My Rebuild/Progress
12-10-2012, 07:05 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Rebuild/Progress
Well I have been quietly observing for some time now & watching some of the trends that take place, all the while collecting pieces for my less than impressive Z.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uihawkeyez/8259429671/" title="32198_848852565639_1061878_n by UIHawkeyeZ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8259429671_a9d852c806.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="32198_848852565639_1061878_n"></a>
It's a 2004 Touring 6spd w/ 21k miles. Daytona Blue w/ white leather.
I picked it close to 2 years ago after it had been bandaged up after being wrecked. The body lines weren't quite right, it had a terrible non factory paint job & the airbags were blown.
It looked alright ... but far from perfect, at the time it felt like the right price for the car & the mileage.
I would drive it occasionally but my intention was to make it a car to be proud of.
I ended up buying a new front clip piece by piece by waiting and watching on craigslist ... next stop was the frame shop. They did a lot of pulling on it but were able to get it very close.
My cousin does body work & has a shop that he uses for hobby & side jobs - so he & sanded down the awful paintjob & it's going back to B17 Daytona Blue.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uihawkeyez/8260492796/" title="IMG_0269 by UIHawkeyeZ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8488/8260492796_4667e81c9b.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_0269"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uihawkeyez/8259424521/" title="IMG_0270 by UIHawkeyeZ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8259424521_3bf4987602.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_0270"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uihawkeyez/8260490976/" title="IMG_0271 by UIHawkeyeZ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8077/8260490976_8b587ef6d6.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_0271"></a>
I was considering some extra body pieces and some of the stuff like black roof w/ black accents but after watching for the last 2 years it seems like that has kind of came and gone ... I'm going to stick with a stock look and will be looking to get on coilovers after the paint job.
In my constant patrolling of craigslist I ended up with a second Z (Black 03 Touring, orange leather 50k miles) with a very long parts that I am still trying to decide my best configuration for putting the 2 cars back together.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uihawkeyez/8259429397/" title="IMG_0162 by UIHawkeyeZ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8259429397_c1e4fe3a0a.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_0162"></a>
Don't know if it was interesting, but figured I would try to contribute something.
I intend to keep posting pics of the rebuild of both cars.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uihawkeyez/8259429671/" title="32198_848852565639_1061878_n by UIHawkeyeZ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8259429671_a9d852c806.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="32198_848852565639_1061878_n"></a>
It's a 2004 Touring 6spd w/ 21k miles. Daytona Blue w/ white leather.
I picked it close to 2 years ago after it had been bandaged up after being wrecked. The body lines weren't quite right, it had a terrible non factory paint job & the airbags were blown.
It looked alright ... but far from perfect, at the time it felt like the right price for the car & the mileage.
I would drive it occasionally but my intention was to make it a car to be proud of.
I ended up buying a new front clip piece by piece by waiting and watching on craigslist ... next stop was the frame shop. They did a lot of pulling on it but were able to get it very close.
My cousin does body work & has a shop that he uses for hobby & side jobs - so he & sanded down the awful paintjob & it's going back to B17 Daytona Blue.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uihawkeyez/8260492796/" title="IMG_0269 by UIHawkeyeZ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8488/8260492796_4667e81c9b.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_0269"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uihawkeyez/8259424521/" title="IMG_0270 by UIHawkeyeZ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8259424521_3bf4987602.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_0270"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uihawkeyez/8260490976/" title="IMG_0271 by UIHawkeyeZ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8077/8260490976_8b587ef6d6.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_0271"></a>
I was considering some extra body pieces and some of the stuff like black roof w/ black accents but after watching for the last 2 years it seems like that has kind of came and gone ... I'm going to stick with a stock look and will be looking to get on coilovers after the paint job.
In my constant patrolling of craigslist I ended up with a second Z (Black 03 Touring, orange leather 50k miles) with a very long parts that I am still trying to decide my best configuration for putting the 2 cars back together.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uihawkeyez/8259429397/" title="IMG_0162 by UIHawkeyeZ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8259429397_c1e4fe3a0a.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_0162"></a>
Don't know if it was interesting, but figured I would try to contribute something.
