Project 630z - V8 powered Z32

[Bantambunny]

Okay some sad news, and believe me i'm truly gutted and had a good think over any options for the last few days.

Firstly it hasn't blown up but unfortunately we've discovered a flaw in the engine that means it's never going to run properly. There's some sort of harmonic vibration that keeps loosening the rocker caps on the driver's side. The passenger side is fine but we've tried everything from replacing the studs and caps with new ones to locking them off in different ways, even resorting to thread lock and they still loosen off after the engine revs up past 4000rpm.

The starter motor fails to be able to crank over the hot engine and the oil pressure drops to virtually nothing when it warms up (8psi) among other little faults that could be fixed.

I haven't got an income great enough to spend any more on the car and i've ran myself into the ground these last few months pushing to get it finished (i've spent in excess of £4k since january) and given the market value for a part finished project like this i have no other option but to break it for parts and call it a day.

Very sad to have to be writing this but i've got no way of saving it without working on it over a few more years to afford the changes.

I'll more than likely stick to the jap scene but just not in the monster V8.

Sorry guys and gals but looks like the project is officially over.

Parts will net me back about £9k overall (which is nothing compared to the £16k i've invested plus all my time) so i might possibly pick up a nice 240/260z for that sort of money.

 

[RobZ32]

Sad day I feel for you after all the work you have put in.

 

[Huw]

Really am sorry to hear your news, always look forward to your thread. After all that fantastic work, a real sad day indeed.

 

[STEVE BURNS]

really feel for you bud

 

[Throttleton]

Blimey!!
What about shelving it for a week, have a few nights out and come back to it once you have calmed down?
DEF not being patronising but a small break might clear the head and perhaps a few new ideas might develop.

 

[racer]

Nick I feel your pain but I have to agree with Throttleton.
Believe me I inderstand your disapointment. In eight seasons of racing I must of had 3 engine blow ups,and 2 other freshen ups, 1 broken valve spring, 1 gearbox brake and several rebuilds. 2 Major crashes witch included 2 complete body jobs with panels. 1 brake caliper seal failure plus 2 rebuilds, 1 rear drum sieze and numerous piston replacements, 1 leaking fuel tank, bla bla bla. You get the point.
Have some time off mate and recover. Go and buy a nice bottle of wine and drown your sorrows.
Come to Jap fest next week and we can chew it over in the cafe!

 

[Bantambunny]

Cheers guys, i've had a couple of days to mull it over and think logically through everything we've looked at.

Realistically my reign of having £400 a month spare to spend on it ends this month and from now on i can just about afford to put the petrol in and that's it. The list of jobs that need to be done on it are far beyond my income so i have to choose to take it off the road for yet another year which won't allow me to run it out to check things work or just pack it in.

I'm running out of options and having extended my overdraft by £500 this month to cover the £400 bill i had at the rollers last week i don't think i'll be making it down to japfest this year or any of the festivals at this rate

 

[STEVE BURNS]

i don't think i'll be making it down to japfest this year or any of the festivals at this rate

Mohammed and the mountain springs to mind
if you cant afford to go anything this year arrange a little meet round at your house
you know it would make sense and would give you a bit of a lift

 

[zpuppy]

Sounds like a great idea

 

[ray100]

Absolutely gutted for you,been following this since day one,you must be really down.Must agree with Craig (Throttleton),Racer & Steve that if you stand back after a week or so maybe things will look differently?

 

[Bantambunny]

It would be good to see some familiar and new faces from the forum, it seems ages since i've seen anyone apart from the names pop up on here.

I'm working to finish the driveway and garden at the momeny as well as try and build a car so once that's all done i'm planning on a few little get together's for the zed peeps and i'll put a BBQ on.

