MapleNuts Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Hey guys thought i'd share with you guys and to log this build/story for myself. Probably should have started this thread earlier in the build but i'll cover my bases. Rebuilding the engine and refreshing the engine bay. And some exterior mods/additions that probably won't be everyone's cup of tea but it's something different. Special thanks to Mike and Hainz for helping me diagnose the bad engine. Here is a bad photoshop of my vision for the car. 1 Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted May 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Got this car for $300! about a year and a half ago from this really nice older gentleman. Heres how it looked when i got it. Probably the sketchiest ride driving this thing home. Brakes could just barely hold me stopped on a hill. I almost made it all the way home before the carb gave out and wouldn't stop idling at 3k, had to turn the car off at stops because the brakes were so bad the engine revving high would push me into the street! 2 Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted May 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Then i drove it like this for about 6 months with a new weber. With cut springs and 3" lowering blocks, rear bottoms out of every bump its great. Had to also reseal the window. When i would turn on my fan and use my window washer fluid it would seep through the bottom of the window and blow bubbles at me haha 2 Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted May 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Then it started puking oil into the cylinders due to worn rings, after firing hella loud, and blowing big oil clouds. Also low compression. 1 Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted May 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Was going to get a doner engine to rebuild on the side but this and a junk crank was found in it, lesson learned here haha. Started rebuilding the engine. Original u67 head was cracked! bought 2 others heads and they were both milled and wrapped to hell so no luck! Then i found this rebuilt engine with a closed chamber a87! on craigslist, so that's going in it right now so i dont have 2 projects of rebuilding the engine and the bay at the same time. with nismo gasket and ARP headstuds 2 Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted May 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Tackling the bay Before dirty dirty dirty stripped down the rust with a sand blaster Primed Painted with the original orange! with a harbor freight spray gun 2 Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted May 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 And that where i'm at as of today. Had some paint left over, if anyone has any bright ideas to make these look as shitty and faded as the rest of the car let me know haha Also plasti-dipped the rims and got some questionable lug nuts. 2 Quote Link to comment
tr8er Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Why paint the fenders? Looking great though Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted May 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 because they were green. probably gonna scuff them up with fine grit sand paper to dull it. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 because they were green. probably gonna scuff them up with fine grit sand paper to dull it. Scotch-Brite pads do a good job, and don't take off as much paint. 1 Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted May 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 thanks datsunfreak! Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted June 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2017 Engine lookin pretty Engine bay also lookin pretty Pain in the ass to mask this thing off And she's in! now to clean up the wiring and install the '83 280zx 5speed! and also find or make an exhaust. 2 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 I very carefully removed all those pieces one at a time. Your way looks easier. ^_^ Pain in the ass to mask this thing off Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted June 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 I was guna too but i didn't want to bend them trying to pry them off. 1 Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted June 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 cleaned up the ZX 5 speed before and 3 and a half hours later 3 Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 Like that plain and simple but practical 1 Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted July 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 Got the 5 speed in. Ignor the hole where the gas pedal should be haha. Made a pair of T.I.T.s (transmission installation tool) A very generous gentleman in AZ who has been helping me gave me this idea. Grabbed some old head bolts. Cut about 3.5in ground them down and added a slit for a screwdriver. Put these in the most bottom 2 holes in the block to help slip the trans in place. Once you have those 2 T.I.Ts in there's no other place for the input shaft to go than in the pilot bushing 3 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted July 11, 2017 Report Share Posted July 11, 2017 I know what I'm making this weekend... ^_^ Put these in the most bottom 2 holes in the block to help slip the trans in place.Once you have those 2 T.I.Ts in there's no other place for the input shaft to go than in the pilot bushing 4 Quote Link to comment
KELMO Posted July 11, 2017 Report Share Posted July 11, 2017 As many times as I have pulled transmissions lately(and still more to go), I will be looking for some head bolts this weekend also. Brilliant, I say. EDIT: This will not work for A motor type transmissions...too large. However, a push rod from a slave cylinder looks as though it will. The threaded end will go into the block. Just need to notch for the screwdriver. Now if I could just find another push rod. 3 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted July 11, 2017 Report Share Posted July 11, 2017 Yup. I'm getting on that train. Fantastic idea. 1 Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted July 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2017 Return spring bracket. Apparently the only difference between the auto and manual pedal box is a tab for the return spring. Found this angled piece and bent it to fit, works great! way better than tearing the inside of the car apart for a different pedal box Got the pedals from my spare 710 goon. New shifter bushings. Found these at the hardware store, didn't have to pay an arm and leg for em too! Modified, not pretty but it works. 1 Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted July 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2017 Cleaned up the bay. I put the light wires on the outside of the bay. Let me know it this is a bad idea, not sure how hot the lights get. looks simpler this way. No no more charcoal canister. No air pump filter bracket, removed the spot welds and bondoed over. Relocated the hood latch under the fender and around to the front with this trick bracket. 1 Quote Link to comment
MapleNuts Posted July 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2017 Where are you guys connecting your brake booster. I know the original was on the 4th runner with the old smog intake. But that connection has like 3 other ports on it and it's just too busy looking for me. Anyone got another suggestion. Like something on the 4th runner with a the single port, sized for the vacuum line? or something hooked up to the back of the intake. 1 Quote Link to comment
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