TehAgents FCF 300zx restoration journal

TehAgent · Unread post by **TehAgent** » 09 Nov 2009, 18:34

i was going type a big update but i think this says it all

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 09 Nov 2009, 22:25

Wow! Brilliant work Ian

TehAgent · Unread post by **TehAgent** » 09 Nov 2009, 22:54

thank you Jim, cant believe it fired strait up

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 12 Nov 2009, 17:33

I love Nissans too. Did find that with a big engined type the spares prices are horrendous from Stealers. It`s a fact Worldwide that Nissan themselves keep those prices high. I found that even Toyata was cheaper

TehAgent · Unread post by **TehAgent** » 13 Nov 2009, 07:48

lexi wrote:I love Nissans too. Did find that with a big engined type the spares prices are horrendous from Stealers. It`s a fact Worldwide that Nissan themselves keep those prices high. I found that even Toyata was cheaper

Im finding that Nissan main dealer with the parts for the 300zx are generally quite competitive with people selling OEM or after market items of the same thing. Plus there is always ebay and the 300zx OC

So far its worked out about the same price on parts as what my 406 is.

Well today i go pick up the new front break pads (£25) and get them on, then its 2 new tires for the rears (£109 balanced / valves and fitting for the pair) and a oil and filter change, oil filter is only £5 for a OEM one, oil is expensive but only because im going for the mobile 1 Super S 10/40 semi synthetic.

But everything I've looked at so far is relatively cheap for it, mainly due to it being a 18 year old car. and the fact that OEM products dont sell as well, as everyone seems to want to do up a 300ZX with after market products.

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 15 Nov 2009, 01:34

Interesting that. Could hardly get anything aftermarket for Y60 4.2 Patrol. Even Milner off road did NOTHING for Patrol yet loads of Landcruiser stuff. I don`t want to quote some of the prices I had to pay at Stealers for bits.........it`s too painful

Rust got chassis in the end.

As Landrover galvanised replaceplant chassis can be got aftermarket for 1200 quid I asked how much a Nissan one would be from Nissan themselves "They are available Sir"................6 grand plus shipping

.

I think the difference with the Z car is that it was available in USA.......Patrol wasn`t. Market for Z was bigger as a result and prices more competitive.......you have to be competitive price wise in USA don`t you?

Did you know that a deal was supposedly struck between owners of Nissan and Toyota?. Toyota kept Celica etc out of US as long as Nissan did the same with Patrol.

Both of them are fascinating companys.

TehAgent · Unread post by **TehAgent** » 24 Nov 2009, 21:08

Woohooo, well been working my butt off getting the car sorted out, only a few more bits left to do and im finally ready for the MOT.

Tightened up the exhausts and she now purrs like a v6 kitty (well more like a lion) idles a little all over the place. but i found a air leak into the throttle body from the air intake tubing. so will need to replace that before i can trace anything else.

Fitted new pads on the fronts. and 2 new tyres on the rears, so now has 4 new tyres around. all that is left to do for the MOT is replace a front wheel stud and get a new wheel nut, sort out a bad earth on my headlights, replace a steering rack gaiter for the MOT on the front passenger side track rod and should be all ready.

Did get the chance to take it for a test drive. and omg she pulls like a train

just need to get this air leak sorted out so i can see if that effects my idle issue. if not ill need to have a hunt for more air leaks, and finally look at my idle valve control to set it properly.

Did find out that the ECU is in learning mode for the first 50 miles as it reset due to having the battery unplugged for so long. so hoping that doesn't affect anything when it comes to the Test. anyway ill update you all once I've done the rest and taken her for her first MOT.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Nov 2009, 21:46

Excellent stuff Ian

You must be feeling very satisfied! Well done!

Goo luck with the MOT

TehAgent · Unread post by **TehAgent** » 25 Nov 2009, 11:16

CitroJim wrote:Excellent stuff Ian You must be feeling very satisfied! Well done!

Goo luck with the MOT

If she passes first time jim, im going to be throwing a party lol, ive fought everything getting this job done, from people saying "you cant change an engine as you havent got a clue what your doing..." to the rain / wind and even gear box oil, had my tools all stolen half way through with a gear box sitting there waiting to go in, and i only owned them a week. so had to get some more.

Just noticed a slight leak from the rocker head cover on the drivers side bank, but no biggy, its very small drips that are hitting the manafold when driving and i mean small, so will need to replace the gasket at some point.

I dont mind if it fails Jim, as i said already, least ill know what needs to be fixed rather than looking and umming about it.

Once its done, ill ring you and set a date to come over so we can compare V6's

TehAgent · Unread post by **TehAgent** » 20 Dec 2009, 17:39

New update for you as I'm waiting for the snow to clear,

Got my wheel stud and bolt + my new steering rack gaiter from Nissan the other week, so when they arrived i nipped out to the car and raised it up onto some Axel stands, whooped the wheels off and got to work.

