^ Cool man, looking forward to seeing it installed on your Z.

Well...I will be entering my first ever car in a car show. It is happening on January 8th, which is around the corner. I have already paid my entry fee, and signed up. I will be entering my slicktop. I am kind of stoked, and looking forward to it. I will probably be parked right next to my brother's '83 Toyota Celica GTS. (which used to mine) And my dad's '66 Oldsmobile F85 Deluxe.

So with that, I need to do as much as I can to my Z. To make him more ready for the show. Going through the smog ***** this week more than likely. Pray for me guys. I will try my best to pass.

My brother helped me tonight on my Z. Trying to figure out why it is noisy in higher rpm's. We concluded, that it could be a stuck piston ring in # 6. From the car sitting. After we did a compression test. So I put a quart of ATF in the crankcase. And hopefully, it will free up the ring, and gain the compression back in that cylinder. It does seem to be a little quieter, and has gained some more power. I was hitting 90 on the freeway with little effort. (just a small section of a ramp) heh heh

 

I realize this has been up for almost 4 years, but did you notice it almost has 24,000 views that's insane man!!

 

Yeah it has been a long ongoing project. lol I really didn't start majorly working on it. Till this year. I worked on it some, when I first got it. Then ran out of money, and let it sit. Because I had a dependable Z to drive. Then when I didn't have one to drive. I started working on the slicktop again. And now, it is alive again. After months of hard work, and time.

But yeah 24000 views is quite a lot. lol I guess there are more people than I thought. That are interested in my many projects. lol

 

glad to hear it's coming along slowly but surely. im actually inspired to get an S130 and sell my z31 good luck with the damn smog *****!!!

 

^ Thanks....I failed again, but I should prevail tomorrow.

Anyway, I wanted to ask a question about something I noticed. When I decided to leave my radiator cap off. And run the car, and see what happened. As soon as it got to operating temperature. Antifreeze started coming out the top of the radiator. Is that normal? Or is my system or radiator plugged? Any tips, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

huh, I really don't know. My Z does the same thing but almost immediately from when I start it but I also have a slight overheating issue too.

 

Hmmm....Well mine takes a bit, until it starts going over. Maybe that is normal. I don't know, I am thinking of swapping radiators with my '82 T-top. Because I didn't have any overheating issues, until I blew the heater hose. But we all know, what happened there. Also I am thinking about installing my electric fan, and ditch the stock one. Tired of it being in the way, to do things on the car. It would give me more room.

Anyway, I am not going to do anything, until this rain lets up.

 

Cooling systems are pressurized normally for cars at 15psi with the rat cap removed instead of pressurizing it’ll flow out the cap. When it gets to op temp thermostat opens to full flow bada bing out comes the coolant lol

 

So if depressurizing the cap, and running the car. Which causes it to run a little cooler. Also with running my heater. Does that mean the cap is bad? Or is my radiator at fault?

 

A bad cap wouldn’t let it get fully pressurized. But not cause it to over heat, I don’t think. Have you done a rat flush? Most rats have a drain plug at the bottom so you can clean them out Its possible to have build up in them which will clogs some of the veins that would cause it to overheat as well as send crap through ur engine that would do the same. A thermostat that isn’t the right one for that engine. Such as one that fully open's at a higher temp would cause it to over heat too. I believe I read that you had put in a turbo thermostat in??? They might run hotter.??

 

^ Yeah I flushed out the radiator. The whole system is super clean. I decided to get another radiator cap. And took him out on the freeway, driving him pretty good. And it went to half, then went below half. Then repeated, until I got home, and let it run in the driveway. All that time after, it never went past below half. So maybe, I have it figured out. I hope so anyway. And yes, I have a N/A thermostat in it. I changed it out the other day. While I was doing process of elimination.

 

Right on!! was the cap replacement the only change you made to keep it from over heatng?? Thats great man glad youve wiped that one out huh, now to to beat the ***** and youll be good to go. I belive Ill be fighting that same battle here pretty quick with the s30.

 

Yeah pretty much. I am not out of the woods yet. But it looks more hopeful. But what sucks. Is now I got to spend money. I was going to get another engine with. To fix another 280zx I have. To take my Z to a shop, and try to figure out, why it isn't passing the smog *****. But you can read about that in my other thread.

