recall correctly.......) anyways, it made 250++hp, and was imediately disqualified when he ran the car to qualify for an event.... it was WAY too fast!

Ahhh man you are sick. Now you made me start thinking....my rims will be here next week (depending on slow downs at border/shipping etc..) I wonder how my rear drums will look behind my new rims?!! ahh Now you got me going! eh. maybe i'll just get those fake " rear disc brake kits" for the car... ya know the ones that they stuff on Caveliers etc.. to make them look like they have a big rear disc brake set up...yet still have drums?... hehehe hmmmmmm ...NOT!!! :malebitchslap: I suppose I'll just the do the same as you.. fit the wheels on the car and take it one step at a time... (though I'm quite satisfied with the stopping ability of the car...I'd only be changing it for looks)..ewww...does that make me or my Z a ricer?. hehehe Congratulations on the rims! I hope it works out for you, and I hope your wife does not find the receipts!

Glad to hear the car is working out well for you!! Please keep us posted, and drop me a line if you need any more help. 8)

Problem you will find with the helical steel core pipe ( I used a simialar type of hose... one big prob... When you install it, if you twist it one way, the coils open up and make it easy to slide on.. When you try and install the other side, and you wiggle it on, you are actually constricting the coils and make it tighter to go on. Once you do get it on, and the engine twists under load (rocks..moves..whatever) those connections flex as well...except one side tightens, and the other side loosens... TRUST ME ON THIS.. I fought all last summer with hoses mysteriously popping off.. Buy the proper stuff once... don't go cheap at the end of the project..you will regret it. nothing like fighting with hoses trying to refit them..1hr from home..and your late...and your dressed up... get the picture here?

wasup with the sig? you say you want an l6 of some sort, yet you gota Vg30240turbo handle?.. just rassing ya man. Other than the sixes you mention, there are not many others that are large enough, or small enough to be suitable for a Z... Besides the skyline and supra motors have rep of being bullet proof... why would you want anything else?.. Since you got the VG in the sig... why not do a VG?..certainly not as "bolt in", but if ya want a challenge...

niceguy678us. Welcome to the wonderful world of rims... If your gonna "dive right in" hehehe you may as well jump off the cliff with me and Big Phil! finding rims is like pulling teeth I have heard, and I agree. It took me years to find suitable tire/rim combos to fit my application/budget....well application anyway.. The only way to have fun is to break out the charge card! If your not going to use adapters to run a FWD rim, then be prepared to shell out some serious$$$. A 9" or wider rim is not gonna be had on the cheap... Then ya need some tires. BTW I ordered my rims from Simmons, and Yokohama AVS sports to wrap around them. Good luck, and may your wife/GF not find out how much they cost!

Ya know the saying: "Black cars look better in the shade" But they are sooooo cool looking. People who have known me and my Z for a long time have commented on how much more menacing the car looks now that it is black. It used to be red for 11years of my ownership, and I loved it.. more of a fun sporty looking (1991 Porsche guards red) But with my aggressive body work, and suspension stance.. its personality changed and it HAD to be black.. I'm not trying to tell you to paint it black, but let the personality of the car suggest its colour...

Was down at Whitehead Performance today to pick up some axel stubs with a friend. This guy does all kinds of performance work in Toronto, and has a passion for Z's as well. (He is also a member of my Z club) Anyways, We go waltzing in there today and as suspected there are 4 Z's in the shop...and one not a Z...Not even a two door.. It was a 2.7L Audi Quattro, with twin turbos and a Zex 100 shot!! currently being dialed to 550hp... just enough hp to not break the stock rods. A new motor is in the works for the summer, as the customer says its not fast enough!! and is waiting on new rods etc, so the engine can handle 700+hp!! What a piece... twin custom turbos from turbonetics, custom manifolds, etc.. they had to pull the entire front end of the car off just to have some access for the I/C work .. heck.. they have to drop the engine to work on the alternator!! yikes!! talk about a tight fit... What a monster! There is always a bigger fish!... he must be feeling the pinch by another fellow customer who had twin superchargers installed in his ACR Viper GTS!!! hehehe Talk about money!! geeezzzz

"Zen and the art of engine disassembly" hehe You on some kind of quest!?

I was amazed by how much was "hand built", and yet at the same time how much was really automated. They used standard methods for "E coating" the body. (by running the cars on some form of "line" and dipping them through what looks like "E coat" or some kind of phosphate tank.) They use bell technology to prime the cars, though am unsure whether it is solvent or water based prime,.. hard to see, but it could even be powder prime... All that robotic technology, yet it looked like the base coats were applied by hand! Anyways.. just ramblings Cool vid anyways!

