View Single Post
Old 11-18-2010, 11:45 AM   #3
DexterZX2
Tri-State Aficionado
 
DexterZX2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Hanover, PA
Member #7330

My Ride:
2000 Ford Escort ZX2 Turbo'd

iTrader: (0)
3.6.2010

The first thing that needed to be done this day was the removal of my old exhaust. Two reasons why it had to go. 1. The piping was too small for my turbo install. 2. The driver's side muffler got f*cked up way back in 2007 when I had to put the car on a roll back to bring it home with the electrical issue, (see first post for details). I went about removing the exhaust the easiest way I could...with my Dad's sawzall. (SP). I made my cut right before the rear axles, (afterwards I realized that I should've cut after the axles). I eventually was able to pull the whole thing out in three pieces.





The rest of the night was spent cleaning up more suspension pieces and braces. I have just about every piece cleaned up now. I just need to finish the tranny mount brackets, the one rear caliper, a control arm and the tranny housing. Then it's time to start painting everything.

3.8.2010

More parts showed up today. I got my OEM Front Tie Bar, (See the tie bar post for my review), my SVTF Fuel Pump and tapped oil pan from ZX2guy19 (TeamZX2 member), my speedo gear so I can finish the LSD install and my caliper repair kits for the rear calipers.








Sunday I'll be taking my tranny down to my buddy's garage so we can install the LSD. He has air tools which will help make this install go a lot faster. After it's in we can paint the bell housing. Then my tranny work will be done and it can sit and wait to be reinstalled next month. I'll also be contacting the powdercoating guy this weekend to get a price quote on everything that needs coated.

Things are really starting to come together now. Stay tuned for the latest info on this build. I'll keep everyone updated as I progress.

3.9.10

Well the main focus of this night was to get my tranny all cleaned up so I can install the LSD on Sunday and paint the housing next week. I took the wire wheel to it just like everything else so far. The end results were great. I'd say it's 98% done with just a couple spots behind mount brackets that I still need to hit. Here are some before and after shots of the tranny housing.







3.10.10

More parts showed up at my front door this day. The big box contained my manual rack form an Escort. For anyone that's done the manual rack swap from a 91-95 Escort, can someone confirm that this rack is correct? The guy at the used parts yard I got it from said it was, but I'd like to make sure.




I also got most of my order from ZXTuner. Now I know there's been some posts recently saying how Rob doesn't do a good job, but I'm still going to disagree. I ordered the copper exhaust manifold gasket, valve cover seal gasket and the cam gear & TDC peg tool from him. I also had an issue with a past order, that he's taking care of for me. Back in 2008 I ordered the Energy Suspension Master Kit, and it came with everything but one bushing for the rear trailing arm set. I text messaged Rob and explained the situation. He has been more than helpful with getting a replacement bushing, (Directly from ES) in the color I requested, (Since he didn't have my color in stock). He also made sure to let me know that the TDC peg would be on it's way this comming Monday since it was on back order. All I'm saying is that if you take the time to contact him the most direct way, I believe that an issue can be solved. I still stand behind ZXTuner for some parts needed for my ZX2.



3.15.2010

I was all set to install my LSD into my tranny tonight. I loaded it up into the Mazda and went to my buddy garage, (equipped with air tools). The only problem was he didn't have a big enough socket to remove the nuts that are on the gear shafts. So that means his brother-in-law will have to bring his set home from work. Now the LSD install will be this Thursday. Well instead of installing the LSD, I decided to polish up my turbo. I used an all purpose polish from Eastwood, and it did one hell of a good job. I can now see myself in the surface of my turbo. Here are a few pics.


I just started with a little section and you can already tell a difference. Look how dirty my turbo was.


Took a buffing wheel to it at first. It seemed to do a good job. Then I realized that I could just use the polish and a rag and get the same results.




The Deltagate Wastegate still needs some work, but all in all it looks 100% better.

3.17.2010

My Prosport gauges from Street Unit finally showed up after being on back order from the company. Gauges included are: Boost, Oil Pressure, Volts, Exhaust Tempature, Wideband Air/Fuel w/ O2 sensor and an oil filter adaptor plate.