I intend to keep posting pics of the rebuild of both cars.
What are you going to do with the 2 Z's now?
Just a suggestion. How much did you end up giving for the z's? In for final results.
12-11-2012, 03:22 PM
#7
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
haha yea that hood had to go.
It's funny with the black Z, I went to buy the wheels (Maya GR5's) & the Brembos for my blue car. When I got there he had just traded the turbos from the car for a 4 wheeler ... so then we started talking about my 4 wheelers and I ended up trading 2 of mine for everything he had Z related.
So I ended up with 2 cars, the black one is built huge. Basically forged internals, HKS management, JWT cams, ported heads, oversized valves, greddy dual carbon clutch, greddy evo tt exhaust etc. etc.
I'm still between putting turbos back in the black car or putting higher compression pistons back in it, or just a part out ... I don't know - this forced induction thing is a whole new world to me. Even if I did get it back to turbos, I wouldn't know the first thing about getting the tune down - not sure how much is still 'stored' in the HKS vpro f-con + knock amp.
There was really no plan to have 2 cars ... it just kind of happened that way. I wouldn't be opposed to building a track car out of one of them ... too bad I already re-installed airbags in the blue one before I got the black one, that would have made it a strong candidate.
Right now main priority is to finish the blue one ... then I'll decide what parts to swap, what to keep, and what to part I think
It's funny with the black Z, I went to buy the wheels (Maya GR5's) & the Brembos for my blue car. When I got there he had just traded the turbos from the car for a 4 wheeler ... so then we started talking about my 4 wheelers and I ended up trading 2 of mine for everything he had Z related.
So I ended up with 2 cars, the black one is built huge. Basically forged internals, HKS management, JWT cams, ported heads, oversized valves, greddy dual carbon clutch, greddy evo tt exhaust etc. etc.
I'm still between putting turbos back in the black car or putting higher compression pistons back in it, or just a part out ... I don't know - this forced induction thing is a whole new world to me. Even if I did get it back to turbos, I wouldn't know the first thing about getting the tune down - not sure how much is still 'stored' in the HKS vpro f-con + knock amp.
There was really no plan to have 2 cars ... it just kind of happened that way. I wouldn't be opposed to building a track car out of one of them ... too bad I already re-installed airbags in the blue one before I got the black one, that would have made it a strong candidate.
Right now main priority is to finish the blue one ... then I'll decide what parts to swap, what to keep, and what to part I think
Trending Topics
12-11-2012, 04:17 PM
#8
Registered User
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Irvine, CA
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sounds like you are on the right track with the blue, doing the right things. There must be something wrong with the black one right? I say put some turbos back on it.
12-11-2012, 05:15 PM
#9
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the positive feedback on the blue one
The only thing missing from the black car that I have found is the turbos are gone (and all piping & intercooler) ... that I have found at least. One way or another there's enough there that I feel good about where we ended up.
the prior owner had tried to sell it, didn't get what he want and thought he'd be better off parting it. After he got rid of his turbos ... we ended up striking up our deal with the 4 wheelers.
The only thing missing from the black car that I have found is the turbos are gone (and all piping & intercooler) ... that I have found at least. One way or another there's enough there that I feel good about where we ended up.
the prior owner had tried to sell it, didn't get what he want and thought he'd be better off parting it. After he got rid of his turbos ... we ended up striking up our deal with the 4 wheelers.
12-30-2012, 05:24 PM
#10
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So progress has been slow with the holidays, but today we got the entire car blocked & wet sanded. We're expecting to have the car painted on Tuesday along with the spoiler, and mirrors.
After looking at my front bumper, it's a little bit more rough around the bottom and corners than I had originally remembered.
I'm somewhat considering a lip spoiler, especially since I'm going to be painting anyways. My issue with this is since I'm going to be sitting at stock height for awhile ... will it look ridiculous?
I did a little bit of searching on the forums and I kind of like the one from this thread
https://my350z.com/forum/exterior-an...p-spoiler.html
and it kind of looks similar to some of the cheap polyurethane ones I can find on Amazon (I have a bunch of gift cards)
am I setting myself up for disappointment with cutting corners, I.E. look like crap or poor fitment - it's either something like this or I'll just deal with the knicked up bumper for now.
