Luna: The cause of, and solution to, all of my problems

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Blizzard is upon us. No better excuse than to start a fire and install my brake booster.


Old and busted.













Next step. Confirm pushrod adjustment, then bench bleed and install this mofo



Hopefully this one doesn't let me down. C'mon baby.

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Bench bled the master



Installed...



Tomorrow I will check for leaks, and jack the car up in preparation for bleeding the system again.


Then I'll spend a couple days under the car dialing suspension/alignment settings, installing CVs, filling the diff, etc.....

Then If I've made it that far successfully, then we go about plugging the computer in and see what it does.


C'mon brakes...no leaks.

[Perfect240z]

Nice work! Keep it up!

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Still chasing brake system leaks......The new master is leaking at the adapters for my OEM metric brake lines.....so I'm going to swap in the 3/16 sae fittings - remake the lines (2x 12" sections) - and reinstall..


Other than that...I've been busy.



CVs are installed.





Differential is filled.



I wrestled with the tail light panels.

"perfect fit" ...yeah....okay.



After some chopping...



I was able to get them mounted. These will work for now, but I'll probably make a set more to my standards.






I confirmed timing, and installed the nice valve cover, coils, and other remaining engine components.





The car fired right up, but is still running very lean, and hunting at idle. Looks just like a vacuum leak.....But, I've taken the intake manifold off a couple times, and believe that it is not a vacuum leak, but instead just insufficient fueling..When I rev the car, the mixture enriches, and will rev very strong and responsive. No hesitation. Only at idle does it hunt......But the serial to usb cable I use to communicate to megasquirt died, and my laptop won't keep a battery charge off of the charger, so I am waiting on some goodies from EFI Analytics - A bluetooth transmitter to transmit automatically to the Shadow Dash app on my tablet. So that's cool. Not as cool as an idling car, but pretty cool nonetheless. It'll be nice not being limited by 2 feet of usb cable.

So once I fix the leak(s) the next step is to test that the driveline works. Currently, I can't get the car in first. I guess I need to investigate the slave cylinder hydraulics.


 
In other, less car related, news I painted the garage. And remade some Whaler pieces that I broke, stupidly, last summer. Getting all the boats ready for Spring.






My brother and I broke the seat back on our Whaler last season. He went airborne and fell into the seat back, snapping it off at the handle holes....This was on its maiden voyage of last year.

So this has bugged the **** out of me since I restored the console.

The old epoxied piece that got me through last season. I used this as a jig for the router.



I bought a beautiful 10' long solid mahogany plank and used it as the stock for both a seat back, and a replacement (non plywood) bow locker hatch.



No more handle holes. Or as I call it, "fall into proof"



Bow locker replacement. Unique looking grain. I like it.



Chris Craft Mahogany filler stain



And then 6 coats of Epifanes varnish. The first coat is thinned 50% with brushing liquid. The second is thinned 25% and the final coats are thinned at around 10%. The last coat is thinned at 50% once again to really flow nice. Sanded with 220-320 between coats.









still need to tuck those wires...

Next: the whole boat needs a buff, and Ptef treatment. Then she is getting launched. Not too shabby for being 47 years old. Gotta love a classic.



Also, I was given a drone! So look forward to seeing some drone stuff. This will make my sailing and car videos much better.



The following video is garbage, literally my first flight, in whatever lighting was available. Mainly a test of the gimbal, which works really well.  I've learned so much since this. Very fun!

so stay tuned for that! Edited April 16, 2017 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[rturbo 930]

What's the latest Andy?

[ZT-R]

Saw the SC tags on there and had to double check where you lived. haha nice work man looks amazing.

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Sorry guys...I suck.

 

 

 

 

 

...Hey, remember me?

 

Well lots has changed since my last update. Life got crazy, I fell away for a while. I apologize.

But I am back now with a hot fresh update!

Since you have last seen me...

 

The car got an air dam. I painted it with black base coat and satin clear.

Took some fiddling and trimming to get the right fitment with those damn 17" wheels.

And upon taking this photo I decided to finally address my bumper issues.

So I straightened the all sorts of messed up rear bumper (thanks to me backing into my tractor years ago, but hey that's what it is there for, right? haha)

Welded up any holes, and ground them smooth. Body worked and painted the same black and satin clear as the air dam.