I wish you luck with that. It is worse for you, being in California. They are one of the worst.

 

Good luck bro...That sucks you gota do that, are you just gona pay them for the diag or are you gona have them fix it too? Were you looking for an engine all ready built to rebuild or just a good runner to drop in. Yea Ive been reading ur other thread too. I was lucky when I put my zx through i barely passed. they said need to get the afm calibrated and a new cat next time though.

Cali is bad idk how bad againts az if I come across my paper wrk Ill take a look at the numbers just to see what there limits are.

 

Okay, I am going to start working on painting my hood, wing, and hatch gloss black. (So I can match my bodykit) My hood, has the original copper color, with the clear coat still on. What I need to know is. What grit of sandpaper do I need, so that the paint will stick? (What do I start with, and what do I end with?) Let me know, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Oh, and my interior is cleaned up more. Pictures will follow soon.

 

Even though I failed the smog *****. I fixed some things last night. And got more things from factory to work.

I was investigating about seeing if my Z, came with power door locks. And when looking around. I saw that it did. So I figured my actuator was shot. Because I was getting juice to the wires. So I had a spare lying around. And hooked it up. And bam, I have power door locks now!

Also, I discovered why my dome light, and under dash courtesy lights weren't working. I blew the room lamp timer. Took it out of my T-top, hooked it up, and everything worked. I was pretty happy about that. I still do need to permanently mount my new stereo. Though it does stay in there pretty good. That is all for now. More to come.

 

Okay, I got a new plate, and tags for my Z yesterday. I am good until April 2012. Now I can concentrate on other things. Like trying to get my Z more ready for the car show this Saturday the 8th. I would like to get my wing, hatch, and hood painted gloss black. But I might not get it all done. Hopefully at least the wing and hatch.

I do have a problem with the # 6 cylinder. And because we did a compression test 2 or 3 weeks ago. It was quite low. My dad believes it is a stuck or bad compression ring. And the ATF does not hurt the oil. My dad will stand on that. With his past experience. He suggested to putting another quart in, my next oil change. Which I am going to do. Sorry everybody, I listen to my dad over anybody else. He has a ton of experience, and was a professional mechanic for years. Just wanted to get that out. Anyway he said, the ATF will not harm or damage anything in my engine. He has used it several times in the past. As have I, without any problems.

So you all can try to tell me, until you are blue in the face. That ATF will do damage, but I will not listen to it. Sorry, and don't be offended. I have learned a lot of things on this site. And a majority of my Z knowledge is from this site, and it's members. And I do appreciate all that everybody has done for me.

 

Okay, a big update with lots of pics. Enjoy.

Here is a couple pics of my JVC stereo, with the purple lighting. The pictures don't do it justice. It looks killer at night!



Here are some pics, when I was changing out the whole exhaust system. I took it out of my T-top, and cleaned it up with my wire wheel. Then mounted it, I love it!

 

Pics continued....last of exhaust pics.





Now, here are pics I just took of my Z today. Still have more work to do, but chugging forward. Also I just redid all my suspension yesterday. (New struts and shocks, all 4 wheels) Man that was a lot of work. lol But it was well worth it. My Z rides much smoother. Next is a 4 wheel alignment. Maybe in the next week or 2. Enjoy, and feel free to comment.

 

One last pic of my Z from today.

 

I have the same steering wheel! your housing will arrive on tues

 

Right on. And oh, good timing on the housing. I was just about to ask you. lol Cool man.

 

I want to install my tinted headlight covers, that were on my T-top. My question is....What kind of glue could I use, so I don't have to drill? I thought about trying rubber model cement. Do you think that would work? Considering the weatherstripping is a rubberish plastic. Any tips or thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Never mind, I decided to take the time, and do it right. I only missed once on one hole. And that was on the first one. Installing the second one took less time, and was lot easier.

On 3 holes, it is a half inch from where the edge of the headlight buckets are. And on one of the holes, it is less than half an inch. (which is the hole on the outside further back) Sorry I am still a little poor on some measuring spots. I am trying to learn. Anyway, that is pretty much it.

 

Sorry, I didn't see this before you tried it. put some doubled sided tape on the little tabs while the headlight cover is attached. Place it in the bucket, remove headlight cover, and screw tabs to bucket.