Gixxer

Thought I would introduce myself, and not troll the forums. I'm in the market for my 4th Z... (sold the others) I'm keeping my eyes open for a 92 or 93 TT. I honestly would prefer a shell so I can build it the way I want. With that being said, if you guys know anyone in SoCal that has a rolling shell, please let me know. I have a few plans for the car, but have some questions about the TT powerplant. I am somewhat familiar with the motor, but nowhere near enough to tear it apart myself (yet).

I guess I will start with what I expect to achieve.... I'm going to try to shoot for 425bhp (only because the wife said I'll kill myself) haha With that being said, is it an HONEST achievable goal with bolt-ons? It wont be a daily driver, because I can walk to work, but I won't ever track it. I just want a quick(er) Z. I'm not going to type out what I want to do, I'll just attach my shopping list. I'm open to suggestions, flame on if you feel the need..lol Please let me know if this list is OVERKILL..lol Thanks for reading! -Myke

ZLover4Life

With a goal of 425bhp, there is absolutely NO reason to buy a shell in order to "build it the way you want." The stock motor, when healthy, can do 425bhp with Dual Pop intake (with Selin translator), 3" turbo-back Specialty Z exhaust, ECU upgrade (or tune), aftermarket intercoolers, upgraded clutch (and flywheel, while you're at it), and a boost controller... and little else. Engine doesn't even have to come out for that goal.

Along the lines of your list, the following are ridiculous and unnecessary for your power goals:
BDE Motor Mounts
Z32 coil packs
turbo timer
Sport 500 turbos
Mike Smith manifolds (though they are a great idea if you can afford them, they aren't necessary for your goals)
300Degree fuel rails
Injectors
UD pulleys

Gixxer

That kind of made my day.. LMAO I have the coil packs on there because every Z Ive owned, the packs were bad..just my luck I guess...LOL Would you recommend any internal work to make it more efficient? I'm also in California, wherre we have some retarted strict emissions standards, with a 3" ehxaust, will it still pass?

Gixxer

Zlover, I have read a lot of your posts, but haven't seen anything on wheels (maybe I just haven't come across it yet) but I want to put 18's, 18x8.5 with a 28mm offset in the front, and 18x9.5 with a 45mm offset in the rear, that sound about right? I'm debating between the Axis Super Hiro, or the 5-Zigen Fn01r-c.. I hope you don't mind I pick your brain, but I'll do my research first, before I do so..LOL

ZLover4Life

You're not going to pass visual inspections in California unless you have stock downpipes and catalytic converters (I think they just passed a law that mandates STOCK catalytic converters to pass)... but with stock precats and cats, you'll be hard pressed to reach your goal. My recommendation is to get the 3" turbo-back, but keep ALL of the stock components so you can swap them in for emissions testing.

I've never actually seen a coil pack go bad... something usually has to go wrong in the wiring for the coil packs to wear out. You probably won't need to replace them on any future Z32 you have.

Internal work won't make it more efficient unless the engine is already worn out. Do the routine upkeep (periodic timing kits, fluid changes, etc), and 425bhp is EASY for the motor to handle. Upgraded internals are never really needed for their efficiency, by the way... people get them because they're stronger (and in the case of rods, lighter, allowing quicker revving)... and 425bhp isn't pushing any part of the motor to its limit, so it's unnecessary. I did 469rwhp (~550bhp) on stock internals (with over 125k on them), others have done as high as 744rwhp on all new stock components.

And you're asking the wrong person about offsets. I understand how offsets work, but I've never done the research as to which ones fit the Z32 best. Here's a start, though:
http://twinturbo.net/net/viewmsg.asp...&msg_id=935775

For 18x8.5 front, you need +29 to +44 offset.
For 18x9.5 rear, you need +34 to +51 offset.

Thus, you need a higher offset than you were looking at up front (your wheel offset would likely stick out and look dumb), and your rear is probably right.

Gixxer

omg, I was confused about BHP vs RWHP I want 425 RWhp jesus, I'm sorry

ZLover4Life

Well then your motor will need to come out... you'll need those MSP manifolds, the 300Degree rails, and 740cc/min injectors (maybe a couple more things if the engine isn't in good condition, but those are the major ones). Larger turbos aren't needed, but will make it easier. (People have done 500rwhp on stock turbos, but that's pretty much the record... and it was 2.5" intake piping, 3" exhaust piping, manifolds, and just about every bolt-on.)

Gixxer

okay, so my list was more reasonable at 425 RWHP?

ZLover4Life

Yeah... but the motor mounts and coil packs still aren't necessary, neither are the turbos if the motor is healthy. And the turbo timer is an accessory and has no impact on performance.

Gixxer

okay, understood, thanks for the patience! lol

CanyonCarver

Hey Gixxer, welcome. There is an LAZ32 club that meets in Socal at Griffith Park. We have a tentative dyno meet coming up next month in Arcadia. My son lives in Valencia, has a 94 slicktop and works at CalArts. I live a little north of Valencia. I see alot of Z's around the area.

Gixxer

Hi Canyon, I live maybe 5 minutes away from CaArts..lol I know where Acton is, you guys have been busy with Fires Hopefully not quite in your area. Mind if I roll with ya to the Dyno meet? I don't have my Z YET, but would love to get into the atmosphere. I MIGHT not be able to make it due to work training, but if the timing is good, I'm down if you go? IF you don't mind of course..LOL

CanyonCarver

Hey, you don't have your email available here. You can email me: xrdood@yahoo.com and I'll touch bases with you when the meet gets closer. It'll be on the 28th in Montclair.

Gixxer

sounds good! I pm'd you with my email addy... guess I'll fill in my profile a bit..lol

Gixxer

Update

I know Zlover, you said I don't need a shell for my goals, but I couldn't pass it up. I am getting a 1990 TT shell, for a trade of some home theater speakers I have laying around, because I can't use them (they are in ceiling, and i live in an apt) so I'm not paying anything out of pocket for this car. CLEAN TITLE - CLEAN BODY - 6/10 INTERIOR The interior is not a big deal, a family member does upholstery..LOL It's Aztec Red, Black Leather interior. It's a rolling shell, so no motor, no tranny. I have a friend who has a TT motor that runs, that he'll sell me after I get started on the job next month. So I will begin my project in a few weeks. I will have pics to show, after I get things squared away!

Gixxer

Z32's get no love in this forum...seems like ALL the new posts are in the older Z classes... what's up!! lol

ZLover4Life

Most Z32 forums struggle to gain market share from TwinTurbo.NET. Many Z32 owners don't frequent multiple forums, so they tend to stay over there.

Fortunately, for you guys, I visit both.

CanyonCarver

And there's more than two.

ZLover4Life

Not that matter, there aren't.

CanyonCarver

Only when you're stuck in a box. It's a big world out there.

ZLover4Life

... and it's full of morons. So I'll stick to TwinTurbo.NET and here for my Z32 fix.