300ZX parts, to do lists, and transport vans

A delivery arrived. I was looking around at people breaking cars and found a 300ZX twin turbo that had been wrecked in the front passenger side. After some discussion, I purchased the entire rear end, and front end corners. This included all suspension, breaks, hubs, differential, axles, even the sub frame. I think that was just to reduce their labor hours in removing the pieces I wanted, however. 

This is the differential, an R230, that I will install into my 240z. It's much heavier than the current R200 that is in it, still limited slip, and has a larger ring gear than a Ford 9", but is independent.

While I was inside waiting for rain and deliveries, I re-did the to do lists entirely and checked off what I had already done, which of course makes you feel instantly accomplished. It would get re-done a few more times before this was over.

Everything under the line would be stricken. At this point I was still under the delusion of removing the engine from the bottom of the car, which is a real option, but in the end seemed like more work than it was worth. I was trying to make this a one person operation and the less hoist motions with loads the better. I originally thought lifting the front end of the car with he hoist would be easier, which it still might, but there was a significant amount of work that would have to be un-done to get the car rolling again without the engine. This seemed like a waste without putting an engine back in at the same time, and I was willing to put in the seemingly additional effort if it meant reducing the length of work by half.

I also didn't like the idea of pushing the engine /trans /front suspension around on wheel dollies even though it minimized the weight and motions in the air. People have suggested it, but I've never removed an engine this way and there were too many unknowns for me to plan it quickly. How high does the chassis need to be raised initially and how high does the front end need to be hoisted to clear? More importantly, how do you clear the hoist legs to roll the engine /trans /front suspension out while its holding said chassis? I came to the conclusion one needed a lift for this operation.

Quickly diverging off topic, this was the van I rented several times in London. Once for delivering goods to the port, once for picking up crate pallets from the shop, once to help a friend move.

Old Ford Escort sighting in the UK during a jam.

leaks, august c&c, suspension, webs, starbuck

Dont't need to caption this picture.

But in the process, someone got excited..

Troubleshooting 1o2.

Before leaving the states again I had to find something else to fix, as if the throttle body episodes weren't enough, but this seemed like as good idea as any.

Distracted by awesome tires. It happens.

The crankcase breather and the pvc line weren't anywhere near moist enough, that and the puddle looked more like radiator fluid. If that much radiator fluid was coming from these, I'd have other problems.

There's a drop of green against the rear engine flange. That can't be good, but where could it be coming from?

Yet again I got distracted quickly, but not before I found the leak, which was coming from one of the radiator lines near the rear of the engine, just below the intake plenum. I simply tightened the band clamp and cleaned her up. I wish all problems were that simples.

This is a common sight inside my car and is mildly depressing, and as I'm catching up to real life at this point, see the previous entry regarding my new switch box and possibly another about interior wiring. Don't stress, these are the first of several on that topic, hint.

Another great drive in the 24o, another Friday at work.

This was followed by a cars & coffee saturday here in Greenville. I think I've already posted later c&c's, but whatever, I'm trying to catchup quickly while keeping said storyline mostly intact. Expect some jumping around.

Didn't take too many pictures, but check out their facebook page, the orgainzer is great and takes photo's of everyone who shows up each and every event. I'm looking forward to going in a few weeks when I'm back in country.

Back at the house I decided to remedy the situation that occured a few nights earlier in a pizza resturant parking lot with several other z's spectating. To be specific, it was partially in the side street when everything went wrong, see recent entry that ended on a high note with free wheels, but started low earlier in the week getting stuck.

No puns.

I received several rear top hats from Gabe at Techno Toy Tuning, great place, even better customer service. I decided it was time to switch to the thicker ones to give me as much clearance as I could get. And before you ask, the coilovers are already set as high as they can go. This would give me height above the spring which might prevent me future turmoil. At least until someone gives me a set of 15's and I slam it back down... oh waits.

Not this week.

The old rubber washer was eaten to shreads, so it was replaced with a new one during the swap. In order to get absolutely all the height I could, I actually loosed the top nut on the rear shocks, letting the suspension drop slightly, and adjusted the coils up a few more turns. Assuming the upper shock nuts are tightened to the same torque (note, not position) as before, the springs are allowed to sit that much higher, moving the height up the number of threads the suspension was allowed to drop.

When I say it's are maxed out high, it's maxed out high. There is no way in hell to get anymore adjustment on the sectioned strut housings. Anything else would simply require longer springs.

Woke up to a rather large spider web, and start to finish, yet another captionless photo.