Had to remove the caliper so i could get the brake disk off to replace the wheel stud, in the process snapped the brake line to the caliper. so i replaced the wheel stud, and ran down to my local tyre place and got a new brake line made up. came home and replaced it, then tried bleeding the brakes, what a nightmare that turned out to be. half way through thought id give it a rest and have a go at the steering rack gaiter renewal.

I think that has to be one of the easiest jobs on a 300zx lol, undid the arm with the nut still where it should be, then undid the nut once the arm was off, and just slid the old one off and the new one on. put the nut back on to where the rust stopped it, then put the rod back into the lower steering rack arm and did it back up, tracking is still perfect

Anyway back to bleeding the brakes, i had to wait a few days for the rain to stop, plus half way through the misses had our new baby boy Wesley.

Once we were all back home, i raised the car again, and took all the wheels off, i then had to bleed the ABS unit in the boot area first, then the fronts then the backs, used about 1lt of brake fluid in the process with another bottle sitting by just in case. well all i can say is the car stops on a dime.

two more things left now, a spot of welding that needs doing (2inch gash and a 2p size hole), and replace a hi pressure power steering pipe, and I'm all set.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 20 Dec 2009, 17:47

Congratulations on the excellent progress and the new addition to the family.
Bugger about the tools, there are some terrible oxygen thieves around aren't there?

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 20 Dec 2009, 17:48

Congrats to you both on Wesley!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 20 Dec 2009, 19:37

Only you could be so casual about a new addition to the family Ian, dropping such a momentous event so casually into your report on car progress!!!!

"oh, and by the way, we've just had a baby.."

Congrats to you both on the arrival of Wesley and good progress on the car.

Sorry I was a bit pre-occupied when you called to tell me. I was deep into getting this new forum server up and running. It consumed me for a few days...

Pop over when you want to give the Nissan a leg-stretch

TehAgent · Unread post by **TehAgent** » 21 Dec 2009, 00:02

CitroJim wrote:Only you could be so casual about a new addition to the family Ian, dropping such a momentous event so casually into your report on car progress!!!!

"oh, and by the way, we've just had a baby.."

Congrats to you both on the arrival of Wesley and good progress on the car.

Sorry I was a bit pre-occupied when you called to tell me. I was deep into getting this new forum server up and running. It consumed me for a few days...

Pop over when you want to give the Nissan a leg-stretch

Thought i told you on the phone lol, didnt mean to make it sound so casual

Thanks Andy, Jim and myglaren for the congrats

Jim, you know soon as its tested and taxed ill be ringing to see if your in and popping over to see you.

Well got some good news from the 300zx OC forum, got a replacement pipe coming for the power steering plus a very close friend who id completely forgot about, is going to be doing the welding work once the snow clears, he doesn't mind it being cold, just doesn't want to be laying on his back in the snow welding things up lol

Anyway, if i don't talk to you before, Jim Andy and MyGlaren have a very good Christmas and a happy new year. ill get some more pictures up and may be a better video now the exhaust is on properly

PS, Jim we will have to get the cars side by side and get some photos of the V6's together

TehAgent · Unread post by **TehAgent** » 18 Mar 2010, 22:01

Right been a while so thought id update this post abit with progress.

Well after sorting out the power steering pipe so no more leaks. and then having to chop a large part of the chassis to repair some rusting issues. someone on the 300zx forum, PMed me asking to swap my car for his.

So say hello to my new car

Shes a 1990 British spec, twin turbo. with black leather interior. she has just had (today) a new windscreen fitted here, hence the tape on the window and lack of wiper blades. the rear wiper arm is missing as i removed it due to needing a new blade.

She has a few small niggly bits here and there, but nothing major. she is a strait swap for my silver N/A and needs no welding work, I've been under her and OMG is she clean. the exhaust looks like its still the one from the factory.

She was resprayed to black from silver by the last owner. done 99k miles with full service history by Nissan main dealers to 95k miles. cam belt done 12k miles ago. and also on private plates (though my name is ian not chaz lol)

Main issue was smash to drivers side of the windscreen due owner previous to the person i swapped with, annoying someone an they took it out on the car. the person i just did the swap with, originally bought it to swap parts from this to his. and now having done so doesnt need it any more. so wanted to swap for mine due to the manual gearbox. so he could do a manual gearbox conversion on his car and save him self around £800 for the parts.

And best of all, my insurance never even moved a penny when i changed the details over. she will be going for her MOT next week. as i really cant see anything else wrong with it.

everything else is cosmetic so im really not too fussed about that at the moment. as that can wait.

ooh its an auto as well.

One restoration done id say lol