Any thoughts for or against someething like this? I want a poly over carbon because I don't expect either the lip or current bumper to be a permanent set up
any input is appreciated!
After looking at my front bumper, it's a little bit more rough around the bottom and corners than I had originally remembered.
I'm somewhat considering a lip spoiler, especially since I'm going to be painting anyways. My issue with this is since I'm going to be sitting at stock height for awhile ... will it look ridiculous?
I did a little bit of searching on the forums and I kind of like the one from this thread
https://my350z.com/forum/exterior-an...p-spoiler.html
and it kind of looks similar to some of the cheap polyurethane ones I can find on Amazon (I have a bunch of gift cards)
am I setting myself up for disappointment with cutting corners, I.E. look like crap or poor fitment - it's either something like this or I'll just deal with the knicked up bumper for now.
Any thoughts for or against someething like this? I want a poly over carbon because I don't expect either the lip or current bumper to be a permanent set up
any input is appreciated!
01-01-2013, 03:04 PM
#11
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Happy New Years to ya, you guys.
We got the car portion painted today, still have to do the mirrors, bumpers, spoiler & mud guards.
Still trying to decide if i'm going to do a lip spoiler, we did a little bit of work on the bottom of the front bumper, but there's still a knick on it that is still noticeable.
Here's some more pics - sorry for quality
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68646126@N06/8335909064/" title="image by DirtMcGirt63, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8211/8335909064_44b52fd8af.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="image"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68646126@N06/8335909124/" title="image by DirtMcGirt63, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8335909124_395febc552.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="image"></a>
We got the car portion painted today, still have to do the mirrors, bumpers, spoiler & mud guards.
Still trying to decide if i'm going to do a lip spoiler, we did a little bit of work on the bottom of the front bumper, but there's still a knick on it that is still noticeable.
Here's some more pics - sorry for quality
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68646126@N06/8335909064/" title="image by DirtMcGirt63, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8211/8335909064_44b52fd8af.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="image"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68646126@N06/8335909124/" title="image by DirtMcGirt63, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8335909124_395febc552.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="image"></a>
01-07-2013, 03:26 PM
#12
Registered User
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Irvine, CA
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The only poly lip that I have experience with would have been a serious project to make it look decent. The fitment was horrendous. You seem like you may have the resources to make it turn out okay but I still don't think it's worth sinking the time and effort into it. A carbon or even fiberglass lip would give you a better result IMO.
It will look a little ridiculous at stock height but there have been a lot, lot, lot worse things done to Zs.
It will look a little ridiculous at stock height but there have been a lot, lot, lot worse things done to Zs.
01-14-2013, 07:39 PM
#14
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well for the first time in over a year the entire car is the same color.
We got the bumpers painted. With the front bumper, after sanding, primer & paint the front bumper turned out pretty nice really.
Since we are done with paint for now I am holding off on any extra body pieces. Once I finish refinishing my new wheels & decide on a set of coils I'll start to evaluate the rest. I at least have left over paint should I get the itch.
I hope to be all back together before the end of January. Really it should only take me another dedicated weekend, it's just a matter of finding that.
Leave it to me to finish a project dead in the middle of an Iowa winter.
Sorry for the crappy pic. again.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uihawkeyez/8381786319/" title="Resampled_2013-01-13_20-58-21_422 by UIHawkeyeZ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8072/8381786319_f4482c978c.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Resampled_2013-01-13_20-58-21_422"></a>
We got the bumpers painted. With the front bumper, after sanding, primer & paint the front bumper turned out pretty nice really.
Since we are done with paint for now I am holding off on any extra body pieces. Once I finish refinishing my new wheels & decide on a set of coils I'll start to evaluate the rest. I at least have left over paint should I get the itch.
I hope to be all back together before the end of January. Really it should only take me another dedicated weekend, it's just a matter of finding that.
Leave it to me to finish a project dead in the middle of an Iowa winter.
