260Z Project - 260Z GT-R

[Ian]

Car is back on the rotisserie

Working on the fuel/brake line setup. I spent ages running through how to run them, and decide this way was most functional, safe and tidy.

Best way I could see, was to run through the frame by inserting tubes.

I wasn't a big fan of the stock lines holders, for me, 3D printing was the answer. So Dave had Hel draw up and print some custom brackets using carbon fibre reinforced plastic.

Love how it turned out

 

[Ian]

Splash guards have also been made.

I've started stripping parts of the RB to refresh them.

Most parts will be done in either satin black or satin silver. But I'll try and have fun in a few places also, like the fuel rail bolt or example;

Plenty of parts needing attention.

Most parts will be done in Cerakote by myself at IC Restoration & Coatings, so will be much more durable than paint.

 

[candy red]

Splash guards have also been made.

I've started stripping parts of the RB to refresh them.

Most parts will be done in either satin black or satin silver. But I'll try and have fun in a few places also, like the fuel rail bolt or example;

Plenty of parts needing attention.

Most parts will be done in Cerakote by myself at IC Restoration & Coatings, so will be much more durable than paint.

Great work Ian is ic restoration and coatings what you do ?

 

[Ian]

Great work Ian is ic restoration and coatings what you do ?

Thanks, Side business when I am not away on Yachts

 

[Ian]

Since S30s don't have great options for jacking or lifting I wanted to remedy this and put points I could use as far to each corner as possible for good distribution and balance no matter what type of lift it is on, especially as I plan to eventually have a scissor lift in my garage. I also wanted it to not need to be lifted straight onto metal resulting in damage over time.


So I'll be running these twist fit poly cups. I'll likely have them removed most of the time and carry one in the car for emergencies and If I know I'll be using a lift I'll take all 4.

Fronts will be tied into the other bracing being added for chassis stiffening.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

This is developing into another 'Project Binky'.

 

[Ian]

This is developing into another 'Project Binky'.

Certainly taking as long, but all my mods were planned for in advance, its the extra body repairs I had not planned for.






Bracing complete

These tie in the rockers to the frame rails and the rocker to the upper front rails and also provide support to the tension rod area which has been a known high stress point.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Ian you are building a supercar. As long as you are not seeing it as an investment that is great. Well done and I want to see it.

 

[Ian]

Ian you are building a supercar.

That was sort of the goal from the start, to build my version of a supercar, for me S30s already have the looks without much addition, and the feedback I desire and just need a bit more power and some tweaks here and there.

I am building it more towards driving pleasure and involvement than outright straight speed though.

Unforntuanly it also has a supercar price tag.

As long as you are not seeing it as an investment that is great.

That went out the window a very very long time ago. Its a lifetime car for me now. It would take a very big offer to make me ever think of selling it.

Well done and I want to see it.

Its likely it will be on the mainland once running, for a remap and for Resto Shack Dave to see it. Perhaps tied in with a Goodwood event or a trip for me to Nichols for a drive in the N1A.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Well Ian, you MUST bring it along to Donington - 2024?

 

[candy red]

Well Ian if it was a competition you would definitely win for your amazing vision great project like no other there will only ever be one Ian

 

[Ian]

This is developing into another 'Project Binky'.

So now its becoming like project Binky as most of this work was nor planned and it just kept snowballing.

Decided to take the top off this so you can see the gears better

Cam gear cover was buffed on both sides so it is looking nice and clear again.

Throttle bodys will get full refresh

I'm putting in a serious amount of hours on this, hard to believe how much work there is from one engine.

There will be several thermal management upgrades here.

Harness is still mint

There are some unused brackets around the place which will be getting trimmed off.

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[Ian]

Alternator wasn't too bad, but I wanted it perfect. So did a full rebuild

 

[Ian]

Metalworking is now complete




New bracket made for fuel lines

Daves compared to mine

Strengthening for my gearbox mount

Improvement over my load spread plates for the gearbox mount which were just throw together with what was available at the time.

I trimmed this to fit the gearbox, but couldn't leave it that messy. Plus water getting it would cause rot.

And lastly finish up with some stitch welding

In a few weeks it will come off the rotisserie to spend a few days aligning panels, then its ready for the bodywoking.

