SUNNY Z

PHOTO DUMP Test fit the new seats. Corbeau FX-1 Pro's The tranny tunnel has to be modified to make these fit, as there is (was) a large hump for the catalytic converters on the 280's. Hump shown here with the incision made. Beating / forming All welded back up. Didn't have to add any metal, it went back together pretty nice. Modified my crossmember for a little more downpipe clearance. Don't have the completed pictures yet.... Started building my new coil bracket for the pass. side. This should get the coils up high enough for me to snake plug wires through. Drilled / tapped the hat on my wastegate for the Holley pressure transducer. Drilled / tapped intake for several things. Here's the Hobbs switch that will be turning on secondary fuel pumps. Pic from the fabricator doing the fuel tank sump. Thats all for now. Really looking forward to the weekend.

my autometer temp gauge consistently reads 10 degrees warmer than the PCM output. Not sure why, but it always reads 185, and the fans keep it at 195. Adding a 160 degree thermostat this year, and a better radiator, so we'll see what happens.

Work has been really busy lately, and I was travelling last weekend for the holiday so progress has been slow. I had a friend clean my heads in a parts washer at his work, then I started to clean them up some more. You can see here how the casting was still pretty dirty after being washed. I used a nylon cup brush on them (not the decks) and it really cleaned up nice. Also cleaned the valves using a scotch brite pad. Before / after They all cleaned up pretty nice. I also POR-15'd my engine mounts, trans mount, lower intercooler mount, and crossmember. Cam should show up today, completing the puzzle for the 5.3. I'm hoping to get the cylinders honed and that baby together this weekend. Fuel tank is at the welder getting sumped, and the IC pipes are getting welded. I'm hoping to get the seat brackets built sometime this week, along with a new diff mount that's a little beefier than the last one. Driveshaft should be here at the end of next week, and hoping to go to the cage builder sometime soon...... waiting on a phone call. I'm 90% done with the engine bay, and ready to start installing things. Just a couple areas I need to seam seal and paint!!! Should be able to make some good progress, and possibly even be making smoke by the end of the weekend.

I had a camaro shaft shortened for my SBC setup. Had the same local shop build one for the original LSx swap The Driveshaft Shop built my current shaft, and its currently getting shortened due to the changes this winter! Woot! Shafts! If you have a local builder you trust, and is capable of properly balancing it, I say go local. Thats just me though! I've had great luck with the DSS as well. Bigger company, more business, and more turnaround, but they have absolutely hooked me up on everything.

GTO equivalent is the Monaro if I'm not mistaken. Only offered in ls1 / ls2 state side - likely the same down under. The Commodore is the US G8

I disagree. You will only regret it if you get something expensive. Reason being: you'll be doing burnouts and doughnuts, probably without a good alignment. I destroyed a set of tires in just 7000 miles.... so whatever you get, just get something thats reasonably affordable - because you'll be replacing them soon! haha

275 40 17 and 315 35 17 have the same diameter..... Not sure what you're asking here. Plenty of options out there. I've used tires-easy.com in the past. somewhat sketchy website, but all worked out for me!!

Keep it.

DSS actually started making larger billet 33 spline stubs because some of the big hp tanks (dodge challenger @4500#) were breaking the 31 spline ones with massive amounts of power (1000+). Other than that limited instance, I'm sure failure is not a concern. Here's where I buy all my ford diff parts. http://www.buyfordracing.com/products/8.8--TRACTION%252dLOK-LIMITED-SLIP-DIFFERENTIAL-31T.html $219 shipped for a New 31 spline trac lock

These transmissions aren't as forgiving of missed shifts as the old T56's are. That being said, they are a bossy transmission! Can't wait to give a review on mine!!!!

I don't think thats what he's after - not sure. Keith, the easiest route would be to cut off the stock dummy oil pressure sender, and drill / tap it for your needs. I did this for 1/8" NPT for my Holley sender, and its where I had my Autometer as well.

All the 03-04 cobra diffs were 31 spline, 3.55 gear, and a locker. The ford Trac-loc differentials are pretty tough, and cheap.

I've often heard that you don't want to use the compressor cover for a brace location. Reason being; when things inevitably flex, there is a good chance the compressor cover will distort and the wheel will eat itself. Could be an internet myth, but I'm personally not going to risk it. This whole kit looks top notch. Give your welder a pat on the back. Good work snaking 3.5" down the passenger's side. This is the main reason I went to a different mount setup. Also, I was tired of having a bag of hardware and big clunky brackets. This thing will be a runner, no doubt!!!!

Alright guys, you heard it here first. All Cobra and Ultrashield seats fit Z cars, unless they don't. Seriously? Check your attitude at the door, e-warrior. Called ultrashield yesterday because guess what, they DON'T list dimensions on their website. For the Rally Sport road race seat, they said to add 4.5" to the seat width, and that is the width of the shoulder bolsters for an off-the-shelf seat. Ex: 16" seat will be 20.5" across shoulder bolsters. 17" will be 21.5".

POR-15'd the inner fenders last night. Prep work sucked, but they look great. Going to add another coat tonight.

Well Keith, consider yourself lucky. I had to remove the diff and pull the cover both times mine grenaded. Couldnt drive it out from the pass. side.

I got my clubmans last friday. Unfortunately they'll be getting returned. The seats are too narrow for my shoulders. My back is wide enough that I basically have to sit in front of the seat back or my shoulders are forced forward. Looking very strongly into Bride VIOS III Low Max seats. I've seen them in a couple Z's, and they seem to fit very well. ... More to come on that.

Finished up the engine bay body work this weekend. Little bit of mud, lotta bit of sanding. First coat of paint is on. Also got the inner fenders prepped, cleaned, etched, and washed. Whew. Ready for POR 15 tonight. (figured I'd give it a day to fully dry)

Time for that 8.8 SRA!

http://www.coleparmer.com/buy/product/76980-threaded-adapter-stainless-steel-1-8-female-bspt-1-8-male-npt-yo-31830-40.html Don't say I never gave you anything!

No skin off my back. I've got a working set lol. The reason I went with the smaller 29 spline axles is because I wanted to use the S13 4 lug hubs. If I ever go to the 5 lug, I have a set of Z32 TT stubs and hubs I can use, which are actually larger than the 31 spline inners. Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

What do you have going on here? I recognize the Porsche 930 inner joints, but it looks like they're on a flange with a reluctor wheel, like a cobra inner stub. the outer looks like a cobra? Judging by the circular flange? You should post some details in the drivetrain section or somewhere!. I'll be putting my DSS axles through their paces this year. The weak link will likely be the 29 spline 300zx outer CV joint. How weak? I'm not sure, but we'll see what 700+ HP looks like here in a couple months.

Easily 300++ to the tires bone stock.

I'll report back when I have something to share.

I guess I'm not sure what you mean. I'm only copying what I've seen done on others' cars. Sad but true I'm definitely tired of welding.