Sorry for the crappy pic. again.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uihawkeyez/8381786319/" title="Resampled_2013-01-13_20-58-21_422 by UIHawkeyeZ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8072/8381786319_f4482c978c.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Resampled_2013-01-13_20-58-21_422"></a>
02-05-2013, 07:10 PM
#16
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well I finished the blue car over the weekend.
It was quite the tease trailering it home ... I didn't want to drive it with all of the roadsalt & ice chemicals on the brand new paint
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68646126@N06/8449775228/" title="image by DirtMcGirt63, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8325/8449775228_c9aeb6b193.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="image"></a>
I'm very very happy with it. it's unbelievable how pretty the B17 Daytona blue is compared to the crap paint that was on it.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68646126@N06/8449775136/" title="image by DirtMcGirt63, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8098/8449775136_bc82706dd7.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="image"></a>
my one body mod ... rear wiper removed and replaced with the threaded drain dummy plug.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68646126@N06/8449775196/" title="image by DirtMcGirt63, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8352/8449775196_5baca88816.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="image"></a>
now I have a VERY long road of detailing ahead of me. the interior is filthy from having sat in the shop for as long as it did. guess we will consider that bonding time.
From there I'll start deciding what all bolt ons I have stock piled to put on & plotting the plan of attack on the black car.
It was quite the tease trailering it home ... I didn't want to drive it with all of the roadsalt & ice chemicals on the brand new paint
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68646126@N06/8449775228/" title="image by DirtMcGirt63, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8325/8449775228_c9aeb6b193.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="image"></a>
I'm very very happy with it. it's unbelievable how pretty the B17 Daytona blue is compared to the crap paint that was on it.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68646126@N06/8449775136/" title="image by DirtMcGirt63, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8098/8449775136_bc82706dd7.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="image"></a>
my one body mod ... rear wiper removed and replaced with the threaded drain dummy plug.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68646126@N06/8449775196/" title="image by DirtMcGirt63, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8352/8449775196_5baca88816.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="image"></a>
now I have a VERY long road of detailing ahead of me. the interior is filthy from having sat in the shop for as long as it did. guess we will consider that bonding time.
From there I'll start deciding what all bolt ons I have stock piled to put on & plotting the plan of attack on the black car.
05-10-2014, 09:15 PM
#18
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's been awhile. I actually ended up selling the blue car last fall. I took a new job where I was driving around clients so I decided my daily wasn't going to cut it. So when I sold the Z & Jetta I bought a ming blue A4 (couldn't be without a blue car after the daytona blue)
So I spent some time over the winter with the black car .. at one point I had a set of GTM Stage II turbos. They were sold for an engagement ring.
It will be back to TT at some point - but for now I have a stock motor I'm putting back in it.
I just got my wheels back from powdercoat for the black car. One had a bent lip. so I took everything apart & decided to powder the faces ... here is the end result
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/68646126@N06/14154442802/" title="image by DirtMcGirt63, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/14154442802_e6d941f42d_z.jpg" width="478" height="640" alt="image"></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/68646126@N06/14153922331/" title="image by DirtMcGirt63, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2911/14153922331_d6841d5a07_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="image"></a>
So I spent some time over the winter with the black car .. at one point I had a set of GTM Stage II turbos. They were sold for an engagement ring.
It will be back to TT at some point - but for now I have a stock motor I'm putting back in it.
I just got my wheels back from powdercoat for the black car. One had a bent lip. so I took everything apart & decided to powder the faces ... here is the end result
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/68646126@N06/14154442802/" title="image by DirtMcGirt63, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/14154442802_e6d941f42d_z.jpg" width="478" height="640" alt="image"></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/68646126@N06/14153922331/" title="image by DirtMcGirt63, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2911/14153922331_d6841d5a07_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="image"></a>
05-11-2014, 06:29 AM
#20
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the built motor is 8.5:1 ... when I'm in a better position to put it back together FI I will. Probably next winter. Until then I'm just ready to have it on the road.
In the meantime I will be studying and reading so I am more prepared than when I bought the first set of twins.
In the meantime I will be studying and reading so I am more prepared than when I bought the first set of twins.
