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:

Would,nt it just be easier to ask the owner to lose 2 stone Pete:blink:

good work, I like the crow bar in the first pic :)

good work, I like the crow bar in the first pic :)

Thanks James.

Maybe I should fit the crowbar(its a tyre lever actually) on the pass side so I can rap Bob on the knuckles if/when he doesnt change gear fast enough:mad2:

 

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

 

Would,nt it just be easier to ask the owner to lose 2 stone Pete

 

That too would help!!

In that photo of removed stuff there is over 16kg

Well today I have spent a long time fitting the passenger seat (then removing it... LOL!)

I have used one original rear mount. Then I made an adaptor plate to pick up on the other side.

Then I made two spreader plates for the new front mounts complete with captive bolts, so seat fitting and removal is easy and quick. Its quite ridiculous how much time this takes and how many times I have lifted that *****ng seat in and outta that shell:rant:

Before I even started on the fabrication I spent a little time finding the optimum position for it.:biggrin:

Once that was all done I trial fitted the footrest which will be needed as the seat is much further back than stock. It is also very low(but adjustable) This will keep the passenger out of the drivers line of sight and keep the centre of gravity low too.

Its as important as the drivers side to get the pass seat safely and securely mounted given the high speed and G forces generated inside this car on full chat.

Im very comfortable in there.:thumbup: Bob,s lovely partner Martina will be too.:kiss:

The rest of the day was spent doing the final de bracketing, panel wiping and masking inside in preparation for paint.

All in all a very long day.......:glare:

 

Pics......................

 

Ist primer................................

 

Great work Pete:thumbup:...I love this club:biggrin:

good progress. I remember fitting my seats, what a PIA!

 

PS you can remove the sensors that go out the floorpan under the seats, they are the cat overheat ones.

good progress. I remember fitting my seats, what a PIA!

 

PS you can remove the sensors that go out the floorpan under the seats, they are the cat overheat ones.

I already have:thumbup1:.................................

The wire you can see is the wideband sensor wire... I think:kiss:

 

So........... today I have been trial fitting some mirrors and making some base plates.

These might look a little familiar Jaffa:laugh:

 

I have just sprayed the ally panel satin black. It would better using a piece of carbon fibre sheet but I dont have time to source some and cut it..... later maybe but for now these will do and I need to move on.

 

Quote Originally Posted by jap.slapper View Post

Isn't the rear hatch heavy mainly due to the weight of the glass mate, are you looking at alternate material options?

 

2 seater glass....8.6Kg.

Lexan/polycarb.... 4.9Kg

QED.

 

There are not many disassembly jobs left thank goodness. Rear window removal was one... Now done and glass in one piece.:sweatdrop:

I decided to use some of the existing holes in the tailgat to mount the retaining pins.

The nice 50mm setscrews to mount the door mirrors and their adaptor plates arrived today.... So I fitted a mirror.

i have also cut and rewelded the new wide view interior mirror and located it. I know carbon fibre is not everyones cuppa but IMO the mirrors look good AND they are very light.

Pics .....................................

 

 

Looks good Pete - looks like you've got even more done since i saw you on Sunday! :D

Looks good Pete - looks like you've got even more done since i saw you on Sunday! :D

yes mate... work progessses.

This is not a job that can be left to tick along. There is a schedule to adhere to and some deadlines to be met.

Bob wants to be testing pre season and I have a queue of cars waiting for work/restoration after Im done with his.

Im going to collect my new "assistant" tomorrow but he doesnt (yet) know how to pick up a spanner.:laugh:

Im going to collect my new "assistant" tomorrow but he doesnt (yet) know how to pick up a spanner.:laugh:

 

Mikey bean is it :biggrin:

Mikey bean is it :biggrin:

 

Mikey knows how to.use a spanner, if you include how to blow up an engine in that.

Well its Monday again and time to get on....

Im now at a tricky stage with the tailgate. I need to bond the Polycarb window in place without removing it from the upper locating rail!!! Its not rigid like a piece of glass either.

I will only get one shot at it. If it drops in the wrong place there will be black sealant everywhere but the right place:glare:

Think I might need an extra pair of hands???:blink:

 

Anyone???:kiss:

 

So in the absence of any helpers ATM I moved on to fitting the first side polycarb window.

Bob and me had discussed a preliminary "how to" method but I have been putting it off for a few days,given the cost and the timescale to get another one if it were to go pear shaped on me:blink:

 

Today was the day and although I dont normally do "excited" over project work Im feeling close to that tonite.