I had tough time balancing mine out, and ended up as a compromise to fit and use all the anchors.. Looks wicked now that its done.. on a side note, we got them to fit better by heating them up with a hair dryer, and bending them/forcing them into position then letting them cool... THEN we mounted them with the screws..

Excellent thread! I read every page (ya I have no life..) That guy got what he deserved... he said himself he was being scandelous...he just found out what happens when others act scandelous...misery and suffering.. no one wins.. Some of them tried to help him out by telling him about stock turbo replacements, and about getting modded chips for the ecu... but he blew it when he talked about defrauding a company...Ya never know.. maybe one or more of those guys works for subaru...I'd want to protect my job, and my pension and stocks... Pay if you play, and play nice....or else...there is always a bigger meaner fish out there... You should try to follow the laws made for us by us, but you need to balance that with "doing the right thing" We are brought up to hate "tattle tailers".. telling on someone to be mean is one thing.. to tell on someone because it is morally right is something else... Tricky subject eh? Different levels of morality...

Let me put it to ya this way. I work in the OEM paint industry...and I've never heard of them... Buy DuPont. Nuff said.

Right on Mudge.. Put it down on paper. its the little things that get ya. Sorry to sound harsh, but I've been on the Z scene for almost 15 years, and I've heard a ton of guys wanting to do all kinds of crazy stuff. You will always hear of some guy who did a turbo install and plumbed a wild i/c into a stock 240 that he bought, and claim a total of $2K invested! If you have access to full machine shop facilities for free, have access to lots of parts on the cheap or free, then yea it can happen. For the average Joe, a 350hp+ Z is gonna run ya $5-10K.. or more in engine, suspension, electronics, brakes, etc.. I am one of the guys who does not have access to those types of things, and thus I have to pay, and a 400+hp engine is gonna run you $8K min. (turbo engine.. installed) My hybrid t3/t4 turbo was $700.00.. plus new oil lines/mounting bolts, gaskets etc.. $1200 for engine balanceing/ shotpeening. $450 for complete engine gasket kit. $400 for bearings/seals/ etc.. another $500+ for misc sensors that needed replacing. $400++ for hyd lifters $400 for new turbo oil pump $600 for oil cooler and all aeroquip fittings $250 for high flow fuel pump $400 for fuel reg and all aeroquip fittings $700 for custom bent exhaust and ss muffler $1000 for rod and crank polishing $1000 for kick ass head porting. ++++ for install and fix any other probs (while its apart syndrome) And if your swapping in different engines ie V8's V6's other mfg etc... Custom made mounts, custom steering mods maybe custom driveshaft custom shift linkages custom throttle linkages custom exhaust custom trany mounts modified suspension to compesate for weight differences etc. body and frame mods for clearances. Now that adds up. And I talk from experience on ALL of them. A good I/C is gonna run you $100++ for a USED one piping another $100.. including mandrel curves. Another $100 for pipe couplers,and quality clamps. Trial and error $ and time will need to be factored in as well. I spent the whole Frickin summer tweaking my i/c pipes so they would not blow off under high boost.. (very common in custom setups) Now as far as documentation, there is nothing better documented than the JTR manual for V 8's.. Every other mod including L28 turbo swaps have been done from cheap cheap, to mega, and everything inbetween. access to engines and parts are critical.. Ie if you can't find it at your local wrecking yard...Nissan is $$$$ Good luck finding a L28 turbo engine in my area.. I have seen 3-5 in my area over the last 15 years!!!!!! thats it.. Heck LSD's are so rare around here, $500 will get you an unknown diff in unknown condition, but many go for much much more.. Lesser done swaps like Buicks, supra motors, skylines etc... there is far and few info available.. almost everyone that has done it has been mostly on their own, and many that to reinvent the wheel to get things done. An L 28 will take a lot of abuse, and there are some pretty tried and true methods for extracting 350 hp from them... more than that its less tried and proven, and if you want it to last,...cubic dollars are needed.. (more than 1-2 years between rebuild.) Nothing like spending every bit of cash.. going that extra mile, only to have to rebuild it 2 years later, can be murder on the pocket book..or murder from the wife..hehe i see you have some #s now.. thats good.. keep narrowing it down. I also agree on maybe not spending 2K on a 6=8 intake (whatever that is) A stock intake will get you a long ways, and there is a ton of better things worth spending limited funds on. Good luck!