Now it was time to address the front. The car, in my care, has never had a front bumper. I was excited to change this, and really finish off the front of the car.

Over the years of parts hording I accumulated a collection of various twisted, rusted, dented up bumpers from cars I have parted out. So I decided to take the best of the bunch and run with it.

....making my version of a "euro" bumper. I like how it turned out.

Mounted - The car suddenly got mean looking.

And I finished stupid odds and ends like

Figuring out why it wouldn't go into gear.
Adjusting the clutch master cylinder.
Modifying the 4 speed shifter to work with my 5 speed transmission.
Sorting the brake issues....things like that.

Now it was finally back to being a car, basically. Just not quite road ready....

....then right before winter hit - this happened.

I took the car to BERG Racing in Rochester to finally dyno tune, and corner balance the car - things I couldn't do in my shop. I had no idea these guys existed....and if I had I probably would not have built my system myself....They actually reached out to me, over a random facebook post, and told me to bring the car in for finalizing. I gladly obliged, as this now freed up valuable space in my garage to do more volatile work, without fear of hurting the 240. These guys are absolutely the best I have ever dealt with. I can't even express...

So a couple days ago this happened.

 

[25 second video - click the following picture]

 

 

These are exactly the numbers I was expecting. I am running only 5-6psi boost (stock wastegate setting) making as much power to the wheels as a stock l28et (the lower compression turbo version) makes at the crank, supposedly. This shows the difference between converting an N/A higher compression motor and sourcing out the lower compression "true" turbo motor. Also means my motor is still healthy. It means I am on the right track.

 

The engine is barely trying, at only 5 psi, and makes 174hp and 218 foot pounds of torque, on a very safe, conservative, tune. I will very easily achieve my final goal of around 300/300 once I upgrade my turbo. In the meantime I am going to get a baseline butt dyno for the car with almost 100 pounds more torque than last time I drove it. Once I get that baseline, I'll keep turning the boost up on the tiny t3 until I stop going faster, and start losing traction, and see what I can eek out of the turbo in the meantime. I imagine it will live at 240-250hp fairly well, but anything above that will start to fatigue the turbo I think.

 

Right now I'm sourcing a gt3071r with a .63 hotside for the future. That'll do me nicely I imagine.

Then the car got aligned and corner balanced.

 

 

I was very excited to see what it weighs. My goal was always to come in at under stock weight (2300-2400), after all of my modifications and additions to the car. I made that goal, and I know this is just the beginning for that. There is so much weight to be saved all over.....my wheels alone...the rotating mass...I mean c'mon. My next goal is 2200 with me and a roll bar.

So yeah. 2261. Good starting point. I'm happy. Challenge accepted.

Currently the car is still in Rochester, and with the weather I don't foresee me trailering the car back anytime soon. Ideally I am going to drive it home, so I will register the car and wait for the appropriate window of time to get it back here.

I can use my garage to generate income in the interim. Although I am really really really REALLY excited to finally button the last things up. Like finish tucking wires, putting the front end back together, installing my tow hooks, lots of little things that will now be super enjoyable.

But basically....

 

Insert Mike's meme

 

 

2018 is the year people.

If you are reading this, I truly appreciate you following along.

Cheers.

Edited January 12, 2018 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[rturbo 930]

How the hell did you get it to weigh that little? Granted it has no hood, airdam, or bumper in that pic, but still. That's a good 200lbs lighter than I would've expected. Empty tank? A full tank would add about 100lbs. With a turbo swap and associated parts, heavy (?) seats, big heavy wheels, R200 diff, disc brakes, etc. I never would've guessed that weight. 2260 is about what a stock series one would weigh with no fuel.

 

Well anyway, everything looks good!

 

Also, I spy another Z. What's up with that?

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

Carbon parts really help when they are truly carbon. I saved a lot of weight in my dash, and all my little widgets here and there. Car was fully stripped, so it doesn't have much material weight on it....I dunno though....saving weight has been a huge priority of mine. 

 

Car has like 8 gallons of fuel in it currently. And the hood (11 pound composite hood) was on the car for weighing. Air dam and front bumper weigh about 15 pounds together.

 

I have been trying really hard to not add any weight, and save ounces wherever I could easily. Those apparently have added up nicely over time. I am pleased, because I know this is just the beginning.

