Well the old Hilux has gone to a new home and we have a new family member

 

a tidy black 1995 300zx SWB TT manual

 

 

 

This shortie' is absolutely mint underneath and is a credit to its former keepers. Quite a contrast to her big brother sat on axle stands in the background feeling sorry for himself.

 

 

First job on the 'to do' list was to swap over the Nismo steering wheel for the uber' rare, limited edition 'OZ Racing' Personal steering wheel out of the track zed. The feel on this is much better for me, than with its leather predesessor.

 

I was going to change the Momo gear knob over but half way through I figured that I actually quite liked it and the way that it felt during gear changes was pretty good, so it stayed put.

 

 

 

 

 

Next little job was to mag to grid the orange indicator lenses and swap them for a set of Nismo clear lenses that I had lying around.

 

 

 

 

 

Now it was always my intention to switch the 17" Speedline rims currently fitted to the zed for a set of 18" RAYS (including a set of nearly new 235 and 275 wide Pirelli P-Zero tyres) that I picked up from Zedworld last year for a bargain price,

 

 

 

 

I dropped them off on Wednesday at a local tyre specialist to make good a nail that was embedded in one of the rear tyres.

 

Unfortunately when I went to pick them up they informed me that one of the front rims had a small crack just on the lip and would need to be repaired.

 

 

 

 

 

the rim was still holding air and wasn't leaking at all, so it was just by chance that when the tyre was removed the guys spotted the crack.

 

anyway, that left me with a bit of a dilemma.

 

I sized up the set of 18" Enkei's that I've got for the track zed but I think that without rolling the arch, they would rub, so the Enkei's were out.

 

 

Next I suggested to my wife that we refurb the set of 18" white 1 piece Volk Racing/Rays that we have in the attic that were used for drifting and track days

 

 

 

 

 

they only require a small amount of work to be mint, however the thought of white rims on a black roadgoing SWB zed didn't appeal to my wife so they were also out!

 

 

That got me thinking. I've had a set of 18" black and chrome Volk Racing/RAYS CV-Pro's for a few years now.

I refurbed them about 2 years ago but never fitted them. I tried selling them a few times but nobody was willing to pay the money and they aren't to everyones taste.

 

anyway I dug them out of the attic and quickly dusted them off.

 

In my opinion there's something very retro JDM about them and I think that they will go nicely on the shortie' (especially as they are pretty much the same year of manufacture)

 

The pics aren't great because obviously I've just laid them alongside (so no they aren't super negative offset 13.3" wide rims before you ask!) but I think they will go.

 

They were originally on the track zed back in '08 before I removed them and refurbed them and now they are absolutely mint, without even the slightest curbing etc.

 

What do you think?

Edited November 28, 201114 yr by jap.slapper

Well I've driven both TT type and I know my shorty was easier to control I guess you just have to try it for yourself however shorter wheel base is tighter and not like driving an artic truck

Edited July 19, 201114 yr by Gonzo12c

Looks great mr. slapper, what a lovely Z :)

 

Them enkeis are awesome!

I haven't driven a TT shorty, but I did drive Mackam Maz's n/a slicktop shorty (Petes old car) the other week, and I will say it did feel that little bit more nimble/go-karty, but I certainly wouldn't describe my LWB as an artic truck to drive, lol

Well I've driven both TT type and I know my shorty was easier to control I guess you just have to try it for yourself however shorter wheel base is tighter and not like driving an arctic truck

 

I've never driven a truck designed for the Arctic. I guess they must have the huge monster tyres to spread the weight over the snow...? If you meant artic(ulated) truck, then I have driven several of those and can assure you they are much less nimblesome than my Zed! :tt2: I've never attempted to powerslide a truck either, as I'm pretty sure its impossible with the trailer attached (unless you live in Hollywood).

