James Z31 Engine Blueprinting

[Kitch]

nice work James.

Motivates me to strip down and do my S13 brakes properly before fitting to my coupe.
I have already brought the braided lines, but overhauling the pistons etc will no doubt maximise my upgrade.

[Bartman]

Good work James.
All too often the stoppers are the last part to get attention. and yet they make a car so much more enjoyable to drive hard.

[85_Z31]

Good work James.
All too often the stoppers are the last part to get attention. and yet they make a car so much more enjoyable to drive hard.

I would have to say that the Koni Dampers and the brakes are the best things i have done, but to really finish the Job on this car it needs a Automatic Torque Biasing differential ( S15 HLSD ) so that i corner quickly without going sideways.

It is slowly becoming a very sorted car I am a big fan of handling first then more power, I won't be happy until it handles like a decent E30 BMW.

[85_Z31]

So

This is the first of many Sub Projects

$11 strut brace.

Not spending $150 for a Chinese made copy of something that doesn't fit and is made from cheap ass this alloy

So with that in Mind

Can't go over the plenum , hits the bonnet so i went around the front. Hence the need to make it a 4 point brace

The plates on the strut tower are only temporary ones, real ones will be 7mm Steel and use a press fit stud from underneath to utilize a standard Rod end which will thread into a sleeve which is welded into the pipe.

The cross brace from the front will also use a rod end which bolts to a plate hidden underneath the front cross support
( this is where many pieces of sheet metal meet so it will be quite strong)

Last of all If you see the Picture I made in Paint there will be 3 Gussetts on each side so that the load is spread as close to the center of the main bar as possible meaning less movement in the front end.







so after i buy some cheapish rod ends i might be up to $50 and also have something pretty functional that looks good and is plenty adjustable.

[85_Z31]

Well on its way, going to be pretty solid, no welding gas can't finish.

[DylPhil7]

sick dude!

[85_Z31]

Holey Crap making stuff from scratch takes so dam long

Made the new strut tower plates today



Going to ditch the 4 point idea for now, Like others have said If i get my shit together I might make it to the NZ Honda's Track day.

Which means i need to do the following.

*Front camber plates so i don't chop out the front left which has Different camber to the front right.
*More tuning around 4th and 5th gear ( AFR's under high load in those gears are not quite there yet )
*Get some Tires that actually work ( none of mine are so great on the road so even worse on the track )
*Buy some stainless front brake lines.

Hmm Sounds expensive and impossible to get done in time, better give it a stab anyway...

[85_Z31]

Turned out pretty good i reckon

Welding is a bit shit....I'm still a beginner.







It has made a definite difference in how the frond end feels, I could almost compare it going from shagged out rubber bushings to nice new Noltec / Poly urethane bushings

Feels much much stiffer, if I grab the brace and pull as hard as I can it feels rock solid, and there is 2 bolts on each end so that it can't lift up and down like other designs which use a bolt.

[Dattochriswagon]

That looks mint dude!
A bit of hard work pays off!

Looks like some bonnet gas stay re gassing could be on the cards next with the nice bonnet stay obstructing your photos of your sweet work

[85_Z31]

Cut out the front Radiator support.

I am going to have to reproduce this entire piece as its totally F####D

I am considering hiding a piece of 50x50x5 box section steel inside the origional profile shape so give it more strength, or it will probally get smashed in again.







had a measure up of the chassis, side to side and front to back everything measures up as per my Nissn Factory Manual

with a spirit level arooss the front of the car the left hand side at the outside edge is 5-7mm lower than the other side, this seems correct as the bonnet has always stuck up a wee bit on the left hand side and something has always looked a bit " wrong " with it all

When i bought this car the previous owner did admit to running over a sheep in it, ,go figure people from culverden eh