Welcome to my build thread! Probably the most boring and in-comprehensive thread known to man, but welcome all the same! My zed journey started 4 years ago, when I was at the ripe old age of 19, and a year into my P's. I'm a pretty impulsive person, and one day decided I HAD TO HAVE A 300ZX! A few days later I was at the bank applying for a $15,000 loan, and a few days after that, I was picking up my black, 1989 2+2 TT manual - when I say picking up, I mean sitting in the passenger seat while my friend drove it home as I only had my automatic licence at that point :/ I bought her from a dealer who mostly sells american muscle. He imported a bunch of zeds in 1999, and had her sitting around until I waltzed in the door. I barely looked at the car (wouldn't know what I was looking at even if I did), and in all fairness he did try to steer me away from buying it. But no wasn't an option to the stubborn 19 year old girl who wanted her car, and wanted it now. It billowed black smoke from the exhaust the entire 15 minute trip home. To say I bought a lemon would be an understatement. In the 4 years from then to now, just about everything has gone wrong. Of course upon initial ownership, as any normal 19 year old would know, the most important things in/on a car are the stereo, wheels, and fully sick custom plates! and thats where the rest of my loan went... It only took a month or so until I gained my manual licence, and the zed took place of my mazda 323 astina, as my daily. I stumbled across "Extreme Machines" through a friend a few months later, and took the zed in for a once over. Over the course of a year and a half, I spent upwards of $9000-$10,000 there - on what, i do not even remember! I'm sure I have the receipts at home somewhere though? Just as the things they had done to the car, started to fall apart, Extreme Machines declared bankruptcy and closed it's doors. Yay for me! Over the next year or so, I had only a few minor issues that needed clearing up and ended up at PZP a few times. Tom is a great guy to deal with, but his shop is a little bit of a distance from me, and too busy to call in on short notice. Whilst working at repco as a delivery driver, I was driving to work when the zed overheated. Along with a lot of misfiring, somehow it was diagnosed as a stuffed head :/ Ended up sending it to a mechanic I delivered parts to, who had it for a few months and put new gaskets in. Had my heads machined, and a few other things. All was well for what seemed like the longest time?. Next issue was stalling. It did this for a very long time before I got it looked at. Would stall as I changed down gears, or rolled to a stop in neutral. It was assumed to be a boost leak/s. I sent the car off to Aidan- forum member awgazm, and that is where the most trouble I've had with the car began. I won't bother to go into a shit slinging match, but almost $6000 later, i got my car back on 5 cylinders, still stalling, and at one point with a stuffed exhaust manifold (that cost me another $400 to fix). I drove it around like that for a few months, until one beautiful 35 degree day it over heated on the hwy. I waited 2 hours for a tow truck, and put the car straight into the garage where it would stay for months to come. Eventually I hosted a tech day and all the amazing WA members came around and gave it their best! Whilst in aidans care, he somehow managed to fry my blitz ecu, causing the dropping of the 2nd cylinder. A few gaskets were out of place under the heads, that were re-seated, and everyone stood around shaking their heads at the mess that was my car. After that day it drove better than it ever had since I owned it! for 2 days? Until it started overheating again?. Chris (ezzupturbo) told me to turn the heater on when it did, and that settled the problem. I kept driving it though.. 4 days after the tech day, on the way home from lunch at the pub, it overheated the worst it had. I kept driving. Eventually seizing the motor. By that point I didn't care. I was sick of waiting for tows, sick of overheating, and sick of the car just being an all round piece of crap! Back into the garage in went, that was in January this year. Now in October 2012, she lives again!!
I contacted Chris (ezzupturbo) on september 7th with a request to get my car back on the road. Working on a 4 week on, 1 off roster, money is plentiful, but time to organise things is very sparse. By September 14th, Chris had picked up a motor from KYP for me. By September 15th, he had done the plennum pull, changed over the stock turbos to hiflows, and was waiting on delivery of my car to dump it in. September 18th I picked up my car. This guy does not mess around. No amount of thanks can do him any justice for the amount of work he's done for me. And the quality of the work is through the roof. As you can see from my history, not something I'm used to Although I have very limited knowledge as to what I'm looking at, I'm sure these pictures will speak a thousand words to any who knows what they're looking at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/t0ensdd5c5o180r/KiUWxFUBZG While away at work I order parts, and when i'm home I drop it all off to chris and he works his magic. Last week he put on my japtek smic's, new 56mm rad, stage 4 clutch, nistune, a full set of slotted rotors, and hicas lockout/delete. With the new clutch and cooling, the boost was wound up a tiny bit too?. Ive barely felt boost in this car before - words can't even begin to describe the feeling. I'm sure i've missed many details, or described a few things incorrectly, but I'm sure Chris will be along soon to correct me haha. Anyway what a rant! I think thats all for now. I've also acquired some interior pieces to tidy things up. I've got a full leather retrim kit sitting in the garage, 2k front bar and 2k tails, moulding kit, cowl set, and a respray is booked for december. Will attempt to keep this thread updated, but I have a very limited attention span. Thanks for reading guys and happy zedding!
annnnnd i've already lost interest. You sir, are a dick. There is a link to some pictures in there, help yourself.
dont be disillusioned....... we're predominantly dicks Its a good feeling tho when you come home from FIFO and have a Z that you can just get in and appreciate. Kudos to you for sticking with it and Chris for his expertise
Classic I had the same problem with my 260z. First thing I had to do when I bought it was recruit a mate to teach me to drive the thing...
cant wait to see updates to this ! =D Sounds like youve already had many many ups and downs and changes occur, hopefully the only ones you have to do now are all voluntary
Looks like you've been through all the bad times and only good times ahead. Sticking it out with these cars is worth it.
Coming from an asshole like myself, i am glad you have managed to turn ure situation around. Congrats and what more can you say about chris really, fking genius.
good news Saw your car at Chris's while it was there and some of the work done previosly was very shoddy to say the least. Glad to hear it is now on the road again and look forward to catching up with you on a future cruise or two. Also have to say that Chris is a genius and really knows his stuff. Personally there are not that many people I will drop my car off to but Chris is definately one that I trust. All the best Kristen, from Michelle and I :zlove:
glad to hear she's running again Kristen. I remember the day she died, you were a fair agro head and wanted to just give up but I'm glad you didn't. all the best with the build ! and if i could help in some way i would.
