juggernautjoee

Found another RSX seat. It's not an exact match. The stitching pattern is different b/w the seats, and the plastic trim in the headrest area is a different color. Obviously I'm not going to fix the stitching, and I'll just paint those plastic trim pieces black and be done.

Got a deal on a used set of 240z taillight panels. So I sprung for some 240z taillights as well. I really like the look of those more. Just a few more pics.

Replaced quite a few things to try and track down the random shut-off problem I'm having. New ignition switch, new internally regulated alternator from a 99 Nissan pathfinder, and removed the seat belt interlock module in the engine bay (it was already removed from the relay under the dash). That seems to have done nothing lol. I think I'm still getting some random sync loss issues that I need to track down. But I did put some skillard door panels on, and put an Acura RSX seat in. That took a bit of cutting and welding on the seat side, as well some cheap ebay sliders.

Literally just needed to change one setting from rising edge to falling edge and we're good. Had to find another tooth angle after the change, but that's easy to do. The AEM wideband was fixed by just grounding the brown wire. Drove it down the road a bit and let the auto-tune hit some target AFR's. It's definitely running better. I've just got it using wastegate pressure for now. I can hear it spool and release, so the BOV and all that stuff are working fine. I noticed I'm sitting at 60-65kpa at idle. I know my Schneider stage II cam is probably the culprit. I also need to do a hot lash of the valves, as they're a bit noisy. Hopefully i don't have a vacuum leak'

Finally took it around for a drive. Wouldn't rev past 1700rpm. Sync losses like crazy. Guess I need to take some logs and spend some time on other forums looking for help. My wideband was working perfectly fine for awhile, then it started sending out a full 5v or more. The AFR on the gauge itself seemed accurate, but the output was just sending 5v constantly. Tried changing grounds, etc.. but no change. I think it's dead. I'll try swapping out for a new one.

It's been awhile. A lot of back and forth with Godzilla to figure out what was going on with my ECU. RPM signal was not coming through. A 10k resistor was the culprit. Got everything hooked back up, configured some base settings and it finally fired up. First time in almost 2yrs. That's exhaust smoke in the picture. I really need to get it turned around so I can run it for longer to tune this thing. It smokes like crazy right now lol. Probably doesn't help that I have flex pipes and random loose clamps holding the exhaust together as well. It runs like shit, and I need to hold the throttle down a bit to keep it going, but it's a start. I can't wait to start digging into tuning and learn this stuff.

Getting very close now. Just need to run another vacuum line, hook up the crank vent to pcv in the intake, get the small braille battery hold down, and we should be able to fire it up. I've just got the turbo open to the air right now. I need to mock up some kind of filter/intake tube. I might just buy some cheap chinese universal one and cut it up to fit. I'm emailing around my area (northern KY/Cincinnati) to tuning shops to see if anyone would want to help take this on. But so far I'm not getting many favorable responses. Does anyone have any recommendations on someone who has MS tuning knowledge that can do it remotely?

Thanks man! Just another quick update. Got a used black hks bov for a good price. Ran a few more lines and tested the fuel system. No leaks! I wouldn't have believed all those AN lines I made actually worked lol. I let it run off a battery for a minute or two. The FPR was showing ~45psi at the return line. Now I'm debating on going with protunerz or godzilla for my ecu. I want to go with ls coils and a CAS for sure.

Getting a bit farther. Buying more an fittings and various other things to get it buttoned up. Got a used black hks bov on the way

Cooling head mod finally came in. Getting that installed over the next few days. Then it's going to be putting the manifolds back on, finishing up the few more AN lines for fuel feed & return, finding a BOV, then purchasing and installing the MS system.

Fuel lines and pump done. Waiting on the cooling head mod kit from godzilla raceworks, then I'll be able to put the engine bay back together. Decided to put a front air dam on. Now I feel like it really needs a bumper to help fill that area out. Not sure if I want to go chrome, raw aluminum, black fiberglass... or what. I feel like chrome or raw aluminum would look good with those konigs, but not sure.

This is how I think I'm going to do it. I've got it semi-mocked up/semi-installed. Some of the lines are really short, but I guess that's not necessarily a bad thing. I know these electric pumps are better at pushing than pulling, so I tried to keep it short as possible.

