AydinZ71 Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 Welcome back Clark! Glad to hear you are on the mend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhm Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 Wow...that's a lot to go through at any age, Clark. Sorry to hear that; but very glad that you're feeling better now and on the mend. Question on the dampers: it appears that Redshift integrates the BC strut housing (and associated spring perch HW) with their own proprietary shocks. Is that correct? I wasn't aware that was an available option, but it really does sound like a great solution. Which springs (and spring rates) did you go with? According to their website, it appears that Swift is the preferred option, which I would wholeheartedly agree with. In my limited experience with BC hardware, they typically use a 62.5 mm spring ID. Is that the case for the ones Redshift built for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted November 12, 2023 Author Share Posted November 12, 2023 Thanks for the kind words. Basically Redshift purchases a full coilover package from BC. I tried to pick and choose some components since I already have camber plates and springs, but was not successful. It comes as a kit. They then take the strut cartridge and revalve to your specifications, in most cases is based on unsprung weight, sprung weight, and motion ratios or your own recipe if you prefer. They dyno at multiple settings and ship the kit to you. The struts are 32 click adjustable and the adjustment combines both rebound and compression. The nominal setting is at the bottom 1/3 of the click scale or around 10 clicks. A sample dyno is below (not mine). I also ask if they were racer rebuildable. He said they were theoretically, but the parts they use were not available to be purchased retail anywhere. As I said before, Chris was very patient and helpful. He offers a full rebuild service and his reputation seems very solid. As far as spring rates, I plan to start with 250F/225R springs which I already have. I also have a pair of 275 and 300's. So I ordered the Redshift's with 6k/7k (336/392lb) to have another heavier set. Springs are cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted December 14, 2023 Author Share Posted December 14, 2023 Back on track so to speak, in a big way! Last weekend I suddenly felt like jumping back on the car work 100%. Building up the new suspension with the redshift coilovers. Once I get the camber plates figured out, final assembly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted December 14, 2023 Author Share Posted December 14, 2023 On a side note, I went to the ZMECCA Xmas party last weekend in Tampa. Some cool Florida Z cars for sure and got to see some old racing buddies. John Thomas and Bill Coffey representing. A few old HybridZ guys there also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted December 18, 2023 Author Share Posted December 18, 2023 To fit the struts I had to get creative. I already had camber plates welded and did not want to modify those. The BC setup is nice but not a large amount of camber adjustment. Not much problem for the front. I only needed a 1mm thick bushing to fill the gap between the shaft and camber bearing. After I tried to drill something several times I ended up just 3d printing one. The rear required some fabrication. I had slotted the towers and built my own camber plate/spring perches. To retify I duplicated the plate in aluminum and bolted the BC bearing holder from the bottom. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted January 24 Author Share Posted January 24 I suppose it is time for some updates. Lots of work accomplished since holidays but not much to photograph. Finished all the strut builds and got them bolted up. Completed the clutch build and mated the tranny. Dropped engine back in and found if I raise the engine mounts 1/8" on each side it will clear my steering rack. Yeah. Finally caught up from my last minute changes and medical setbacks. I feel 10 years younger now and kicking ass in the shop. Getting closer to first fire. Have a 2nd Z car in the shop now and a 3rd coming. More on that later. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted January 24 Author Share Posted January 24 And here are a few shots from the Mecum Kissimmee auction. Impressive cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AydinZ71 Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 Nice work Clark! Getting close! You are where I was around 5mo ago. Glad to hear your health is improving as well. I have high cholesterol so your experience was personal to me. what do you plan to do for the rear axle shafts? Custom length CV’s? I learned the hard way that CV’s have less travel than our OEM half-shafts. I pulled the spider gear out the diff-side collar over the weekend love me some Z31 (your car show post). It’s a shame it’s a dog in the track on account of the trailing arm rear suspension, weight, well… I can go on. But I absolutely loved mine, and it was my first car (85’ NA). Great street car, and under appreciated in my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 (edited) All the Z iterations can look good with minimal modifications. I personally think the z32 had perfect proportions not surpassed since. So simple but so exact. For this build as all of my builds, I am sticking with stock half shafts and Spicer U-joints. Never had a fail road racing yet. Cheap and effective only if you limit the angles generated and minimal power loss. I currently plan to raise/lower the diff as required to keep them in their sweet spot. They even withstand high power drag racing if you can keep them close to straight when launching. If it looks like I will struggle with this when I final assemble the rear, I will be scrambling for some CVs. Edited February 5 by clarkspeed 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted February 23 Author Share Posted February 23 Another Z in the shop. 280Z with a Rebello 3.0 turbo setup and full TTT suspension. We put a new TTT steering rack in last weekend. Really nice new bolt in rack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted February 25 Author Share Posted February 25 Exhaust blasted and coated. Decided to go with Cerakote in titanium. My first time using it. It's not a TBC coating but hopefully looks good for a long time. Its an air dry ceramic coating that hardens out once you run the engine. Easy to spray, and 5 day for full cure. Just wasn't in the budget to do a true TBC. Getting closer to first fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted April 1 Author Share Posted April 1 IT LIVES! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted May 21 Author Share Posted May 21 Picking away are a huge punch list now. Got the side windows installed. And the hatch for the fuel cell. Didn't want to use diamond plate, but it is just the right thickness. Maybe I will paint it later. Also finishing up my custom S30 laser alignment system. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted July 10 Author Share Posted July 10 Getting much closer to a maiden voyage. Suspension in and bolted up. Driveshaft shortened and half shafts refreshed. Here are pics of the rear fender wells and front firewall extensions from today. New problem. I was checking the clutch action and realized it does not engage. Which I think means the clutch/bearing has extended into the clutch and did not retract. Its a Tilton internal circular slave. I could have over extended it. More to investigate. Oh and cutting up a cool 280 turbo for some ZG flares and 18x9 wheels. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 Finished the plug for my G-nose air dam. Prepped, waxed, and ready for gelcoat. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhm Posted July 29 Share Posted July 29 9 hours ago, clarkspeed said: Finished the plug for my G-nose air dam. Prepped, waxed, and ready for gelcoat. Cool stuff, Clark! I wonder how long it will be before people start asking if you'll produce more to sell! 😜 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted August 2 Author Share Posted August 2 Ya know, I have a number of parts I want to start selling soon. I've teamed up with a brilliant machinist who has a full shop. Problem with this one is my wide body G-nose is the only one I have ever seen. It has almost exactly 2" added on each side. So I think the air dam will only work for me even though I did make the mold capable of probably 100 pulls. I have plans to laser scan the HL scoops and design a 3D printable solid G-nose headlight cover in the future. If I am the only 1 in the world that has those for sale, I will be rich! NOT. Besides, I don't think I would ever sell fiberglass parts or do bodywork for anyone but myself. PITA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted August 2 Author Share Posted August 2 Got the clutch figured out. Didn't take proper measurements before I threw it in and the throwout bearing was way off engagement. That sent me down a rabbit hole. Seems Jerico trannys have a larger input bearing and a special bearing retainer. I ended up adapting a cheap retainer on top of the Jerico retainer that matched up to my bell housing. I'm sure no one will understand what I said, but if you are adapting a Jerico to your L6, shoot me a question. I do have some sketches. Anyway, check out my beautiful lockwire job. 5 years working aerospace helped me channel the ghosts. And while the motor was out I finished all the insulation work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkspeed Posted August 10 Author Share Posted August 10 Gelcoat, glass, and final part. I bought a gelcoat dump gun off Ali Express and it worked great, although a little messy, better than rolling. Made it fairly thin because it will be reinforced off the chassis. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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