My Fair Lady

[nismo300zxjdm]

Hehe! Nice flares! Can't wait to see them installed! Coming along nicely

[Yardjass]

Haha, thanks. At this point, I'm just happy things are coming along at all. This has been at a standstill for so long. Even now I'm still moving and unpacking, and I have to go clean my old apartment. Hopefully this will be gotten to again soon.

[Yardjass]

Look what just came in! I shouldn't but I'm thinking about putting them on right now!

[Yardjass]

Got the front ones on. Here are a few random pics. The stock bar next to the Stillen. I think the Stillen is the same size as the TT bar, so not much bigger than the bar on my NA, but not hollow.

[Yardjass]

And here is the rear comparison. Both are now in. Unfortunately, one of the bracket bolts for a rear bushing seems stripped. I'm not sure how it happened and am wondering if it was like that before I took it out. I can tighten it down to about 30 ft lbs but it is spec'd to like 80, and I didn't want to push it and mess it up even more. Probably going to have to either get a tap and die set or some rivet nuts. The car feels really planted with the bars on. Can't wait to get the messed up bolt fixed and really get on it.





Also, I'm not used to actually working in my own garage. I miss having access to air tools, mill, lathe, bead blaster, etc, let alone more basic tools. Had to pick up a few things.

[Yardjass]

Pulled the rear bumper off today and started to clean things up in the rear.


Here is the cancer, which has since been cut out. I'm now missing that whole bottom part, including the bracket that holds the bumper on the side. I guess I'm gonna have to learn how to weld to get that straight.


Also threw some LED's to illuminate the rear plate. Becz spaceship status. Oh, and the trunk has pretty much been gutted to get to everything. I don't know that I'll be putting those panels back in when I'm done. We will see.


I also got an email from Mr. Charles Park and the coilovers should be here in early September. Very excite!

[Yardjass]

Got some Kaminari side skirt replicas from Powertrix. No pics but I will have to cut into the rocker panels and remove any rustage. Pretty much using the skirts to cover it up. I don't trust myself doing sheet metal work and the skirts are understated enough that I'm okay with them.

Just got some Fighters for a steal:


When I went to assemble them, I quickly found out that although I bought Sparco seat, Sparco rails, sliders, etc., and CZP said they would all go together, the ****ing slider bar that lets you adjust your seat wouldn't go on. There is a lip on the bottom of the seat that kept the bar from going in, let along being pushed up any farther even if they would fit. Did some research and decided to use spacers. Of course the hardware store had all the wrong sizes but my brother was able to drill some out so that they would work. I was thinking I would have to order stuff so thanks to my brother. He's the reason these are in tonight. Ended up going with a large washer, a spacer and longer fasteners. We put larger spacers in the front to recline it a bit. Some other people online had been doing that. All in all, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Pics:






The car without seats. By the way, I have the power driver's seat, that thing with brackets is heavy as all hell. I estimate about 70 lbs. The two I put in probably weigh less combined.



With the Sparcos in:

[Yardjass]

Coilovers are here! I also ordered a bunch of suspension arms. Should be here in a week and then this stuff can start to go in.

[drifty240]

Wow... Love the progress!!

[nismo300zxjdm]

Ahhh! I love this blue!!! Stop copying me :P I got powertrix coils and stillen sway bars too! Looking great man, hope to see you at Z nationals October 2014!!!

[Yardjass]

Lol, 2014 sounds about right. Everyone gets powertrix coils but I fully admit to copying the flares ;P Just ordered a bunch of suspension components and they will all go in. Also looking into the stock roll protection on these. It looks pretty decent but I can't find much concrete evidence. A friend of a friend did roll one hitting a concrete barrier on the highway. The t-tops shattered and he is now missing a patch of hair on the top of his head from where it scraped along the pavement. I'd still say he was pretty lucky. May get a roll bar anyway. If not a harness bar because I need to get harnesses ASAP. That's the plan for now. I also need to learn how to weld and get into body work. Those flares and kaminari skirts are just sitting there until I fix the underlying rust. So much to do, so little time. Triangle of money, time, talent is pretty weak on all ends, especially the last two.

[Yardjass]

These just came in from Powertrix. Going on with the coilovers.

[CherryBomb]

The list starts adding up quick, doesn't it? I keep saying that I'm done dumping money into my car and I keep saying, "...right after I get this next thing."

[empera]

Awesomeness !

[Yardjass]

Yes sir, cherrybomb. There's still a whole laundry list and even after that is done, it is still slow because its an NA.

[SSGSXR]

Very nice! I'll be following this since I just got myself a rolling chassis TT slick top (93)

[Yardjass]

This car came modified. I've done more restoring than anything but I am also modifying it further. I do contract some stuff that I don't mess with like paint, out to shops. I need to learn to weld so I can do all of that on my own instead of having to pay somebody for it. Also, I think next up is harnesses and a bolt-in roll bar, which I will probably install.

[Yardjass]

Hey all,
I got the rear coilovers and suspension arms in yesterday. Might attempt the fronts today or I might save them for next weekend. Not sure yet. Here are some pictures.
Also, this may be obvious to some but for anybody doing these, I found it helpful to do the joints at the knuckle first and save the heim joints for second. It allowed for much easier fitup, especially since some of these came with pain in the ass washers that you had to jam next to the bushing in the knuckle. I took everything out first and then installed them in this order:
1. Traction rod
2. Camber arms
3. Coilover
4. Toe rods
Here is the powertrix site so you know what I'm talking about: http://www.powertrix.com/z32adjsusparms.htm

Also, the fuel filler line presented a huge pain in the ass on the driver's side when doing the traction rod. Turns out the bolt won't come out unless you either cut it or remove the fuel filler line. I was able to expose the bolt enough that I could have gotten a dremel in there but I didn't feel like taking that risk. I'm taking this to a performance shop for an alignment and setup anyway, so I will just have them do it. This is why you don't see three pieces of shiny on the driver's side in my picture. It looked like for reinstall, the bolt could go in the opposite way and the nut would go on without a problem. Just a heads up for anybody doing this.

Other notes for others doing this:
-The heim joints made me a little nervous because I had never done them before. I was afraid when I stretched the boots on, they would break, but they didn't. When searching the subject, I found a gentleman on a forum who told somebody else, "those rubbers will stretch further than your mom's vagina". That is what gave me the confidence I needed to go ahead and stretch them, lol.
-Also, I had my mufflers off because racecar so I'm not sure on this but I suspect it would be either difficult or impossible to do without the mufflers removed. Ended up putting the mufflers back on at the end...because tickets.

With everything out:


First three installed:


Fourth piece now in:


Both sides done:

[Yardjass]

SSGSXR, slick top you say? I will be following that sir.

Got the front coilovers in today. Ride height is just over 25 inches from the ground to the top of the fender well all around. Didn't do the arms yet. That will be next weekend most likely. I also had problems with the stock seat belt buckles. They have metal brackets and I had to mount them backwards. To fix this, I ordered 2+2 rear buckles, which attach using seat belt fabric instead. Those are in and I will get pics when I get a chance. Here are some of the front coilover install.

[Yardjass]

Got a few of the seatbelt buckles and another of the car. By the way if anybody has 2+2 rear buckles that are blue or black that they want to sell, please message me.