I'm getting to the point of just getting a tow bar and trailer to drag the zed around on until i can actually get it running properly at the moment. I could at least get to the shows that way with a car - albeit a dead one

 

[Bantambunny]

The oil pressure on the old engine was 39 on idle when hot and 55-65 under load in the old videos and there's only two things that could be causing loss of oil pressure on the new block, the plug under the rear cap could be missing or missplaced, or the push rods could be leaking oil

The cam is too far retarded to give any power so i'm going to bring it back to 0 and maybe advance it slightly by 2 degrees, had a chat to a couple of people in the know and they say it's not revving like a solid roller should and it need to come forward again

To sort the handling out i need to raise the engine and subframe up again so i'll take the spacers out and bring the air intake through the bonnet which should lower the temp of the intake and engine bay at the same time.

The push rods are too long, the 2nd cylinder exhaust on compression is sitting on the outside of the valve stem which isn't right so i need to dig out my pushrod length checker and correct it with a new set. I'll also invest in a stud girdle. Top end was 5200RPM before it dropped out when i've been told this should be 6-6500RPM which is also cam timing based.

When i'm going to do this i don't know because i'm off today somewhere then back to work again and building driveways so i'll have to fit it in when i can.

 

[Bantambunny]

Hello guys,

Well bad news i'm afraid if you haven't already heard. I've decided to break the project and just put a TT lump back in.

I've ran out of cash and spare time unfortunately £17,000 down and 100 of man hours put it.

With my housemate moving out and expenses going up i can't warrant spending another grand to get the engine sorted out by a pro.

I'm picking up a TT breaker next Tuesday with a known good engine and a few spare parts and then pulling the Chevy lump out, fitting the missing plug under the oil pump and putting it up for sale.

So if someone wants a 6.3 chevy lump which has covered literally 150 miles max and just needs fettling to get it running with the correct power then it'll be up for sale for £6000 (i spent £10,000 just on the components). With the cam far too retarded it was pulling 320bhp at the crank and 320ft/lb of torque from 1500RPM but potentially it should have been pulling 400-450bhp all day long.

PM me or drop me a call on 07791 210051

Nick

 

[Mr.G]

I am hoping that this is a very bad joke!

You've come so far, you'll always regret never finishing it. Can you not just mothball it and go back to it when funds permit?

 

[Bantambunny]

Hello buddy, i would love to but unless i get a large payrise I can't afford to do any more for a long time. Just bought a house with plenty to do, my finances are in a terrible state pushing to get the car done in time for the drag racing (maxed out overdrafts and credit cards) and i've just ran out of enthusiasm unfortunately.

If the car had been putting out 400+bhp on the dyno and been remotely competitive it might have been worth saving but as it's only putting out the same power as a stock TT and using twice as much fuel i don't really see the point any more.

I've got a TT doner, i can get 400bhp very easily with that and possibly more down the line reliably without all the hassle of modifying everything to fit.

It's been a real learning experience but if i do it again (and i probably will at some point) i'll get a crate engine and bolt it in to an empty shell and go the lightweight route but right now i've had 3 years out of the scene and i feel i've missed out and miss the shows, the friends and the events.

 

[racer]

Hi Nick
It's a shame it has all come to an end. To be honest though I think your probably doing the right thing.
We all love a chevy but, with fuel costs as they are it's allways going to be very expensive to enjoy. As you said with less than 400 brake what's the point.
You were seduced by the thought of that V8 and who wouldn't be?
Your a petrol head like us all but we all need something that's usable that won't brake the bank.
Take stock and regroup and, then come back stronger next time with something faster and lighter that you can enjoy.
Good luck with the house mate, how about a trip to Retro show on the 3rd for some insperation? Would be nice to see you there.

 

[Bantambunny]

Cheers buddy, it's not been an easy decision especially after starting it up to move it the other day - it sounds so good but realistically i can get myself back out of debt and end up with a really nice car breaking it and the new accident damaged one i picked up yesterday.

Work starts this weekend clearing as much of the parts as i can then start work on pulling the engine and sending the bits off to be cleaned and powder coated. If i can't have a show stopping V8 then i can at least have a super special TT.

I'll have a look what i'm doing on the 3rd but i have a feeling i'm still going to be broke until i clear some of the parts from the breaker and put some money back into my bank account lol

I should be at the later shows this year though in the silver zed and quite possibly the new TT