300ZX Turbo Track(ish) Car Build

[MrH]

Yeah, that's really impressive work.  I don't have the skills, patience, or dedication to pull off half the shit you do.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Yeah, that's really impressive work.  I don't have the skills, patience, or dedication to pull off half the shit you do.

Thanks, but I really don't have any of that either. I've tried letting things sit and get done on their own, but that doesn't work. So somebody has to do the work, I'd really rather be driving than working on stuff.

[CaminoRacer]

You're going to redo the Mustang suspension, right?

[Cookie Monster]

Thanks, but I take a long time. You'd never see your car again.

Meh, not like I drive it anyways. I've had a radiator and A/C delete pulley sitting in my room for the past 2 months. I have a giant laundry list of things to do to my car, most of which don't even cost that much money or I have the parts for, but I haven't gotten around to doing it.

Hell, I only need to spend about $600 on the car to get it where I want it to be. Just need to do a bunch of little things that I really just don't have the time or patience for. Plus, on the weekends I'm always off riding my motorcycle somewhere.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

You're going to redo the Mustang suspension, right?

Ohh god yes, these old cars are garbage.

I'm going to do a budget build, it's going to be pretty minimal(caged, no interior/rear seat).

I'm most likely going to do a rear IRS subframe as well as a nice coilover front(found some aloominium ones). With some bracing and a cage the car should be pretty stiff, hopefully it will handle pretty well.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Meh, not like I drive it anyways. I've had a radiator and A/C delete pulley sitting in my room for the past 2 months. I have a giant laundry list of things to do to my car, most of which don't even cost that much money or I have the parts for, but I haven't gotten around to doing it.

Hell, I only need to spend about $600 on the car to get it where I want it to be. Just need to do a bunch of little things that I really just don't have the time or patience for. Plus, on the weekends I'm always off riding my motorcycle somewhere.

I had my coilovers for the 300zx for 14+ months before I finally got around to putting them in.

[CaminoRacer]

Ohh god yes, these old cars are garbage.

I'm going to do a budget build, it's going to be pretty minimal(caged, no interior/rear seat).

I'm most likely going to do a rear IRS subframe as well as a nice coilover front(found some aloominium ones). With some bracing and a cage the car should be pretty stiff, hopefully it will handle pretty well.

Biggest issue on those cars is the tiny front wheel wells. Same problem as your Z, actually.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I would like to find a tasteful way to widden both the front and rear on the mustang.

[CaminoRacer]

Wouldn't be too hard to flare the fenders since it's already in need of paint. Here's the same Mustang that I posted the rear suspension of:

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Probably just do that then.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Well, finally got the back end all put together, just needed to throw the exhaust on. Which I of course gave a quick cleaning too before doing so even though It will just be replaced this fall.





Not real dirty, but could certainly use a bit of work. Side by side after a light clean and quick pass with some metal polish.






Back on the car.




All I have left to do now on the suspension is head up front and put the new inner and outer tie rods on(stock inners, SPL outers) and change the calipers over to the new setup.

Getting the SPL outer on after installing the inner and new boot.




Pulling the old AP kit off the front.


New caliper next to the old.


Should have the front all wrapped up this weekend. Then I just have some things to do around the motor(remove AC, put my new battery in, maybe some misc removal and cleaning) then I can get on to putting the 4 point bar in and picking up some seats. Which I think will be the stopping point. Once all that is done I'll get a weight measurement and set the ride height, corner weight and do a full alignment. Once all that is set I'll take some measurements and find out what I can run for new wheel/tire sizes.

[MX793]

I would like to find a tasteful way to widden both the front and rear on the mustang.

I liked what the Ring Brothers did with their Espionage Mustang build.  Widebody that doesn't really look widebody (until you park it next to an original car).  They sell the kit, but it's like $28K for the fiberglass version ($40K for carbon fiber).

[AutobahnSHO]

where do you keep this car? Is that your garage or somewhere else??

[FlatBlackCaddy]

That's my shop/garage, its a big 3 car detached.

I thought I posted some pictures after I cleaned up before winter profect season.





Through the door there is the 3rd stall for washing or light painting.




I'm glad I took these pictures. It's a shithole now.

[giant_mtb]

So jelly.

Also, which is bigger...your house or garage?

[FlatBlackCaddy]

So jelly.

Also, which is bigger...your house or garage?

The house, by a bit. House is too big, garage is too small.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

The house, by a bit. House is too big, garage is too small.

Same issue I have! 

[AutobahnSHO]

So jelly.

Also, which is bigger...your house or garage?

LOL +1

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Late update, should have posted weeks ago.

Got the brakes all done in the front. Was a little disappointed that the new front rotors where heavier. They are only a half inch larger in diameter and I figured the 2 piece would have saved me weight over the old single piece. The reason became apparent when I did a side by side.





Old AP Racing rotor in front.


The reason for the weight gain.



New Rotor



Old Rotor



Front pads, old(top) vs new.




I really didn't want to add weight on ANYTHING that I did, but here proved to be the exception. I'm not happy about it, but given the obvious benefits in surface area and rotor thickness(not just the braking surface, but cooling structure as well). I think I can live with it given the hopeful performance benefit.

Here it is, all assembled up.

[68_427]

You can make that back with new wheels.

[CaminoRacer]

You can make that back with new wheels.

Or just skip the wheels altogether! How serious are you about saving weight?

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I'm going to step down to 18s and buy something nice and light. I'm sure it will even out.

[68_427]

18" ce28n's are fairly light :3

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Ive actually found a few volk wheels that are pretty nice and surprisingly reasonable.

[68_427]

The new CE28SL in 18x10 should be like 17lbs

[MrH]

The new CE28SL in 18x10 should be like 17lbs

Oooo, those look good.  I like them.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Long overdue update.

Moved around front to get the A/C out and clean up the front end. Also installing a larger oil cooler.

Pulled the cooler out.


Old oil cooler hanging there waiting for removal, gaping hole is where the compressor once was.


Pretty dirty up in here


Got the old cooler and lines removed, as well as removed the old A/C lines from the compressor to the condenser. For the time being I left the lines that go to the passenger compartment. I'll get those when the engine comes out in the future.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

This thing was looking pretty rough, I've seen cracks in it before but I don't remember it being this bad. I'd better replace it. Apparently when they blow to pieces it sucks.






Cooler mounted, and getting ready to run the lines.


Tight working area, really had a bitch of a time getting this all bolted up. Lines should have been about 4-6 inches longer, or the fitting should have been 60 or 90 degrees instead of 120 at the sandwich plate.


Used a lot of hose to wrap the braided lines in some key areas. Both to protect the lines, surrounding components and paint finish. Those lines can rub and really do damage.


The most important area, these lines would have been rubbing both the radiator and the passenger side (pressurized) IC pipe.






Rad and oil cooler installed.


Got everything all hooked back up and checking the cooling system. Love this coolant tool, one of the best tools I've bought in the past 5 years.


No leaks.


With a vacuum pulled, fill it up.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

All back together.




Much better(cleaner, better airflow) than it was before.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Just have to refill some fluids(engine oil, differential fluid), check the transmission oil, bleed the brakes and then do all my suspension setup(ride height, cross weight, F/R toe, F/R camber) and then she should be ready to drive for a while.