My $650 budget s130 build

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

In the meantime, while I research and purchase an external microphone for the GoPro, I've been playing with camera angles. Mostly to try to cut down on wind noise.

Not great. Apologies, they'll get better. Unedited.

[seattlejester]

Looks like it needs some wheels and a bit of suspension work, and oh don't forget.....lol. Really admirable build man, short, simple, thurough, cheap, love it.

 

Biggest advice I got for killing road/windnoise is the little fuzz balls in front of the mic. Even for go pros the little wind cutter/wind screener fuzz balls seems to make a huge difference.

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Yep. You pretty much nailed all aspects with that post.

 

Suspension is next on the list. Just a refresh, within budget.

 

And I'm sooo glad you mentioned the fuzz ball. Because I JUST got my external microphone in the mail today (still waiting on skeleton case, so no driving with it til then) and I made a video.

 

Does it WAAAAY more justice. A little distortion, but miles better than the internal mic, within the case, in the wind.

 

 

The videos at like 40% now. Once it's complete it's coming here. Talk about timing.

 

Thanks for the kind words, they really mean a lot.

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

External microphone arrived today. I am still waiting on the skeleton case in the mail, so I can't take the mic for a drive yet, but here's the first test.

Quality has improved vastly. Some distortion, apologies, I'll be able to adjust the placement of the mic, and hopefully quell that a bit.

But finally, a justified video of what the exhaust sounds like in person.

I'd like for you to hear it.

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Tonight I changed out the slave cylinder.

Man, I don't know how the old one even functioned. It pretty much disintegrated when I pulled it. All full of grit and grime. Huge tear in the boot.






So I installed the new one, and MAN. HUGE change in driveability, once again. At least from my 2 mile jaunt up the road, revs seem to fall off as they should. Seems like the clutch is definitely disengaging quicker.

I'll confirm tomorrow after more testing. Hopefully my skeleton case arrives soon so I can get some good sound driving videos.

I love driving and working a on a project. So much fun!


Days worked on project to date: 45

Total money spent on project to date: $1054

Edited April 24, 2014 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Today I got to pull the front suspension out of the parts car.

 


Look at those racecar brakes! New lines too.






And I will be going with the OZ mesh wheels.

Here are the crazy spacers that I had originally planned to run with the small wheels on the 240 to fill out the flares. I have to buy 15 non capped lug nuts to install them. Should clear all suspension components easily, and fill out the fenders a bit more too.



and the polyurethane bushings that everything will go back together with.





Still some cleaning left to do yet...


Days worked on project to date: 46
Total money spent on project to date: $1054
Total miles put on vehicle: 628

Edited April 26, 2014 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

More shopping at Parts Car Mart today.

Here's my haul so far.



And some random pictures.

Layin' frame yo!



And here's what the car will look like with the new wheels. The best part of this arrangement (aside from aesthetics) is that they have two REAL good tires, and two shot ones (driven on a bad alignment) so I only have to buy two tires.





Cheap Fuzion tires too!

Saving money wherever I can.

More after some cleaning.

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Some progress.




I ordered some lug nuts (+$35) for attaching the spacers. So, after work, I went for a drive to pick them up. I figured I'd make the car work for its parts now.

And the GoPro skeleton case arrived today.



So, on the way I took 3 test videos. Well, actually I took 4...But, on the fourth I burned through my mic cord, so that won't be posted. Haha.. Whoops. Luckily, it's long enough that I have already spliced it back together (however untested).

Again, no real spirited driving in these videos. I'm still just testing things, and running errands. Hoon videos will surely follow in the foreseeable future.

Days worked on project to date: 48
Total Money spent on project to date: $1089 (+$35)
Miles driven: 697 Edited April 29, 2014 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Did a little more tinkering today. Swapped out the rear suspension.





I'll do the brakes possibly tomorrow. Going to load up my bushings tonight in preparation as well.

I installed the spacers with the current wheels. I'll be ordering 2 tires soon, so the O.Z wheels will go on the car next.

Here are some pictures of the improved fitment and rear suspension swap.








I'll tell you what, the car feels great.

Definitely an improvement. I can put power down reliably. I like that. Can't wait for the brake swap, bushings, and the fronts.

Going to continue to tinker tonight, while enjoying a few beers.


Days spent on project to date: 47
Total money spent on project to date: $1089
Miles put on vehicle to date: 915

Edited May 4, 2014 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

lots has been going on....

Presently, I've shifted my focus to cleaning out the garage, big time, and getting the 240 back on track.

As for this car, I'm now up to around 1700 miles to date, and I'm loving it.





And today the car decided to be a bit theatrical on my way into work.

Pop goes the coolant line!





So I spent the passed hour or so limping the car home, making multiple stops to let it cool down. Kissing the danger zone.






Luckily, I'm not burning it internally, only just what's making it onto the engine block/manifolds.



And I still haven't swapped the brakes/front suspension yet. That's the first thing on the list once the garage is finished being organized.

And I ordered two Fuzion HR-I tires. 205-60r-15 ($130 shipped from Tire Rack)

Those are expected, and should be mounted before the weeks end.


It's been a pretty eventful 800 miles, since the last update. That's for sure. That should bring us all up to date.