I know self praise is no praise at all BUT I think I have done a good job and IMO they look "the business".:yes:

Although I appreciate most of you wouldnt want them in your car.:biggrin:

Any judge for yourselves cos here are the pics............................

 

Nice work Pete I like them, where did you get the poly tail gate window from and rear quarters? If you ever need a hand just drop me a msg to see if I'm about

Pete you know if i was close enough id come give you a hand matey. that looks the dogs danglies though, been following this with with interest and loving what im seeing and how far you have come with it.

Edited November 14, 201213 yr by vodkashots

Pete you know if i was close enough id come give you a hand matey. that looks the dogs danglies though, been following this with interest and loving what im seeing and how far you have come with it.

 

+1

Edited November 14, 201213 yr by vodkashots

Nice one mate, they look spot on. Had a set in my old S13, I loved them.

 

That car is amazing, big plans for next year? TOTB again no doubt?

looking excellent. You'll need something for the top leading edge to stop them pulling away

 

reckon you'll get a BigMac and shake through the windows :)?

Nice work Pete I like them, where did you get the poly tail gate window from and rear quarters? If you ever need a hand just drop me a msg to see if I'm about

Thanks for the offer. I will if I need it Paul.

Pop down anyway and have a look.

The window set is from http://www.lexan-windows.com/window-kits-windscreens/nissan-300-zx-swb-lexan-full-window-kit.html. Although we havent had the side quarters but we have added the "pro slider" kit.

The original patterns were done for Jaffa/James on this forum.

i dont know if the do sets for the "family" version 300 tho:chris:

 

 

Pete you know if i was close enough id come give you a hand matey.

i know you would mate. Ta for that.

 

likewise znut/Bri.... the thought is appreciated and I know its sincere.

As said before this is a great club.

 

My mate Steve is probably coming on Sat so ill be sorted.

 

That car is amazing, big plans for next year? TOTB again no doubt?

Thanks Noz.

TOTB is deffo on for 2013.

Im hoping that funding/dosh will be available for a full Time Attack season but Im not paying so its not my call.

I know how mind blowingly expensive it is tho with last years involvement.

The Kyle Puckett engine is due to be installed after Im finished my shell work.The rolling shell will go from me to get a full FIA compliant weld in cage fitted before engine install tho.

looking excellent. You'll need something for the top leading edge to stop them pulling away

 

reckon you'll get a BigMac and shake through the windows :)?

 

When you see the inside picture of the install you might want to change that statement!:glare:

 

The slider is big enough to pass Bob a little "treat" IF he beats you at Time Attack. Apart from that he isnt being fed in car!!:biggrin:

There is a case to be made however that the rear wing would look OK in the average McDonalds car park......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

attached to a Corsa:laugh::laugh:

Looks great Pete, those windows must have saved a huge amount of weight not just with the glass removal but the window motor/switches etc as well.

 

How much would you realistically be looking at for a Time Attack season excluding the cost of an already prepared and track tested car which itself is huge sum?

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

Looks great Pete, those windows must have saved a huge amount of weight not just with the glass removal but the window motor/switches etc as well.

 

How much would you realistically be looking at for a Time Attack season excluding the cost of an already prepared and track tested car which itself is huge sum?

 

2012 fees were £2500 for pro class and £2100 for club. for the season.

Indidual event costs will include.

Fuel to transport car/van/truck and race car . Eg. Brighton to Knockhill!!1200 miles at 22/24 mpg

Overnight accomodation if you dont have a motorhome to tow with.

Sticker pack. Transponder hire. Food on day and while travelling.

Fuel for the race car. Remember we are talking less than 10mpg of premium priced fuel.

Leaving out the costs of two full sets of tyres(wets/dry) to start the season there will be substancial replacement costs as they wont/dont last long at this level of power etc

Brake pads n discs disappear at an alarming rate. Ferodo DS3000s or similar are very expensive. Regular oil/filter changes of Premium fully synthetic oil etc.

And add in costs of failures/damage etc etc

On event support will add an unknown amount depending on the level of support.

Im very cheap if I go as support but then Im not very good either!

 

an average "guesstimate for a club driver like James and Bob would be £500 per event. give or take

So lets say 6 events. £3000

So over £5000 in the blink of an eye..... and rising

 

 

Please note.

The above figures are based on several people I know who have taken part and are not exact figures for any one individual, as any individual figures I may know are highly confidential.