Tomorrow will see me starting on the tranformation of Bob's slicktop from a fast road car to a much more extreme track car.

As with the original project to create the car i'm delighted to be involved in this next round of modifications.

Bob brought the car(as a rolling shell) to me on Saturday and we spent some time discussing the work to be done. I also took the opportunity of making a start on seat mounts/position while i had Bob to trial fit.:smartass:

Being securely located in your preferred driving position is an essential part of quick lap times.

The brief for the revised car is to create a competent track/strip/sprint/hillclimb 300ZX.

Many of the events to be entered specify the car to be road legal. In reality the car will be trailered to events so the need for creature comforts is minimal.

There are three goals to achieve...

1. More power.

2. Less mass(weight)

3 More downforce.

The combination of these three elements will be more speed. And its speed that counts

 

The big news on the more power front is the installation of a full Kyle Puckett built engine. formerly located in the 2+2 that Madmax(on this forum) had built and now owned by Bob

That isnt part of my job thank goodness.

Less weight and more downforce are tho and tomorrow i will be making a start on the weight saving task.

I will basically follow the same route as I have done on my own car and also what forum members Jaffa and EssBee have done. We all use the lightest car to begin with ... the 2 seater slicktop.

 

So hopefully those of you with an interest in the motorsport side and of going faster will find something of interest in this unfolding tale.:winkiss:

Those of you who are more concerned with modified lights. leds in everything, amps, subs, woofers and retrimmed interiors should stop reading now:whistling:

Initial pics and more detailed spec to follow tomorrow......:closedeyes:

Its going to be a hell of a lightweight zed Pete. What exhaust is on the zed is it lighweight (titanium)?

Custom stainless. Boxes are very small!!........ Its noisy. It has its own characteristic whine/growl/spit kinda sound.

Quite addictive really. And in complete contrast to the deeper pulsing/throbbing sound of my custom NA system

I'd say your guesstimate at costs are on the low side, and don't take into account any problems between rounds that need to be fixed asap for the next event, testing, and there's usually a trackday at the same venue the day before which is wise to get some practice in.

those windows are quality Pete just quality :drool:

Well having done one door the other one will be less stressful, so I got stuck in today.

Removing the side impact bars is a little nervy as they are close to the door skin!!!!

Health and safety conscious members shold NOT look at my angle grinder.

It was warm enough to paint inside it also with a little extra heat.

I have also been doing somethig at the rear of the car but I cant show you it. Only Kane can see it from his "watchdog" staton at the garage door.

So here are the pics.....................................

 

 

Have you got or are you fabricating intrusion bars onto the roll cage then Pete?

Have you got or are you fabricating intrusion bars onto the roll cage then Pete?

Yep full multipoint weld in cage. Inc door bars.

Not me doing that... Im just a journeyman(posh word for lackey):blush:

So another week is under way and we are making progress.

Pass door all finished.

Door pulls in the usual "function over form" mode.

Likewise fuel flap release. Each door just locks on the key. no electrics in door at all.

Interior wiring on sills and rear of car all clipped in place..

Interior mirror fitted

Dash just dropped in but not fitted as cage welding will see it out again.

Seats in for the final time.

Footrest fitted. Its hidden behind a spaghetti mess of wiring which isnt my responsibility thank goodness.

Up at the front end I have been doing a couple of jobs that are threatening to turn in to a nightmare... fitting the Aerocatches and the Z centre twin headlight system. Im not going to be defeated tho... just need to wait for longer setscrews to arrive for catches and take headlamps out(AGAIN!!!) for painting.

 

So here are some pics.

 

More.......

 

Are you planning on fitting side bars/full roll cage to offer some side impact protection to the driver in the event of an off?

Looking great mate! Love the rear view mirror!

 

The headlights though , what a shame IMHO!

It looks so weird in the pic of the inside mirror looking up at roof with no targa's but comming along great Pete I am shure Bob cant wait to track it in its new light weight form:thumbup1:

Are you planning on fitting side bars/full roll cage to offer some side impact protection to the driver in the event of an off?

 

Sounds like an echo in here .........................:biggrin::biggrin:.

15th November 2012,

Have you got or are you fabricating intrusion bars onto the roll cage then Pete?

 

 

See post following Eggs question for the answer!!

 

Please pay more attention!!!!

