Monday, May 30, 2011

New Parts...Finally!

Finally, I can make some progress on the Z. Yesterday I bought and picked up some suspension parts such as a whole rear suspension! The guy even threw in the front strut as well. Now why am I so excited for a stock rear end, that's easy. The stock rear end that I picked up is the R180 and if you actually read these blogs you'll know I've really been looking for one. The rear end is a 3:54 ratio like the one I currently have in the Z now so once I change differentials I will keep the same gearing. I just have to replace the gasket but that's cheap and should only take a couple of minutes. I also got new (well slightly new) struts to and not just stock ones the ones that were in the rear end and the fronts I procured are Tokico HP's and with my good friend Jack hooking me up with the 280z linear springs the temporary performance setup will be complete. The parts also included a intacted front diff mount and supposedly new brake shoes as well as a useable bleeder valve for the rear drums since I fucked up one of mine. So all in all I came up pretty nice. So today since I had nothing to do I pull the diff out to the nice Southern California day cleaned it, I still need the gasket and I will most likely change out the rear retaining bolt and opt for allen head bolt for a little visual, we'll see. I was going to pull the struts out of the cartriges but realized I needed a set of channel locks to do it so I'll stop by Will's to pick his up as well as the floor jack so I can raise the car to do the needed work. I still need to pull the crossmember and drill and re-tap the bolt holes so the diff doesn't knock anymore (thank you previous owner).
A shitty picture of Emil

Eww..dirt!


Yeah it's clean..well kinda


0.0 Pretty

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Random shots of the Day

So I've decided to take pictures of nice cars I see throughout my day so here they are.
New GTR...clearly he doesn't know how to back up

Classic Ford, er a Galaxy or Fairlane not to sure

Low slung EK not my taste but to each their own

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Looking at something a lil more "family"

So I what something a little less 2 seater and a little more roomie. With the options I have it's either something new or well something old. I still want a car that's fun to drive but isn't a full blown sports car. So I looked at my options, there is the Impreza, Evo, IS300, Mazdaspeed 3 or 6, or the Integra DA. It has to be RWD so the kills the DA and the Mazdaspeed 3. Then it has to be affordable so long Impreza, Evo, IS300, and Mazdaspeed 6. Well hell that leaves no options at all, right...well not quite. I forgot one car that I didn't think of until Friday at the Torrance Meet, the 510. Yeah it's just as old as the Z if not older (I know) , but it's RWD and it's a sedan or a wagon so it works. So my search for a 510 will begin after I fix up the Toyota Solara, I hope. Now the only question is do I stay with the factory motor or KA24?




Sunday, May 1, 2011

Ayrton Senna Top Gear Tribute

A day to remember....

I'm not an avid F1 enthusiast although I wish I had been sooner. My friend introduced me to one of the greatest drivers in the world and the worst part about it is that he's dead! Yes, he died about 18 years to the date and who is this legendary driver well his name was Ayrton Senna. So here is my salute to him and the wonderful things he did on and off the track. Rest In Peace Senna, your still missed.

Support for Japan!

Yes I donated to the efforts in Japan, doing my part and here it is the Heartbreakers for Japan vinyl (well not so much the vinyl) but it shows that I donated funds to help.  I have also started on some more body work on the Z such as painting the hood and (re-installing) my original gas door. The original one had the twist lock for the access door and it looked lame, so I swapped it to the later gas door which got rid of it. However after deciding on the JDM feel for the car I knew that I had to revert it by either buying a keyed gas door or modifiying mine. As I looked more into it I realized that I could use my current one and just install the keyed lock as opposed to buying a JDM door and spending money that I didn't have too. So here it is.
Ah, the old door ready for paint.

Heartbreakers for Japan

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The start of the hood prep....finally!