260Z Project - 260Z GT-R

[Ian]

Thanks guys

Almost a pity that this fabulous 260 will be turned into a hybrid, but then I suppose I'm a Classic guy at heart

It is a pity in some ways, but to be honest, the L26 just doesn't feel sharp enough for the car, just always feels like it needs more power, especially lower down the rev range.


Would love a second 260Z someday with a fully built, high compression L31

 

[Ian]

Complicated things these RB26's

Throttle bodies off for cleaning:

Other side of block cleaned up and painted:

Looking much nicer now:

Had the rocker covers off:

They have Mines Breathers already installed, I removed them to allow access:

To remove the old breather outlet and get the new -10 AN fittings welded on:

That patch plate will be ground smooth

I moved the intake side breather forward a bit so it will clear my bonnet latch bracket and it will also allow the lines to pass by eah other neatly on the way to the catch can.

Cleaning up the turbos:

Cleaned and painted the hot sides, outlet pipes will be sent away with the manifolds to be ceramic coated:

Took the cold side housings off so they could be soda blasted along with my intake plenum:

50/50

Got my parts back from the polisher:

Engine covers are now away to be painted.

That's all the updates there will be for a while now.

 

[datsun dave]

It's coming together Ian what sump and are you using and are you moving the dipstick back ?

 

[Ian]

Pat1 from HybridZ is going to make me a custom steel sump with baffles and trap doors and inlets for head and turbo drains. I'll remove the dipstick and block the hole but rather than putting the dipstick in the rear location I might get Pat to build it into the sump.

 

[Ian]

Not much happening at the moment, my ECU setup did arrive though.

Link G4+ Xtreme ECU with Internal knock control and OBDII Upgrades. 4 bar map sensor, Boost Solenoid, Fuel pressure sensor, IAT Sensor and a Missile select switch for switching between high and low boost settings. Only thing missing from my ECU setup is the wideband, which will be an Innovate LC-2.

Next to come will be my custom Mill spec wiring harness which will be getting made in the next couple of weeks, looking forward to this one, should be a really neat job and will make removing the engine any time really easy. I'll be sorting my custom sump shortly also, aswell as being the correct fit for my setup it will be extended capacity and have a good baffle setup with trap doors.

 

[ryn004]

Great work and well documented Ian!!

 

[toopy]

Wow recently came across this thread, amazing work and attention to detail, car looked good to start with but now hubba hubba!

Anyway, considering all your mods the following question is pretty mundane but, what paints/spray have you used on the suspension and brake components? I like the fact you painted the unswept areas on the brake discs to keep them looking clean and tidy, hopefully for years to come

Cheers,

Anthony

 

[Ian]

Thanks Guys

what paints/spray have you used on the suspension and brake components? I like the fact you painted the unswept areas on the brake discs to keep them looking clean and tidy, hopefully for years to come

Suspension is all done with standard paint that you would use on bodywork but with extra hardener (not sure exactly what as I prepped the parts but them left them to the bodyshop guy to be sprayed along with some other parts that he was doing black)

Brakes are done with Halfords VHT paint, I don't normally use Halfords products but there VHT paints are great, did the rear brake bells on my civic about 5 years ago and they are still like new today.

I hate rust on brake parts so its something I always do, its always something I notice at car shows, some cars are mint everywhere but have rusty brake parts, to me it just looks wrong.






My Custom sump is currently being made and will be finished soon and I've just finalised the blueprints for my radiator and intercooler with Pro Alloy so they will be starting on these soon.


Currently waiting on my Custom Mill Spec Wiring harness to arrive, should get here this week.

Tefzel mill spec Teflon coated wire loomed with high quality Raychem DR-25 heat shrink with adhesive lined junctions, mill spec Autosport bulkhead connector and brand new connectors/plugs all round. Concentric twisted wiring with service looped ends on the bulkhead connectors. I will be using R34 GTR coilpack setup to do away with the coilcover mounted ignition module and the injectors are high impedance so I don't need the Injector resistor pack, I replaced the factory CAS sensor with a hall sensor setup on the cam and the crank. Also in the photo are the custom fuse/relay box and the LS2 wideband setup.

Will make removing engine really easy as it only takes 5 seconds to disconnect the engine harness, no nonsense with trying to feed all the wiring and connectors through the bulkhead.

 

[TomZupra]

Using zip ties instead of lacing, non-38999 connectors and no nomex overbraid? I'd ask to see their IPC J-STD certification to make sure they are up to the task, that's not mil spec!

. . . . naa looks like they have done a good job. Should be a very neat setup

 

[Ian]

Zip ties are fine for me, the parts with zip ties is on the inside of the car, the rest of the harness under the DR25 is bound with lacing. Not sure about the connectors but they are more than good enough for my needs. I have no need of nomex overbraid plus it wouldn't look nice, its a motorsport harness, I've not seen a motorsport harness with nomex overbraid other than in area where extra protection from abrasion is required.

I'm happy with it and its miles better than altering an old second hand GTR harness with old wiring and connectors.

 

[Ian]

Some more photos of the wiring Setup:



Innovate LC-2 Wideband

ECU Side:

Engine Side:

 

[Ian]

I'm now on holiday for 6 weeks so work has begun again on this.



First thing to do, sort out my parts:

Crank trigger setup:

Fuelab Inline Fuel Filter

Aeromotive Fuel Pressure Regulator

Turbo water and oil lines

Synapse Engineering Synchronic BOV

Asnu 700cc Injectors:

RB Motorsport R34 Ignition Coils:

Custom Rear sump with baffles and trap door, big capacity, should hold around 6.5 litres of oil:

Speedhut Gauges:

More Parts should be arriving this week. Swap should be starting on the 15th.

 

[AliK]

That's a lot of parts !!! Hope you know where they all go!!



Ali K

 

[Ian]

I'm sure I'll figure it out.

 

[Wyn]

Some luvly bits of kit there Ian

Good luck in putting that little lot together lol

 

[Ian]

Thanks.



I'm hoping it will all go together quite easily and without complication, but I know that rarely happens.

 

[Ian]

Some Parts landed from Japan this week:

Nismo Super Coppermix Clutch and Flywheel kit, Tomei Fuel Rail and OS Giken CLSD, pretty sure they sent me the wrong LSD though so I'm working on sorting that, yet more hassle.

Installed my wiring harness bulkhead connection:

Engine is looking good, had the rocker covers painted Kandy Apple Red with a gold Flake

Custom Intercooler and Radiator were finished up and arrive with me from Pro Alloy:

Need to modify the diffuser plate to get it to fit, it will be tight though, wanted to use every last bit of surface area possible, just hope I didn't push too big.

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

Nice collection of toolbox stickers there. Looks like an expensive build is well underway. Looks like you're doing your best to make a good job of it

 

[Sean287]

Looking fantastic Ian. Can't wait to see it fire up!

 

[Ian]

Nice collection of toolbox stickers there. Looks like an expensive build is well underway. Looks like you're doing your best to make a good job of it

Yeah, I've got a massive collection of stickers now.

Doing the best job I can of it on the budget I have, there things I'd do better if I had more dough.

Looking fantastic Ian. Can't wait to see it fire up!

Thanks, me neither.






I've always loved the look of the R34 GTR engine plaques, however they say Skyline, this is no good.

My Solution:

I think it finishes off the engine perfectly.