 

2000lbs is the goal. Hopefully with me in it. But I am going to add a roll bar.....ugh...so first goal is to keep the same weight I have currently, after adding a roll bar.

 

This is really fun for me. Saving weight is my specialty. Now I get to do it, and see return, on cars!

 

 

 

Other Z is a 260 parts car that I sold actually. However the buyer of that car will most likely be dropping off his 280z to be painted. That is one reason for not wanting my 240 back in the garage quite yet, despite wanting to work on it so badly.

Edited January 12, 2018 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[Spooky_Intentions]

Hey Old Andy! I was just taking a look over your build and it looks great. Mind if i ask what pillar pod you modified to fit the z? thanks so much!

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

2 hours ago, Spooky_Intentions said:

Hey Old Andy! I was just taking a look over your build and it looks great. Mind if i ask what pillar pod you modified to fit the z? thanks so much!

 

Hey thanks! The A pillar pod is from a first generation Mazda Miata  (NA).

 

I have yet to truly modify mine to fit - it will take some "massaging" to say the least.

 

 

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

okay, so I am going to be registering my car and I think this time I actually want a vanity plate.

 

I have a list of available potential options. You New Yorkers better not beat me to the punch on these!.....somebishes.

 

 

 

Thoughts? Additional options?

[lawngnome25]

Hi Andy. The front air dam you have is the EXACT style I have been looking for. Where did you buy yours? 

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

it's the one made by Xenon. Made of urethane.

 

I'm going to be making a carbon splitter to mount underneath to prevent it from collapsing due to apparent wind at speed.

 

 

Here's one on eBay

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Xenon-3124-Primered-Urethane-Front-Air-Dam-for-70-74-Nissan-240Z-2-4L-2-6L/401459167707?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3D439ffbca5a3f46d3858c347b1c965dac%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D24%26sd%3D201603843396&_trksid=p2385738.c100677.m4598

Edited January 16, 2018 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[seattlejester]

Yay an update!

 

Woohoo another one on the road.

 

Zproblem? Like ze problem mein frauline is ze car uses up all my money

[boosted300]

Lol @ PROBLEMZ... that's great.

 

 

 

 

[OldAndyAndTheSea]

She came home last week. The shop wants me to bring the car back as soon as possible, once I clean and sort it out, for a photoshoot. Super Street is the rumor. I don't care either way I just want someone to shoot the car. Needs a paint correction baaaad.

But she wouldn't boost at all, it was running very lean. Idled fine..After a little investigation I discovered the source of the problem.

The trailer ride back over stirred up some **** in the gas tank which proceeded to severely clog one of my fuel filters.

I also developed a couple leaks due to things heating up and cooling back down a few times. Like the rear diff cover needed another go around to stop some seepage, and the turbo oil feed gasket failed, so I made a replacement for that.

The fuel filter fixed the lean condition, obviously, and the car boosts beautifully. It's a hoot at only 5-6psi out of the tiny t3.

A wonderful starting platform. It really feels like what you'd expect a racecar to feel like on the road. It feels LIGHT. It takes no effort to move itself, and it feels very stiff. I have not come close to losing grip. The car is very planted and balanced. Makes sense....it was corner balanced.

The carbon interior, not being fully installed, doesn't even rattle. I expected it to rattle like a snake, but nope.....a couple loose screws on some plastics in the rear, but the dash is Gerbraltskis. Rock solid. The new 5 speed n/a zx transmission is wonderful.

The rear end does transfer a bit of noise into the cockpit, some of which I will attempt to quell, but otherwise it isn't overly concerning for me.

I LOVE every second of it. It is serious sensory overload. The sound, the look, the feel of being surrounded by carbon....the response....it's the whole package. I am very happy.

 

 

Now I am putting the car back in the air to confirm all the bolts under the car are still tight. I'm looking at you diff bolts.....axle bolts....lug nuts.

 

It looks like shit now...I can't wait to clean it up a bit.

It's a car again!

Now it's time to make it a better one.

125 miles in. She hits.

Edited April 27, 2018 by OldAndyAndTheSea

[rossman]

It's a great looking car.  Job well done! 

[seattlejester]

Nice plate, and congrats! Super happy for for you!

[supernova_6969]

nice work indeed.   must be awesome after pretty much making her yourself.

 

tell me, with a t3, when does boost come on?  (rpm-wise)

 

seb