It looks so weird in the pic of the inside mirror looking up at roof with no targa's but comming along great Pete I am shure Bob cant wait to track it in its new light weight form:thumbup1:

 

Your "weird" is our "normal":yes:

 

Looking great mate! Love the rear view mirror!

 

The headlights though , what a shame IMHO!

 

Well you can please some of the people ....

Its just another "function over form" issue mate.

The headlamps save 5 to 6kg. That will allow the front splitter to be fitted without adding weight hopefullly.

FYI neither Bob or me are that keen on them either.

Where are you ordering your set screws and the like from Pete? I want to replace a load of items from the engine bay with fresh stuff.

Sounds like an echo in here .........................:biggrin::biggrin:.

 

 

See post following Eggs question for the answer!!

 

Please pay more attention!!!!

 

 

 

Blackberry

 

 

 

Well you can please some of the people ....

Its just another "function over form" issue mate.

The headlamps save 5 to 6kg. That will allow the front splitter to be fitted without adding weight hopefullly.

FYI neither Bob or me are that keen on them either.

 

Good! As long as its function over form haha. Do they really save so much weight? Amazing!

Well I will start tonights post on a high note.................

The adjustable rods for the splitter arrived promptly. They are very nice indeed and should/will do the job.:clap:

 

Things then go downhill

As Bob lives so far from me many jobs get done "elsewhere"

Now thats fine IF done properly.

Here is one that wasnt.. The front tow eye.:huh:

Located UNDER the car. UNSEEN and with a tiny eye hole. Just not good enough IMO.:no:

So I now have the proper towing eye and Im locating it where any emergency trackside tow truck can see it and get to it quickly. more importantly when they pull on it the rope wont rip off the bumper.:glare:

It really makes me mad. Its just as easy to do it right as wrong.

What is even more annoying is that Bob will have paid good money for a poor job and now I have an extra job to put it right.

And also....................................................

When Bob brought me the car a few weeks ago I noticed the previously immaculate fitted wings were.,. a little out of shape.:blink:

Jacking the car up today reveals the full (horror) story....Car has been jacked up by trolley jack UNDER THE FRONT WINGS.:hammer:

The wing edges and sill edge behind are mullered. MORE work now for me to put it back to its former glory. Im not happy...... at all:taz:

 

Now where is that bottle of Rioja I bought earlier. I need a drink:sweatdrop:

 

Please tell usbob isnt paying good money out for the bodge jobs being done elsewherecos all they seem to of done is damage the car and make the worlds most useless towing bracket.

If i was you id be telling bob not to let anyone else touch the car unless your there.

Please tell usbob isnt paying good money out for the bodge jobs being done elsewherecos all they seem to of done is damage the car and make the worlds most useless towing bracket.

If i was you id be telling bob not to let anyone else touch the car unless your there.

 

Ditto

Someone's done the exact same on my front wings but mine look even worse, I don't know why you would think its ok to jack the car up there

Pah! All fixed now.......................................................

 

just read through this thread what a job well done m8 the works phenominal..the only thing is the headlights arnt my cup of brew but its not mine so i can appresiat it....

i espessialy like the windows

looking forward to the updates now as much as the new episodes of my fav show...keep it up n well done

Well here is another item in development that wont be to many peoples taste/liking!!:huh:

 

So this is the first prototype....:biggrin:

Shape/size etc NOT final yet.

The final item will be in ally NOT plywood:innocent:

I wont use gaffa tape to fit the finished item!:no:

Its not pedestrian safe/friendly but the car doesnt get driven on the road nowadays so its fine.

Fitting some edging temporary will get it thru an MOT... or just unbolt it.It will all be easily removable single handed for mainteance/emergency pit access.

 

Will it work???

Well 90% of the Time Attack cars have similar items fitted and I have spent a lot of time in the paddock photographing them for reference.

Its a splitter. It divides the air so that on top goes thru to the rad. The pressure on top is greater than the pressure of the air flowing under. The flat smooth plate goes all the way back to the engine crossmember

 

So just one pic.

And remember Im just lurking waiting to time attack anyone who says they dont like it:glare::glare::glare:

 

 

 

pic...................................

 

Im only kidding ... feel free to comment..........................:yes:.

just a question but a car this built what would it need to be road legal or pass a mot if yu will

also the splitter would ally be better than say fiberglass or that other thing grp whats lighter n reduces flex under high loads...sorry if this is a stupit question but id fit somthing like this for astetics rather than purpose