240Z L28ET by MazterDizazter

4 minute(s) of a 29 minute read

Just a small update: I got my downpipe in and bought an engine stand at Autozone so I could get the engine off the pallet and work with it more easily. Cost me just under $75, with a trip to Lowes to get bolts and washers to mount the engine. Now I'll be able to turn it upside down when I need to replace the oil pan. I'll be ordering a gasket kit shortly, and once I replace the major gaskets I can start putting everything together. The transmission should hopefully be ready in a week or two if everything's on time. 

Also, I may be purchasing a Megasquirt kit which will further delay the time it'll take me to get the car finished, since I'll have to research and buy a new turbo and injectors, at the very least. I may choose to wait however since my budget is very limited to what I already listed, plus possibly new struts and springs, new Autometer gauges, and an aftermarket bucket seat. We'll see how that ends up.

4/14/08

OK, so I've been convinced to get a 20gal. fuel cell. There goes another $500 and weekend into the project... and I'll be shaving the fuel filler door (and while I'm at it the antenna) as a result. Which means the whole car's getting repainted, woohoo! I am definitely bitten by the "while I'm at it" bug. 

4/22/08

Just a small update: I ordered the AZC aluminum radiator, high-cap oil pan, 240SX TB adapter, new turbo oil pump, Pallnet fuel rail, and engine gasket kit. Another two weeks left on the transmission.

5/4/08

Another awesome update! I'm going to be picking up a Z32 transmission with bellhousing adapter, custom driveshaft, Fidanza shifter, and Nismo black satin shift knob for cheeeap! I should hopefully be getting that next week, and that'll totally jumpstart my build! I have finals this week, and after that I can get started on my engine, and ordering the Painless harness and Megasquirt II and other odds and ends.

5/11/08

Took a few pics; felt like I haven't in a while. Here's a mockup of the engine so far:

And the T3/T4 Turbo:

The AZC Aluminum oil pan (and if you squint, the AZC radiator underneath):

5/20/08

Decided to do it right (well, hopefully) and tear down and clean the engine internals, and spec out everything. It's getting there. Not much else is new; I'm still waiting on the transmission and I ordered a large core Treadstone intercooler.

Yeah, I um, wedged a socket extension in there to try and get the crank pulley bolt free. Didn't know I could just use an impact gun.... Oh well, I wanted to replace the timing set anyways.

5/21/08

Actually, it's running out quickly. (I guess it's a good thing I'm single right now!) I need my tax returns to come in ASAP. I'm also selling parts from my defunct RX-7 project to buy parts for the Z.

I just dropped $725 on a full host of Autometer Phantom gauges, OUCH! Got the 200mph speedo, 10k rpm tach, and fuel level, oil pressure, water temp, and voltage gauges. They had better be perfect at that price.