While the trans is out, decided to run some actual hardline 3/8in from front to rear. The FPR is probably in a bad spot near the heater hoses, but i don't plan on running heat right now anyways. I'll move it later if I decide to. Right now I've just got a right angle AN fitting on the bottom of the drain plug for the fuel tank. Need to figure out a layout for a pre-filter and pump back under there. Not a whole lot of room to work with.

Decided to swap over to some electric fans. As I was mocking up the shroud for them, I punctured a hole in the rad. So I had to get another one. And the aluminum sheet I tried to use for the shroud ended up being too thin for my liking. I just attached the fans straight to the rad for now. I'll do a shroud later. Also dropped the trans and took the 225mm clutch out. That isn't going to hold once the boost kicks in. I'm going to throw in a rb flywheel w/adapter from godzilla. I have a spare 240mm clutch from a 280zx new in a box that I bought by accident last year. I'm gonna go with that and see if it holds up. ARP bolts for flywheel and pressure plate as well. Just waiting on parts to come in. Hopefully I can get it all buttoned up soon

Waiting on a few parts to get the engine back together. Decided to take off the front bumper permanently. Might see what I can find to get a set of smaller bumpers installed. Took the grille off, cleaned and painted it. Used some gm silver grey metallic paint I had laying around. People say the original is more of a darker gunmetal type grey. But I think it'll turn out fine.

Brakes are done. Had to bend the ebrake bracket a bit to get it lined up properly, but it works. I bought a headgasket for a later model 280zx. Noticed that it blocked a lot of the coolant ports. I went down that rabbit hole of reading posts over the past 10+yrs on this site and multiple other ones. Some people saying they saw more heat in those center cylinders, others said "why would nissan do this without proper cause?". Others were saying nissan blocked the ports on purpose to make the engine run hotter to pass emissions. Some people had data to back it up, others had feelings lol. I'm making the call to use an earlier gasket with the coolant passages open. I was already planning on doing the cooling head mod as well. So now I'm waiting on that gasket to get the head on.

Timeserts installed. Lifters installed. Cam came back from Schneider. Slowly coming together. Got the wildwood MC on. Going to bleed those brakes and fab something up for the ebrake cable too

Head is done. They had to take off .007 due to warping. Valve job and cleaned. New plugs etc.. Gotta finish up brakes then I get to tackle putting these timeserts in. Schneider springs and retainers installed. Still waiting on the regrind on that cam

Front brakes mainly done. Had to put a 1/4in spacer to clear the caliper. Longer studs too. I probably could have just shaved the caliper down a bit with a file, but whatever. Starting on rears now. One of the calipers already has the ebrake bracket, one does not. I'll have to get one from a vendor. Got some longer studs and the same size spacer for the rears too. Also went ahead and grabbed a 1in Wilwood MC. Hopefully I can get this all squared away before the head comes back.

Attempted to put the brakes on the front, but the calipers were hitting the rotor. After thinking about it for a minute, I realized these came off a 240/early 260z. And my frankenstein car with the 280z sized front spindles need a different spacer. So I've got a set of those coming in soon.

Reached out to Z Car guy Cincinnati to get a reference on a machine shop near me to get the job done. Ordered some Schneider retainers, springs, and some seals. Going to send one of my extra turbo cams out to get a regrind as well. Also, a local guy reached out to me and sold me a toyota big front, and rear disk brake setup for $100. I couldn't pass up that deal. Guess that'll give me something to do while I wait for the machine work to be done. I'll just strip the brackets and rotors off and put them on my spindles. I've got coilovers already welded on mine.

Head is here. Now I need to figure out if I want to send this off to godzilla raceworks or find a local machine shop to do some work on it. Or does anyone have any other shops they recommend?

Took the head and manifolds off in preparation for the P90A. Gonna snag up some ARP head studs & bolts finally. Looks like they're back in stock at certain places.

Special hose is on. MSA downpipe painted and wrapped & installed. Intake and valve/cam cover installed I found a P90A head that I might pull the trigger on. I know I'll need to either trust in some timeserts and thread in the solid lifters, or take it to a machine shop for them to work their magic on it. I've heard the timeserts either crack, or the lifters loosen up. Lol I knew I would find a P90 once I got things back together. Now i just have to decide if it's worth it. He wants $450 plus shipping. Which is a pretty good deal.