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!

Just read the entire thread from start to finish!

Man you are seriously impressive.

:thumbup:

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Get those exhausts polished up bud, everything else looks all shiny and new, they kind of take away from the rest of the car.

Get those exhausts polished up bud, everything else looks all shiny and new, they kind of take away from the rest of the car.

 

They’re getting replaced in the near future with something a bit nicer :P

They’re getting replaced in the near future with something a bit nicer :P

 

I should’ve known that Nick, anyone who goes to the lengths you have, to the standard you did, will be finishing the build off to the highest level.

What you get to replace them with??:innocent:

Love it! Even though black wheels really aren't my thing, overall the car looks fantastic Nick. :)

I should’ve known that Nick, anyone who goes to the lengths you have, to the standard you did, will be finishing the build off to the highest level.

What you get to replace them with??:innocent:

 

 

Custom exhaust with these tips. Either 3.5 or 4 inch, need to see how they look in the space before I decide

Awesome black Z Nick :thumbup1:

Awesome black Z Nick :thumbup1:

 

Thanks buddy, looking forward to getting her out and about this year

I am on the same train of thought as Simon, black wheels do give the car an aggressive look.

 

The only other thought i have...........you've introduced red with the wheel nuts and calipers, do you not fancy a red nose panel 'ornament' ?

Edited March 25, 20187 yr by phutumsch
ornament emblem...not finisher !!

I am on the same train of thought as Simon, black wheels do given the car an aggressive look.

 

The only other thought i have...........you've introduced red with the wheel nuts and calipers, do you not fancy a red nose panel 'ornament' ?

 

It looks as though the holes have been filled so I’m guessing that decision was already made. I do agree it would look pretty cool though. I would suggest a red GZA steering wheel emblem (yes I did just recommend the red one Andrew!), but as Nick has a later spec car it would have the airbag wheel.

It looks as though the holes have been filled so I’m guessing that decision was already made. I do agree it would look pretty cool though. I would suggest a red GZA steering wheel emblem (yes I did just recommend the red one Andrew!), but as Nick has a later spec car it would have the airbag wheel.

 

I'd seen that the holes had been filled, didn't stop me commenting though - a pic with it plonked there might well be food for thought.

 

I have the red emblem on my airbag wheel and it fits a treat, you should come on in Joel.......the water's lovely :p.

I have the red emblem on my airbag wheel and it fits a treat, you should come on in Joel.......the water's lovely :p.

 

I've been telling him that for ages Andy but he is still wearing these things...

 

Unfortunatly I no longer have an OEM steering wheel, as I found it say to close to my knees for comfort. I have a dished OMP wheel (have done for a while)

 

Well, the car won’t be going for mapping tomorrow. Yet again, fuelling issues have scuppered my plans and the car isn’t exactly driveable. Having spent two days going through the electrical side of the fuel system, it appears that I have a mechanical problem somewhere I my system that means when I put ANY load into the engine, even when moving from stationary, I have a massive drop in fuel pressure that causes the car to run lean and misfire (a different problem to my old pressure issue, which was high rpm high load, this problem only seems to have appeared since changing to the top feed setup)

 

Gutted doesn’t come close to how I’m feeling today. I’ve got one more thing to try (fuel filter). After that I’m out of ideas

I have a massive drop in fuel pressure that causes the car to run lean and misfire

 

Fuel pressure or fuel flow - no restrictions in the pipework for the new injector setup? Where are you measuring

the pressure in the system?

I’m cant say for sure there is no restriction until I check the filter, but it terms of pipes and bends and no kinks etc everything appears as it should.

 

Basically when I put any load into the engine fuel pressure drops dramatically (down to 0.7 Bar when I give the throttle a good jab) causingnit to run lean. Pumps been checked, tested and fine (both in voltage its getting, amps it’s drawing and fuel it’s putting out), and a known good pump had been tried with the same results/symptoms. regulator is brand new and more than up to the task (had the same issues on my previous Tomei reg, which is why I swapped to the turbo smart).

 

I can adjust the FPR all the way up to 5 Bar on idle condition, so the pump can generate pressure, but when I ask for an increase in volume the rail and FPR simply isn’t getting it

 

Exasperated to say the least

although the pump can generate the pressure, can it definitely flow the right volume as well?

i think you posted the details previously, so i assume it does? it can flow the volume at the pressure you need to run?

 

what about the relay connection that tells the pump to keep running when the engine is running, rather than just ignition on to build up pressure? is that wiring ok?

getting enough voltage through to the pump under load, or low battery/alternator output or wiring thickness?

Well, my suspicions were confirmed.... one very blocked fuel filter

 

 

Looks like I hadn’t cleaned the braided lines aswell as I thought as the filter was blocked with very fine particles of rubber. Tested the system with out the filter and a bit of meddling on the Haltech and she runs as well as she did pre rail swap!

 

I’d originally discount the fuel filter because it’s had such little use I assumed it would be fine. Lesson learned!

 

Unfortunately I lost my slot at the Rabbid Tuning ltd in Basingstoke, but the car was due to stay there all week for them to fine tune cold start etc, so I dropped it off this evening. New filter will arrive tomorrow and be installed prior to any runs.

 

Hopefully, all being well, she shall make some power this week

 

Glad it was a simple/cheap fix. Look forward to seeing the figures

Exasperation over! Car looks lovely in the photo at Rabbid Tuning Nick.

BTW - what is the paint you have used for the moustache?

 

BTW - what is the paint you have used for the moustache?

 

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It’s gloss black base colour as per the rest of the car, but with a matte clear coat over the top

I have never known a car that has resisted so hard against my attempts to put it back on the road!

 

Received a message from the tuner the other day stating the car had developed a severe vibration during a session on the rollers. I kinda assumed that it had either thrown a wheel weight or I had somehow not tightened up the new camber arms properly. So I went to investigate.

 

On removal of the wheel, the problem was immediately apparent

 

 

Wasn’t expecting that!

 

Not entirely sure of the cause of the delamination, as the tyre is still holding 32psi. My guess is age related failure. They have been on the car since 2013 and was stored on those tyres while it was off the road.I haven’t checked the manufacture date yet, but I’m going to assume that they were at least a couple of years old before I bought them (new)

 

So I’ll be changing all 4 tyres. Last thing I want is a failure whilst up at the lakes! Michelin Pilot Super Sports all round

You’re doing a great job on the car and although it seems to be fighting you you’re going to end up with one of the best cars on the forum.:thumbup:

 

The tyre could have let go for any number of reasons. Did they say it fell apart at a heigh or low speed? Better you found the issue there rather than a fast bend. :sweatdrop:

About 100mph. They’d been tuning the part throttle cruising ignition timing at the time, so not a particularly high load scenario. I checked the other side, which has no obvious sign of stress (no discolouration, micro blisters, cracks etc). But as you say, rather it happened on the rollers and not on the road!

 

I’d been planning on putting some top notch rubber on it any way (it’s got FK453’s all round at the moment, so not bad just not amazing), just wasn’t anticipating doing it quite so soon!