Richie's "Blue Thunder" Build Thread!!

[Richie K]

Ok guys, probably should of started this last year when I decided to resurrect my 1993 JDM 300zx Twin Turbo Auto. I said I call the car "Blue Thunder" (mostly just to annoy everyone:tt2:) as it will be loud and blue:thumbup:.

You'll have to bear with me as I'm going to use previous posts off this forum for most of the current bits and I'm not "computer super proficient" with adding images etc

I'll start at the very beginning if I can remember back that far:lol: (No pics in this quick update) (This is for the benefit of anyone joining after '09)

Bought the car in the summer of 2005, a low mileage (42K) 1993 300zx TT auto, within a few months the timing belt had stripped some teeth, luckily no engine damage. Replaced belts, series 2 PTU and bought my 19" TSW Catalunyas. Had to get the rear wheels custom made to 9.5" as they weren't available in this size:thumbup1:. Went on to buy a Pioneer Avic X1R single DIN touchscreen Sat-Nav stereo to liven up the sounds and my Brembo Big Brake kit.

July 2006 - Engine had a ticking noise, nothing major, diagnosed as sticky lifters, recommended solution was an oil change. Bought 2 4.5 litres of Castrol Edge 10W60, oil filter and an engine flush, brought it to a "garage" and asked them to drop the oil, using the engine flush, refill with the fresh Castrol oil heat it up, flush it out, fit the new filter and refill with the other container of Castrol Edge...Simples:innocent:

Collected the car and went home, got to the house and the engine turned into a tractor, lifted the bonnet, oil everywhere, they'd put the full 9 liters into the car and wrecked the engine.:scared::thumbdown: After a few arguments and the backing of the Motor Factors owner where the oil was bought, the "Garage" eventually admitted responsibility. They sent the car to another "Garage" who was fitting the new engine from API, more drama, Radio was stolen in their care and engine lasted a day, oil sump had been damaged and suction pipe couldn't get enough oil in, another knackered engine:scared::thumbdown:.

2007 - Sued the "Garage" and got the car back 2008.:thumbup1:

2008 - 2009 Went to a decent bloke who sorted the engine, did the manual conversion, fitted a brand new Exedy street performance clutch with an RPS Lightweight Flywheel, BuddyClub Racing Spec Coilovers, Z1 hardpipes and HKS Induction kit. November '09 Hydrolocked the engine driving into a puddle:scared::thumbdown:

2010 - After getting "Ripped off" on a Border Fuel Rail, 555 injectors and Japanese "UK" Clocks (meant to be UK but had been converted) and with a 9% pay deduction and extra Levies / charges on Civil Servants (totalling a 60% deduction of my already diminished gross pay), I called it a day on the Z:thumbdown:

Edited January 8, 2016 by Richie K

[Richie K]

2015 - Had popped on the Club forum from time to time over the previous 5 years, (just watching not commenting) and with some of the pay related stuff starting to ease up after the Recession, I decided I'd take a second shot at my unloved, abandoned Z, I subscribed back into the Club and as I had collected a few nice bits and pieces over the years from '05 - '09, I went rooting them out, The first thing I did was place an order with Luke Borg at the Z Centre. (I had been sending any spare money to him regularly via Western Union to go towards parts in @'05 - '06). With all my rotten luck I hadn't bought anything and I reckoned there was £800 credit with him (dating back to '05 - 06). I placed the order on his Website and just mentioned in the comments box who I was and that I thought I might have a 10 year old credit note. 3 weeks later, this arrived..

 

 

 

A Genuine 99 Spec front bumper, 99 Spec indicators and a brand new complete scuttle panel:thumbup:

 

 

 

 

I rooted out my Koyo Racing Radiator, fuel rail, JWT ECU and Nismo 555 Injectors with new connectors

 

 

 

 

Got a Z1 Radiator hardpipe kit

 

 

I then got out my Veilside Andrews 3 Piece Wheels, they were in rough order, so organised to have them refurbed....

 

 

Got a low mileage engine through my brother's contact's and immediately placed a €2k order for belts, pumps, hoses, vac pipes, gaskets and trims.

 

 

Edited April 29, 2016 by Richie K

[Richie K]

Took a few parts in for powdercoating and while there was offered a full set (front + rear) of freshly powdercoated Evo Brembo's.:innocent:

 

 

 

 

Got the Hardware to rebuild the Brembo's:yes:

 

 

 

Brembo's after some cosmetic work

 

 

Brembo's fully refurbed:thumbup:

 

 

Brembo's with adapter bracket to allow 350mm Evo 10 discs:thumbup:

 

 

Got some Lightweight pulleys:thumbup1:

 

Edited April 29, 2016 by Richie K

[Richie K]

Got myself an nice 3" Abflug exhaust system and went about cleaning it up.:clap:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Got out my 99 Spec Chromed Headlights:thumbup1:

 

Sent the Headlights and New 99 rear panel for the Phutumsch treatment, Fronts now Halo'd and HID'ed, Rear has Integrated Fogs, Logo lights up and is used as an extra Brake light:thumbup:

Videos of these can be seen on Andy's (Phutumsch's Traders page)

 

Few pieces from Z1, Red JDM Nose Badge, Clear Side markers and a Retro Fairlady Z Badge:thumbup1:

 

Started looking for a Twinz Type 2 rear spoiler and this was when I first got talking to Baz via PM's, he mistook the Twinz Type 2 for the Nissan Type 2 and we got chatting, needless to say that cost me money but I'm extremely happy with my purchases from him..

