As with most projects and rebuilds, they all start in the same place, mine was no different. However, this isn’t truely the start of my forever ongoing Z project. I’ve owned this car (my second Z) since 2008 when I purchased it from a former member. For the first 5 or 6 years I did the usual mods with suspension parts and basic bolt ons. For reasons unknown, whilst running stock boost, piston 5 cracked a ring land during a track day at Castle Coombe. A forged build and a remap later all was well until a sunny October’s day 2013 at Bruntingthorpe killed that engine with what at the time was a suspected head gasket failure at 181mph..... And this is where I shall start my journal.

 

The Z was stored off the road from Oct 2013 until March 2015. I’d had a major knee operation at the beginning of 2015 which meant I was going to be off work for 6 months. I’d saved up enough to start thinking about a parts list to rebuild her and frankly, after a couple of months of staring at the same 4 walls, I was going stir crazy! I employed the help of a good friend and decided to pull the engine and see what was what.... just a head gasket my arse!

 

March 2015

Problem 1: It turns out stainless steel, exhaust wraps and condensation don’t mix well

 

Before I’d even got the engine out, a new set of downpipes was added to this list. These AMS items were only 2 years old, so I was far from impressed! I contacted the retailer and after a bit of tooing and froing I secured myself a set of replacements for free... how long they will last, only time will tell!

Looking good Nick......

Been ticking over the last couple of days working my way through the engine bay and interior

 

 

Trying to get the new loom to sit nicely is proving to be a bit awkward, but will keep working at it. Not sure what to do with the unused connectors that are just lingering around (O2, EGR, PRVR etc etc etc). Don’t really want to cut them off,m as it’s a brand new loom, but also don’t want them cluttering up the engine bay. The 2.5” piping makes it that little more awkward at tucking them away.

 

New Setrab 23 row oil cooler turned up today, which was duly fitted

 

The dash 10 lines and AN fittings are due to be delivered tomorrow, as is the vast quantities of oil for running in.

 

Managed to get most of the interior back together. Annoyingly, the very top clips on the A pillar trim broke, so will have to figure out how to beat fix those

 

Flywheel, clutch, Gearbox, starter, prop and exhaust will all go back on on Thursday when I get access to a ramp, and the remaining wiring modifications (trigger system and injector connectors for ID injectors) will happen at the weekend.... hopefully I’ll get time to give it a wash before it goes for running in and mapping on Monday

I think if all else fails, a simple self tapper for the a pillar, covered with a black plastic number plate cap.

I had to do something similar on mine, I have my rocker switch for the rear fogs mounted up in that area as well.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oil setup finished

 

Drivetrain and exhaust fitted

 

Unfortunately the H pipe I had made doesn’t fit as the ultra quiets hit the floor, so I’ll gave to have that remade in the future. In the mean time I’ve borrowed a Blitz cat back system from a friend. It’s only a 2.5” system rather than a 3”, but needs must with mapping due on Monday

 

And that’s where I left it after a 13 hour day yesterday working on the car. All the wiring has been finished, I just need to prime the oil system, button up the last few bits, give it a wash a load her up for tomorrow

You don't hang around Nick..... lovely work..... can't wait to get mine back on the road now.....

Nothing like finishing as last minute as it gets

 

Nice work!

Best wishes for the week ahead Nick.

As above. Good luck.

Taking shape Nick taking shape. :thumbup1:

This car is awesome :gunsmilie:

A quick update

 

Car won’t start. There is an electrical issue with the trigger setup that we’re working through that’s causing all sorts of symptoms. Hopefully will have a diagnosis soon

How are things going Nick?

Did you get to the bottom of the issue with the trigger setup?

Well it’s been a while!

 

theres a long a weary story behind why I haven’t posted any updates on the car, which I can’t really go into...

 

however, I’m in the process of something very cool happening (a first for a VG30DETT as far as I’m aware), but I can’t give it away just yet.

 

all being well I should be able to give a substantial update in the coming weeks

Thanks for the kinda update?.

??

 

what can I say.... it’s complicated!

Nice to see this post fired up again, even if only with a teaser. ?

One little update I can give!

I bought a set of Whiteline anti roll bars from Banzai Breakers a fair while back, and they’ve been sat on the shelf gathering dust for a while, so month or so ago I decided to give them a clean up. As you can see, they were a little on the grotty side!

 

Edited December 9, 20205 yr by nickz32

So I attacked them with a stiff wire wheel, a couple of coats of etching primer and Ford Stratos silver (closest match I could get to the whiteline silver). They were finished with some new decals and 2k laquer... let’s hope they last!

My Stillen ones had the same level of corrosion. I wire wheeled them and chassis black. Keep meaning to pop them off and get them powder coated. 

I’ll see how they last, I was pretty liberal with the clear... but worst case I’ll do the same and have them powder coated or cerakoted

So, I can finally show you what’s been going on with my engine!

In order to finally rid my set up of its gremlins, and in order to get the BEST possible tune, my engine has gone back to the states where, as a first for a VG engine in the USA, it has been mounted to a Superflow SF902 engine dyno. EPR have undertaken all the work to make the required adapters, mounts etc etc to ensure a perfect fitment to an a fine dyno that is primarily used for small block V8’s and alike. ALOT of work has gone into making this a possibility, and I’m chuffed that my engine was the first!

As you may have seen in my for sale ad, I’ve also upgraded to a Haltech Elite 2000 ecu. This will enable me to run multiple fuel and ignition maps (low boost, high boost, high boost with race fuel..... up to 12 maps in total) as well as numerous other feature upgrades that make the ecu a much better choice for future proofing my project.

 

For those who don’t know the advantages of an engine dyno VG’s a chassis dyno, the main ones are

1) an EXACT crank HP reading rather than a calculated reading by a chassis dyno

2) much finer control of ramp rate, enable much finer tuning of fuel and ignition cells

3) lab controlled conditions, enabling finer control of airflow through intercooler aswell as oil and coolant control.... no worries about over heating the engine.

 

I’m waiting on an can adapter for the Wideband controller so it can be wired into the Elite ecu...

 

as soon as I have videos and numbers I’ll post it here!

 

Great news Nick - fingers crossed for you!