 

On a serious note though, what is the difference in wheel base length? I seem to recall its about 8-9 inches shorter isn't it? I wonder if anyone knows the corner weights of the two versions? With the SWB having the fuel tank inbetween the two axles (compared to the LWB hanging out the back), you would have thought that the weight balance would be pushed further forward? Surely that would only increase its propensity to turn/spin?

 

Looks like I will have to buy one and find out myself. Anyone know if there's a '95 spec TT SWB for sale anywhere?!

Looks like I will have to buy one and find out myself. Anyone know if there's a '95 spec TT SWB for sale anywhere?!

 

I've been seriously tempted to do the same tbh, problem is we do need those rear seats now n again and I'm not sure I can justify having 3 Z's between us and 4 in the house in total :online2long:

I've been seriously tempted to do the same tbh, problem is we do need those rear seats now n again and I'm not sure I can justify having 3 Z's between us and 4 in the house in total :online2long:

 

There was a 95 shorty TT for sale not so long ago. I don't have rear seats in my zeds thats the reason I got a truck can't be carrying bulky stuff in my zed anyway I have mine for fun not as a transporter :)

Yeah agreed, but I don't want to not be able to take the Z for a drive, just because I can't put my son in the back seat.

 

When you have kids, especially little ones, you can't be like that, because I'd find I never drove it, half the time these days, I'm driving to go get him, or take him to the shop or whatever, very rare as a full time employed person and a full time parent that I get time to just take it for a drive down a country lane etc. etc.

 

When I had the GTR, Michael wasn't born and Ellie was 10 or 11, so she could go in the front seat easy enough, or go in someone elses car, or go be at a friends house, whatever, so it had no back seats and full harnesses. Few years from now I'll be in that position again as he grows up. We are NOT having any more! :D Since the GTR (And Michael being born) we've had things like Subarus, VR4's, Ford Falcons, etc. Because of the back seats. The Z was a move towards being a bit more impractical again now he's getting older.

Go-karty is a very good description actually of how a SWB drives, and the LWB pendulum effect is pretty apt as well I think, though if a LWB is driven sensibly and with respect its still (in my opinion at least) a really nice GT/cruiser.

 

 

As for the lack of rear seats, it has been an issue but only the once. The shortie' is now classed by me as the company car, and as I generally won't be taking the kids to meetings its not really an issue, and to be fair a 2 + 2 wouldn't be enough these days anyway

 

 

I think that a zed can be many things to many people, but an ideal family car is maybe stretching it a little, though it all depends on the individual's circumstances I suppose

Well what can I say, my little darlings really do enjoy helping their old dad

 

3 days of wet and dry, enamel (wait 24 hrs), then enamel (wait 24 hrs), then laquer (wait....well you get the point)

 

I had planned to re-assemble the split rims this evening ready to have the tyres fitted tomorrow.

 

 

I am so impressed with the finish on the newly painted parts.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

then I discovered that one of my little angels (I'd hazard a guess and say the youngest who's 2 years old) had decided to help by checking that the laquer was dry.......

 

 

 

it wasn't!

 

 

 

 

so maybe a quick wipe with a rag would help and dad would never know.....

 

 

maybe not!

 

 

 

 

 

Oh well, another 3 days of the same old routine I suppose.

 

 

 

So in the meantime as the RAYS aren't ready and won't be for a few days now, I've put the Enkei's on the shortie' just so I can it rolling on 18's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think the phrase millimetre perfect is about right, the rims clear the 8 pots by about 1mm

Edited November 28, 201114 yr by jap.slapper

It seems to have started all over again....

 

 

 

 

 

 

tbh it looks like the paint has reacted with something on the wheels to cause that mate ?

tbh it looks like the paint has reacted with something on the wheels to cause that mate ?

 

 

I'm gonna' stick with the Enkei split rims that are on there now I think

they look nice just need wider rear tyres lol

they look nice just need wider rear tyres lol

 

They do you're right, the only problem with that is that I'd need to roll the arches a tad

 

It will need doing, but not just yet