3.18.2010

Finally got a chance to install my MFactory LSD. I took my tranny to my buddy's house earlier in the week. We needed to get a 32mm impact socket to remove the gear shaft nuts. We got the bell housing apart and took the stock diff out. The spider gears were really worn down from about 6 solid years of mild to agressive driving. It's good I'm replacing the diff now. I pulled out the magnet that's inside the housing, and found the rest of the spider gears, lol. Then I ran into a problem, removing the ring gear from the stock diff. That's where the install stopped for the night. Through information from zx2wou2 and Mellow, I now know what to do to get the ring gear off. Tomorrow will be a very productive day. I plan on removing the ring gear and installing it on the LSD. We're also gonna start painting the suspension parts since the weather is gonna be great. Sunday I'll take the LSD back down to my friend's garage and we'll finish the install. Then the tranny will be closed up and ready for paint.





3.20.10

The weather was great, so that meant I could start painting the parts I have been cleaning up. I used professional grade Rustoleum primer and paint for my suspension parts. It's the same paint I used to paint the under side of my car. Everythign turned out great. I applied two coats of primer and paint to everything. Here are the results.






I used the same process to paint my sway and tie bars. I decided to use red for my bars instead of black. They also turned out amazing. The tie bars were from OEM and Corby (TeamZX2 member) if anyone is interested in purchasing one.




Updates: 07/05/10

So I had an oppertunity to work on the car today since I had a day off work. It's been a while since I last did anything to the Z. The garage was turning into a pile of parts and there wasn't much room to get around anything. I decided to free up some space by working on my interior. I also wanted to see if I could make my new e-brake handle fit the Z.

When I found out that my Mazda 3 was totalled by the insurance company, I had to get my plate off the car and sign some papers. While I was there removing my plate I decided to remove some other items from the car. I took the 3's shift knob, leather boot and e-brake handle. I kinda have this thing were I take the shift knob from my previous cars for a little keepsake. I've always dislikes the ZX2's e-brake handle, so I was hoping that the 3's would work.

After a few minutes of pulling, I got the stock rubber handle off. I slid the Mazda 3 piece onto the Z's e-brake handle, and it fits perfectly. Now all I need is a leather e-brake boot, and this will look 100x's better.




While working on the interior I decided to put my dash back into the car. I already finished the relocation of the door poppers control box, and I already re-installed the heater air box. You can see the control box just behind the corner of the dash by the radio opening. A couple quick bolts and the dash is back in the car. Before everyone comments on the painted vents, I will be replacing them in the near future. That was one of my beginner ricer mods that everyone does when they are young and new to modifying



Two more items to re-install for the day. I put the rear side panels back in place, and re-installed my back seats. I had to remove some rust that had formed on the seat brackets, but that only took a few minutes. I love my leather seats, still clean and in great condition.



I got a good bit of work done for being so hot out yesterday. The inside of the car is starting to look a lot better again. Now I just need to get my rear deck back in, finish my gauge pod, install my gauges and A-pillar, and get a few dash trim pieces back in.

August 2nd 2010

Well I had a day of work so I spent the time in the garage working on the Z. I wanted to get the rear cross member down so I could clean it up and add a fresh coat of paint to it. Well I had the member unbolted from the car, but didn't unbolt the brake lines. I got the cross member back into position and with some work and PB Blaster, I got the brake lines removed. Then the cross member came back down. I went over it with acetone and then again with lacquer thinner just to get all the dirt off of it. I moved it outside so I could primer and paint it gloss black like I did to the front K member already.

Here are before and after pictures of the cross member during the cleaning process.

Before:


After:


This is the cross member in primer and then with 2 coats of gloss black.




In between paint coats, I decided to continue working on the front bumper and c/f splitter relocation. I decided to remove the stabilizer bars and move the splitter back so it wouldn't be sticking out so far. The end results are awesome. I move the splitter back 2 3/4" from it's first position. Here are the finalized pictures.

I also have some other pictures of how the intercooler fits with the front bumper.






Intercooler fitment mock-up.


__________________
2000 Ford Escort ZX2 - Turbo'd Show Car: Sponsored by Mishimoto


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.
DexterZX2 is offline   Reply With Quote