RobHowl

Uk staggered set so 2x7.5j and 2x8.5j Look fine from the front but would benefit from a refurb. Tyres are old and need replacing but hold air Located in LU7 9 £275

Belts all done, gearbox and diff oil changed which has helped the noise in my gearbox. Still there but certainly quieter. Will see how it develops. Changed the oil and filter last night and the air filters too. When driving back from garage it was good, no smoke. When sat idling, it started to smoke but only seemingly from the drivers side bank and only when it started to warm up. Hopefully it’s stuck PCV valves. Could be turbo oil seals as well but I’m just hoping not as I’ve already spent a lot on this car 😂 Time to do some driving though I think! I’ll take it out for a long run next week and see how we go. Properly get it up to temperature

That’s some good news at least. Are you getting the turbos then?

They only sold it in 5 litres so to get a 1 litre and a 4 litre was a bit annoying! 😂

Took the car out for the first proper drive since it passed. Belts haven’t been done since 2004 so didn’t wanna risk driving it much or giving it any heavy revs so just wanted about. So took it to the garage for a belt service last night via Shell for some fresh V Power and a shot of Redex. Belts and water pump being done by the garage but when it’s back I’m doing engine oil, filter, air filters, new spark plugs, new gearbox oil and new diff oil too. Driving last night it was very quick and engine felt great, turbos boosted nicely. Was smoking a bit though and had a whine from gearbox. I’ve also bought some new PCV valves to install as I imagine the current ones are doing bugger all. Once it’s serviced I can take it out for a proper drive, get it warm and get the engine working. I’m hopeful that all this servicing and good old fashioned Italian tune up with sort it out. Failing that it might be trip to Jimmer next winter!

Took mine out this evening for the first time (that wasn’t going to MOT and back!) Took to the garage, stuck some V Power and redex in to give it a clean as it’ll have some old petrol in it! Petrol gauge sort of works, didn’t go as high as I expected but it did register, so that’s a plus. Dropped it off at a local garage who are going to do all the belts and a water pump for me!

Well it passed!! I’m so chuffed! The advisories were just rusty springs, and some brake pipes. That can all wait a bit and the main thing is there is no serious issues!! Now on to sorting out some maintenance. The cambelt hasn’t been done since 2004 😬

Welcome!

Brakes bled! A remarkably easy job! Much thanks to AndrewG for the guide on that one. Something I’ve always wanted to do so I’m pleased. Very nearly messed up big time though! I wanted to test the brakes were working properly, so had engine running and got wheels spinning BUT I don’t have any wheels on the rear and I hadn’t put the nuts on the threads so the discs started to move! Made a horrible noise, so I stopped quite quickly but have done some minor damage to the discs. School boy error that but you live and learn! Should be fine for the MOT, but I will buy some new ones and swap them out to be safe

Fantastic! Thank you

Need to bleed my brakes and read that after I do the calipers I need to do the ABS actuator. Does anyone have a photo of the location? Thanks

I, very fortunately, live about a kilometre from Torqen who are the JK stockist for Z1. Got myself some replacement pipes. Marinaded the caliper for about a week in penetrant and have been able to replace the pipe quite easily. Brakes all sorted now, just need to bleed them. Never done that before so good to learn a new trick! Tyre going on Monday. Then it’s the big one, MOT this Friday!!

Well I thought things were going too well. The underside has come up well and is looking a whole load better now. Turns out pre 2009 cars don’t need reverse lights to work to pass an MOT, so I can solve that problem another day. (Switch is working fine, but no signal getting to the rear) New tyres delivered yesterday and I can just run them down the local fitting shop and have them fitted. So I thought to myself, I’ll throw on the new pads and discs tonight, and she will be ready to go! Then the brake pipe broke from the calliper and I had a sense of humour failure.

Me again. Reverse lights don’t work. Checked the bulbs and the fuse by the drivers pedal, all seem fine. So I assume it’s the reverse switch. I’ve bought a spare and tried to swap it today. What a pain that is! I failed. So I have two questions: Is this possible without dropping the gearbox? I wanted to test it was definitely the switch before I went crazy getting it out, so unplugged the old one and plugged the new one in, put car in reverse and switched on ignition and then pressed the end of the switch in but it still didn’t turn the lights on. Does the switch work this way? That you can push the plunger end in and it should turn on?

Cheers all, I did consider a 225/45/17 but thought that it might be too much chunk on the side wall. But so many more options! Looking at the calculator, going from a 235/40 to a 225/45 is about 7.5mm more sidewall which isn’t much. Loads more choice too. Think I’ll go for that, thanks for the help

I have some after market wheels on my Zed and all the tyres have perished so before it goes for its MOT at the end of the month im looking for new tyres. The wheels are 17" and are staggered, with a 9.5j at the rear and 8j at the front. The current tyres on the rear are 255/40/17 and a 235/40/17 on the front. Now ive only been able to find one tyre at 235/40/17 so I want to change so I can get a decent brand, but which way do I go. I dont want stretched look, I want a nice flat side wall look so thinking of a 245, but would this be too chunky. The other question is if I go up a size on the front, should I also then go up on the back? Or will it not matter? Any help would be gratefully received!

Made some progress today. Cars up in the air, wheels off and I’ve been cleaning up the suspension and steering components. Wire brushed, used jenolite rust remover, then some rust neutraliser and then I’ll hammerite it. I think at some point in the future I’ll get it all done properly but this’ll really clean it up and prevent any more rust (mostly)!

Ill definitely be there! Hopefully in my new Zed, lots of work to do still but took the day off work Wednesday to spend the whole day cracking on with it. It is a great car show, lots of different cars, weather normally plays ball and theres live music, beer, food, and Rich even found a picture of his own car there for sale!!

Welcome Chris, good luck with the car! Jimmer really knows his onions with these cars so you’ve got a specialist close by to you if something does go wrong. Hope you love the car, got any photos to share?

Starting the underside refresh and the suspension bolt that holds the lower end of the shock is rusty and needs replacing (after I’ve cut it off! Can’t imagine it’ll undo) Does anyone have any spare or know of where to get from? They seem rather expensive for a bolt (£70 on Amayama and Torqen!) The part number is 56226M. I don’t mind a non Nissan one but need it to be decent quality

TP Smart Repair in Aylesbury, they did some stuff before for my old 300zx and did a great job. Plus they are good value and a really nice bunch of people too

Back from the bodyshop today, looks great! Next thing is to get it up on axle stands and replace the reverse switch so the lights work again. I’ll be doing new pads and discs on every corner and will be cleaning up the underside. Ran nicely but a bit of smoke occasionally so will be trying to replace the PCV valves first and go from there. Going to clean up the subframes as well. Then belt service, new spark plugs, filters, gearbox oil and diff oil.

Have you tried Amayama trading? They do lots of parts for them, good prices too generally

More repair photos

And the repairs! Can’t wait to see it all fixed and sprayed!