My Z car log....small jobs done and fun things

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04-26-2025. Well, I was able to fix a few little things on the Z today, getting it more and more cleaned up. I ended up putting a stainless clamp around the turbo to manifold hose, as it was getting sucked in pretty bad from the pressures, this keeps it from doing that to a great extent. I let it idle and revved it a bit and I could see a real improvement. I developed a front tire rub again, which is weird as it was entirely done and good a long while ago, but it is what it is, so I was able to get that done, changed out the timing belt for a much better one, and ran the wiring from the shifter, through the boot and under the console down to the point where the connections are for the Water-Methanol injection.. It will be on a push button shift knob I ordered. The boost switch just wasn't working like I wanted. I want more control over it. I drilled a small hole at the top of my dash insert and installed a small amber light which when wired in, will let me know when the water/meth is on. I also took 2 video's, once of the finished engine idling, and a walk around. So 2 pics and 2 videos. Cheers!

 

Videos (2) click below

 

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05-02-2025. I got my shift knob with button. I got it from Speed Dawg Shift Knobs. Top notch shop. Shipped it very fast, well packaged and I even got a military discount. If you need a shift knob check this guy out! I got it installed, and all wired in to my Snow Performance Stage 1 Water/Methanol injection kit. I also got my Vacuum Block from Amazon, and got it all hooked up, so the vacuum needed for my Boost Gauge and J&S Safeguard is more professional. I also added a pic where you can see my passenger well is all cleaned up. Good day!

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05-07-2025.  My custom ordered fender stickers came in.  I covered them (and the rear stickers) with some PPF clear to make them permanent.

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05-10-2025. I did a lot of odds and ends today.....little things put off.....I just went around and fixed as I saw them.  I used the clear PPF film over the carbon fiber on the inner fender as it was getting real ratty looking on the edges.  I also cut some pieces, and put it on the 2 spots the seats are showing wear from being a big guy getting in and out of the car.  Will they work on Vinyl?  Not sure, but I need something there.     Seams showing some cracks due to my poor bodywork skills, this seals them so I can just forget about it and enjoy the car.t Tuch up painting all over the place, then vacuuming....I guess you could call it spring cleaning.  I went back to a novel way of richening up the carb a little....washers under the choke know to add fuel everywhere and buy add a washer at a time I have been able to make a lot of progress on getting it right.  The other way would be to buy a richer needle, but this is easy, cheap, I already have the parts, and it works.  In short it was just a nice sunny day and I got stuff done.  I did take A LOT of pics, so the pics I will put on here.....it's pics heavy. so you are forewarned.  Cheers and God bless.~Joe

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05-17-2025. Today I installed a light kit in the engine compartment and another inside the car. I got both from Amazon. I also went ahead and installed a "Green Filter" on my block breather tube. As soon as I tightened it, it crumpled the green part a tad. It would have been great if it had not done that, but oh well. Here are a few pics.  Videos, click below.

 

 

Video's (click below) :

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05-24-2025.  I got the clips and screws to finish up landing the wiring down for the lighting I added, and got other little things here and there taken care of, I installed the plaque I had made to label the switches on the dash, then I went to the carb, and changed out my accelerator pump nozzle to a larger nozzle, from a 70 to a 90.  a custom 90 that is made by V performance development.  car is still lean below 3000 and giving it any more that 1/8 throttle below 3000 it just falls flat, so I took the needle out and taped it off and did some grinding on it and re-installed it.....MUCh better  but needs just a hair more.  I took it out and ground on it, but I think I left it too rough, as it doesn't want to move cleanly in the needle jet.  I went ahead and ordered 2 needles for the carb in the richest one they offer.....stock is 97, these will be 95's.  I will put one in the carb as-is drive it, and mod the second LIGHTLY and gently and keep playing with it.  Everything is great except for the transition from the pilot jet to the needle....TOO LEAN, so it's just trial and error now.  Pics follow.

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05-31-2025 Test and tune.  I ordered some richer needles and today they were here so it was time for more trial and error.  The needle rides inside of a "needle jet", and the one that was in there a "Y-8" was one step richer from the stock "Y-6" jet.  Well, I went to the next richer size needle jet a "Z-0" and that is the largest one they have.  then I took my new needle a "95" the richest needle they make and set it on the lowest (richest) setting.  I went and drove it and it added about 50% of what I needed more of to make it just right.  I ordered 2 needles, and so I taped off the other 95 needle and with my dremel began modding the needle.  I added fuel in the 1/8 th throttle to 1/2 area, and then polished the ground area to make it smooth and put it in  the carb and went for another run.  Out of the 50% more improvement I needed it gave me another 25%, so just a little more.....pulled the needle back out and lengthened  the area to grind down towards the tip a little, re-polished it and installed it....now she runs GREAT!  only in one area was it not giving quite enough fuel, 2000-2500 RPM in second gear....roll on the throttle to the floor...... so I went back to my shims I had made to go under the choke and trial and error got me at 2 shims.  It is now just right.  feels good.  strong and smooth, with a 3000+ RPM power band to redline.  I did have a bit of a problem, as I wanted to simulate DYNO conditions, i.e. 4th gear, 2000 RPM, floor it and see if it would pull clean, the second time I did it I got a loud POP, and lost power.  I started limping home and had to stop at one light, and it started smoking blue, then went to almost white for a second, then all smoking went away the rest of the way home.  NO MORE SMOKE ?!? Initially I figured I had blown a head gasket.....but it wouldn't have quit smoking.  looking under the hood, the vacuum line for the power brakes and the vacuum line for my vacuum advance on the distributor were blown off.  Apparently I had put the car in an almost lug condition under load with full throttle, which shot the boost as high as you can imagine, and I LUCKILY had these hoses blow off, instead of the head gasket.  These hoses are not clamped on tot heir ports so the boost was able to just push them off.  I also found that one hose connection was leaking at the end, so I sealed it up and will give that 24 hrs to cure.  DISASTER AVERTED!  Those NISSAN factory Head Gaskets really are top quality.  I highly recommend them!  When I take it to the DYNO, I will just let them know not to full throttle it in 4th until 3000 RPM.  Gradually add fuel until you are at WOT by 3000 RPM.  here are some pics of the needle mod.