Days worked on project to date: 48
Total money spent on project to date: $1219 (+130)
Miles put on project to date: 1710

[Josh280z]

So I spent the passed hour or so limping the car home, making multiple stops to let it cool down. Kissing the danger zone.

 

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

 

What I was perpetually singing on the way home. Haha.

 

Thanks for posting this!

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Brakes. Shocks. Bushings. Underway...

Driver's side requires the most labor, as I had to swap ball joints (new on the parts car) and a damage free LCA.

The torch was most definitely required.









Now onto the passenger's front!

After that, the rears take no time at all.


I'll update with more as it happens.

And some pictures of what I've been up to (explains the lack of updates)... The rough draft to some stone work, and a picture of my brother sailing the Moth!

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

The lack of updates, brought to you by...

Life: Getting in the way of projects since the advent of time.


A small update, since I neglected to do so with my last post.

Finished the brakes
Finished the bushings
Mounted the two tires (+$32)

Some crap-tastic pictures. It'll look good with blacked out trim/handles.








I'm working hard, to get dem monies, so I can spend it ALL on the 240z. Today, hopefully, we bond together the jet ski. Then the prototype is DONE, and we make production runs.

Days worked on project to date: 49
Total money spent on project to date: $1283 (+$32)
Total miles put on project to date: 2012

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Well today was fun.


Inspection : (+$10)





and oh yeah, F*** wheel spacers.

It (passenger's front) managed to wiggle loose, and shear TWO of the studs off. I'm lucky I didn't lose the wheel.

All that was holding it on were my hopes and dreams.











So I removed the spacer, which almost removed my wheel, and had to limp the car home like this. :eek:




The car is now back home, awaiting to be dealt with, but I'm going to go shingle my micro house/shed project this afternoon; Not feeling cars today.

The irony of passing inspection, and shearing two wheel studs off in the same day is pretty palpable. I certainly got a laugh out of it.


Til next time.

Days worked on project to date: 50
Total money spent on project to date: $1293 (+$10)
Total miles put on vehicle to date: 2394

Edited June 19, 2014 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[LegnaZetr0]

I'd definitely drive this by the previous owners house so they can see how you saved the "junk" car they had. As always great work, cant wait to get home so i can starting tackling my z again.

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

I'd definitely drive this by the previous owners house so they can see how you saved the "junk" car they had. As always great work, cant wait to get home so i can starting tackling my z again.

 

I'd love to, but he lives around 2 hours away. What a great little car this has been. 

 

okay, I figured I'd bring this car up to date, as it has been a while.

 

 

Fixed the sheered off lugs, rebled the brakes. Man...

 

Car has been super reliable.

 

I finally have got around to fixing the alignment on the vehicle. I still need to tweak it slightly, but it is worlds better.

 

 

 

 

Now it wont do this in 2500 miles again. Haha.

 

 

 

I lost a trim piece somewhere along the way (Booo!). Had to shop the parts pile for my spare.... Still need to shoot it.

 

 

 

 

I bought a used front air dam. It was advertised for a 280zx, but it definitely is supposed to be on a 280z. - +$80 SHIPPED!!!! Got a scream of a deal on it.

 

I'll make it fit    

 

 

 

and since I am upgrading the seats in my 240, I am going to toss the old seats in this car.

 

 

 

 

 

So stuff is still happening to this car too!

 

Days worked on project to date: 52

Total money spent on project to date: $1373 (+$80 - Front air dam)

Total miles put on vehicle to date: 3957

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

I'm a couple tires away from being 100% cool again.



So yesterday and today I decided to do some.....budget composites! haha.

The air dam I recently purchased is designed for the s30, specifically a 280z. I did not know this until I received it.



It was only 80 dollars so I didn't mind either way. So I decided to make it fit. The majority of the body lines seemed to be appropriate, save the fact that it was about 8-10" too narrow.






Like I said. On a budget (all scrap materials utilized). Thank you ACE, you certainly were helpful! :laugh:



Epoxied







Some short strand fiberglass and a little body filler to make it roughly acceptable.





Primer





Some shoddy scrap 20 gauge steel brackets. hahaha. And despite what they look like, they are actually surprisingly strong.





I think it turned out pretty good. Actually, I giggle when I look at it, and think of what actually went in it. Some trash, and a couple paint sticks.










I don't normally abbreviate things, but LOLZ!

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDIT: And Tonight, I fooled around, and blacked out the trim.

I'll get better pictures in the morning.

Definitely changes the look.








I think it's going to look good. Time will tell.

Til then...


Days worked on project: 53
Total money spent on project to date: $1373
Total miles driven: 4015

Edited September 21, 2014 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Some outside pictures. Blacked out trim with new air dam.







I took the earlier part of today and did some fuel system refresh.

New filter.



New hoses.



New fuel rail. Courtesy of the 240 build, which it no longer needs due to different style injectors.



Better condition injectors.


Old fuel rail out.





New fuel rail in. With some slight rerouting of lines, and the fuel pressure regulator.








 

And the car started right back up! Cool! Another thing off the list.

Edited September 21, 2014 by OldAndyAndTheSea