Chris300

So now that Jim has the engine and gearbox out the next stage was to get the chassis to the body shop. I’ve taken the car to Alfies Autobahn in Westbury, Wiltshire, which is not a million miles away from Jim. Matt, the owner, is not unfamiliar with the 300zx having completed a manual conversion on another 300 last year. Matts brief is to drop the front subframe and suspension for powder coating, prep and spray the engine bay in Aston Martin Morning Frost. The bay has now been documented and thankfully there’s no structural issues found. Here are a few pictures from the bay pre removal of parts.

Absolutely, however I do worry that he’s getting fed up with me and my car. ?

So things are starting to move forward. Jim has the engine and gearbox out ready for her to be taken away to Alfie’s Autobahn who will be painting the engine bay and sorting out all the powder coating that’s going on up front. ?

Cheers for your input mate. I think you’re absolutely right. Jim is currently getting the engine out now. Hopefully this will expose what the issue is and then we can look at how to move forward.

I see. I actually had a set of them when I brought the car but sold them due to appearance. Maybe there’s a way to internally line the silicone hoses with ally pipe to keep the structural integrity under load whist not requiring all the clips.

I’m not sure what these are but I’m sure Jim’s following this post and will bring it up with him. If you have any other advice please let me know. We’re in the early stages of what to do next. I think he wants to nail the fueling issue down before moving onto the engine out, which makes sense. Unfortunately it’s something I’ve done as I gave it to him without the plenum on and prior to removal it was, other than the failed injector, running smoothly.

Hi Si Your refurb post is amounts my favourites list and always looked at when I need inspiration and motivation. Unfortunatly I couldn’t find new OEM hoses so went for Z1 mate black. Sadly they’re labled however I’m hoping the original sleeves will cover this.(if Jim hasn’t binned the sleeves ?) Obviously got a long way to go yet. Out of interest Si did you ever regret getting the bay painted black? I’m torn between white and black. Black looks smart and lends itself to any colour car but white looks cleaner and stock.

Thanks for the white paint sample. ? To be honest the colour it is now has really grown on me and it’s, for the most part, a quality job. However the rear spoiler has blown (thankfully I brought the last OEM spoiler from Nissan some years ago), the front bumper is chipped, there’s one nasty chip on the passenger side seal, the bonnet needs a good cut and I don’t like the chip resistant finish along the seal. All these things, along with matching a flip paint, make it unfeasible and economical to rescue the existing paint. And like I say I’ve always wanted a white one. The problem is that I’ve not got a bottomless pot of cash to through at her. I’ve just dropped £2k worth of parts in her and I think sorting everything under the bonnet out to the standard I want it to be is going to cost around another £10k. All these bits I can hide from the wife without too many questions (although she is asking me why it’s been gone so long already. I’ve told her the boat getting stuck in the Suez Canal and now the war in Ukrainian has lead to difficulties getting oil filters for the 300zx ?).

Sorry Richard, I’m having a blond moment and can’t find the discount code. ?‍♂️

I hope you do too. ??

Well this project is about to take a massive leap forward. Unfortunatly, after Jim had fitted all these lovely new bits for me, the car is running really badly filling the workshop up with smoke before running like a three legged horse. It’s got no compression on a cylinder and a fuelling issue. ???? Jim sent the injectors away for testing, after trying some of the other potential issues, as there was a small possibility that they weren’t originals but thankfully they are. ? So the next step sadly is to pull the engine. ? As it’s always been my intention to get the engine out at some point I’m trying to look at this from a positive perspective and will be tasking Jim with a lot more work than intended. ?? So the first thing on my list will be to get the engine bay properly prepared and painted. I had some remedial body work done in there after I first acquired the car but I was unhappy with the seaming around the work. This will be a good opportunity to get that properly sorted before painting. Ill also have the engine bay painted white! I’ve always wanted a UK white manual and I know I would not be happy with just paining the external body work. I’ve yet to decide what white to go for so will be looking around, in the meantime if you have any suggestions please let me know. ? Obviously all tin will need to be sent off for powder coating and nuts and bolt re plated. The clutch has always felt way too heavy so this will need to be replaced and may very well lead to a “98 spec box’s as again now seems to be a good time.? Regarding the engine work, this will be discussed with Jim. I’m not looking for big numbers, just reliability, however if forged is the best way to achieve this bows the time.? If anyone has any ideas and suggestions please let me know. ?

So I’m looking to get a new family wagon. I’ve been looking at the new VW MultiVan, which really floats my boat. I could get it through the business books, got 6 seats and is hybrid (not overly important but as I already have a charging station at home it seems like a sensible idea as the wife doesn’t do much more that 10 miles a day). Anyway the father in law was talking about the Toyota Alphard and I remembered the Nissan Elgrand. Does anyone have any experience with these, recommended forums (both proper and Facebook)?

Jim’s just sent me a teaser. ?

Managed to get a spare set of cam covers powder coated just in time. Then 10 minutes later she was getting loaded up and shipped to Jim. I can’t wait to get her back!

Thanks for that Andrew, it was a good day. I do intend to put the jets back on and have collected the plumbing but I haven’t yet got the jets, Ian was going to sort this out for me if I remember correctly but it must have slipped his mind. We will have to sort a few meets out this year if you’re available. ?

I’ve dug the chameleon out ready for Duane at DWM Vehicle Transport to run up to Jim at PowerZed on Tuesday for the following work; 4x cam covers 6x new Nismo 740cc injectors Fit new OEM “95 harness Fit new S2 PTU Fit new “95 CAS Fit new PCV hose and valves Fit balance tube Fit new fuel pressure Reg and dampener Fit new fuel filter Water bypass on plenum Fit new plenum Fit new cowls Fit new OS and NS rear anti roll bar linkage Fit new rear discs and pads Fit front OS ABS sensor Fit new scuttle pannels Fit new battery Diff seal New chip Minor service MOT and anything that may need doing. ? She’s been off the road for too long now and I can’t wait to get her back.

More yummy bits to go on soon. Just the came covers to go and it’s over to Jim at PowerZed. Only bit I’m gutted about was I couldn’t get a fuel rail sorted in time but the plenum will be coming off in the winter for some throttle body attention so may just do it then.

So I’ve totally bottled it fitting the new harness and have booked a day to have the car taken to Jim to be put back together. (Harness, S2 PTU, CAS, 7400cc injectors...) In preparation for this glorious day I’ve been getting a number of parts powder coated and nuts and bolts replated. Here’s a few pictures of a couple of newly painted parts. Hopefully get the cam covers and bolts back soon.

You beauty!

Does anyone understand why a shipment might be delayed at stansted? It should have arrived on Monday but seems to be stuck and I can get anything useful out of the FedEx people.

Incredible picture and a cracking collection of Zeds. ??

Thanks Andrew. I’m pleased to be back in a position to get back on with moving this car back in the right direction. ?

Well finally work seems to be picking up and with this I’d thought I’d take advantage of Z1 Motorsports Black Friday discount code and get this car back to its best again. I was hoping that some of you (Andrew are you still here?) might take a look at my order and just confirm that I’ve got all that I need to get going again. Thanks guys. Hope you’re all well as it’s been a while since I was last online.

Thanks Art, I’ll let you know how I get on. ?

Thanks for the idea Steven. I’ll be investing in a “95 loom with the 740cc when the time comes.