 

[Ian]

I might have messed up really badly. I was porting my turbos out to match the new lost wax cast stainless Tomei manifolds I'll be running, I made the mistake of doing it with the housings fitted up. As such I didn't notice the thinner part and went too far on one of them. Now I know I should have taken them apart first and assessed better. Talk about learning from your mistakes. The housings are not available separately so I'm hoping I can get some new material welded to the inside, if not then its going to be a new turbo. Not much chance of finding a second hand HKS GT-SS as they are discontinued now and rare.

PlusGas has been doing a great job, on areas where I cant use heat. Anyone else a fan?

Got the block looking mint now.

 

[Ian]

That is the majority of the parts for the RB refinished/rebuilt now.

Waiting on some vapour blasted parts and some zinc coting and then will order some service items before reassembling.

The only part not touched here is the plenum, because that will be getting replaced by a Nismo one, hopefully it clears the clutch cylinder, or else I'll need to remove the engine again and get a little recess added to it.

Turbo housing has been repaired, I'm hoping they won't crack as I plan on getting the coated by Zircotec and don't want to waste my money, or have to buy a new turbos. I was going to get them lagged but at £250 each plus VAT I think I'll pass. The turbo elbows will be lagged though, the front one passes right below my intake pipe to the rear turbo and right next to the compressor housing, any reduction in temps there will be very beneficial.

 

[Ian]

Had to remove the cam cover because when it was painted it was not masked off for the oil cap, not only does this looks bad, it was starting to break off and could get in the engine. So that needed fixed.

Disassembled the turbos. Turbine Housings will likely go to Zircotec

It held up well on the turbo elbows. Hopefully it provided the claimed 30% reduction in temps. But either way since the front one passes right next to the rear air intake and compressor housing its a good candidate for titanium lagging so they will be sent off to Thermo Met for this. Would like to do my manifolds as well, but its very expensive and given the Tomei ones are already hard to fit I don't know if I want any extra thickness.

Note the broken bolt in the bottom of the one on the right.



That took a very long time to remove.

Flanges were not perfectly flat, so did some work on both of them.

Was going to get these vapor blasted, but decided to cerakote them instead.

Before and After

Sump off. Planning some improvements on design. So its actually going to be a brand new sump. I would modify this one, but its got a thin flange and its not perfectly level, so doesn't seal great so will start fresh with a much thicker flange. It would be fine as a road sump, but on track it needs improved, its too long behind the pickup but mainly on hard cornering to the right there is too much oil able to run away from the pickup.

Checking new flange fitment.

Time for some oldschool CAD (Thats cardboard aided design)

Basic plans drawn up.

Plan is to reduce the length of the sump and make it square around the pickup by adding wings, one larger on the pickup aside and a smaller one on the other side only there if needed to increase capacity, aiming for 7.5-8L. There will be a square box around the pickup with 3 trap door flaps per side and plates running to the sides of the sump from each corner. Rear section will be only be 1/3 height but will have a small 30° lip overhang (with drains) to reduce the oil going up there on acceleration. There will be a louvered windage tray above all this. Other trap door plates can be added as required.




Will be using these trap door flaps.

Not too much left I can do now. Waiting on some new parts to arrive, my turbo parts to be sent off and come back from coating and lagging and I have a whole load of gaskets and bolts to order, I am about to leave back to work so I shall get this sorted in the evenings so they are all ready for my return. I'd like to upgrade to Tomei oil pump and move the crank angle sensor, but together these add up to at least £1600 so we shall see.


Have doubts I can afford to have this on the road for summer. Still so much to pay for:

• 2-3 days aligning panels
• All bodywork to final paint including colour sanding
• Assembly of parts to make it a rolling shell
• Transport back home
• Oil Sump
• Lagging
• Coating
• New equal length downpipe
• All service items
• Install of Accusump
• Decent amount of re wiring work - interior and wire tuck for front chassis harness
• If possible crank sensor upgrade and oil pump upgrade
• Idealy a new set of custom wheels, but at least 2 replacements as minimum
• Trip to England for re mapping (Though plenty to tie this into, would love to make it to Goodwood FOS with the Nicholls Car.

 

[status]

Where are you having it mapped Ian,I had mine done last year at Essex rolling road,Steve does a lot of ecu work for a few of the main car manufacturers and is one of the best out there

 

[Ian]

I'll probably use Greg at ProTuner again. Won't be a full map, just adjusting for the new parts.

 

[AliK]

I zircotec-ed my MSA header and exhaust fully - it made a difference but I don’t think it was 30%

Ps. Is that a Halfords Advance socket set / toolkit I see on the edge of one of your photos? One of the best sets I’ve ever owned - good for 98% of jobs!