NA Subframe and Diff and Twinz Type 2 rear bumper on it's way in the coming weeks:thumbup1:

These below have already arrived

A pair of Apexi Intakes

A pair of Z32 MAF's

A pair of AshSpec Induction pipes

A Selin Dual Intake Controller

A pair of Clear Indicators

A pair of Chrome Interior Door Handles

A NA Power Steering Pump

The Bracket and Belts for said Pump

 

 

Edited January 8, 2016 by JaiKai

[Osty1]

Wow, that's a lot of links, however you have done an amazing job with that exhaust buddy and have some lovely stuff there; 10 years is a long time but I'm glad you have stuck with it.

 

Bloody annoying these cars, they sink there teeth into you and don't let go! Good luck with build and glad you have your vava voom back!

[Richie K]

Tires arrived this week, 245/35/18 fronts and 285/30/18 rears:thumbup:

 

 

 

Few Bits and Bobs from Ian, new Titanium key, Door Strikers, Steering wheel badge in red and a couple of keyrings:thumbup:

 

 

My Veilsides will be finished on Sunday10/01/16 with the tires being fitted on the 23rd:thumbup:

 

 

That brings us up to today, i have forgotten bits but I'll edit this post if I remember anything. I know it's not as tidy as some posts (attachments instead of pics) but I've just spent 3 hours sorting out this much.. ie. 10 years of Zedding in a few paragraphs. if anyone can change the attachments to pics feel free to do so.

 

Thanks for looking and to be continued:thumbup:

 

Rich

Edited January 8, 2016 by JaiKai

[dutchgold92]

Jesus lads, these names...

 

Some ordeal you've had Richie, I hope it works out this time! I feel a meet coming on soon...

[groover]

For each pic Add at the end, ive done one for you lol

[JaiKai]

Updated your thread and had to chop a few pics back in forth so I can fit it all in :)

 

Good news is we have pics now.

[Richie K]

For each pic Add at the end, ive done one for you lol

 

Thanks for that Graham:thumbup1:, I was in the middle of doing them on the iPhone when Lee beat me to it:thumbup:

Cheers Lee:biggrin:

Edited January 8, 2016 by JaiKai

[Richie K]

There's nothing really new to report but I'll keep updating this thread as I find stuff, thanks guys:thumbup1:

[JaiKai]

lol,

 

Just edited your post as my reply.

 

OOPS.

 

I actually cheated !

 

Copied and pasted the text into notepad and done a search and replace for URL to change them to IMG

 

Job Done. :)

[Richie K]

99 Spec rear lights and centre

Edited January 9, 2016 by Richie K

[Alic]

Not again Richard :lol:

[Richie K]

Right, I've two sets of front seats, opinions please..

Koenig's

 

 

Or Sparco Milano's

 

 

Or originals, they've all to be retrimmed, looking at a couple of designs

 

Needless to say, colour schemes have to be looked at also, maybe black / dark grey, all black with highlighted stitching, black / cream, black / blue, red etc. My Koniegs have been at a retrimmers over here for over two years, paid for and all, they were to go in the pickup and were being done in black and grey carbon similar to Farrow's only the grey accents were just at the sides and I was having 1" ribbing in the centre, they might look well in the Z ( if they're ever finished )

Edited January 9, 2016 by Richie K

[bigh]

Nice thread, well done for sticking with it through the tough times

[Richie K]

Not again Richard :lol:

 

Some people haven't seen my posts in " What did you do to your Z today" Ali.

I stated at the beginning of this thread that a lot of it had been covered already, this thread just condenses it into its own area and I can move on and update it from here.:thumbup1:

[Alic]

Right, I've two sets of front seats, opinions please..

Koenig's

[ATTACH=CONFIG]93147[/ATTACH]

 

Or Sparco Milano's

[ATTACH=CONFIG]93148[/ATTACH]

 

Or originals

 

IMO id prefer the leather Sparcos, the Koenig bolsters look too big and uncomfortable.

[dougal200]

Some great bits here and some good dedication, looking forward to this coming together this year. Keep up the good work

[AndrewG]

Best wishes for the rebuild and it will be great to see your car join the band of Blues Brothers!

[groover]

Some people haven't seen my posts in " What did you do to your Z today" Ali.

I stated at the beginning of this thread that a lot of it had been covered already, this thread just condenses it into its own area and I can move on and update it from here.:thumbup1:

 

He means your pics aren't showing again lol and this time even i cant edit it lol

[Alic]

He means your pics aren't showing again lol

I told him that pm to clarify :wacko:

[danoo.zx]

Personally i would keep the standard seats and have them retrimmed in the svt leather with 300zx logo

[Richie K]

He means your pics aren't showing again lol and this time even i cant edit it lol

 

I told him that pm to clarify :wacko:

 

Should be sorted now guys, thanks for the "Heads up":thumbup:

[Richie K]

Personally i would keep the standard seats and have them retrimmed in the svt leather with 300zx logo

 

That's the other option, the Koenig's are being stitched like the SVT's with the 1" ribs down the centre and a small bit of grey carbon highlighting around the bottom and side bolsters, gave them to him in October '13!!! Sometimes I think I'm too soft:innocent: