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Subject Project Complete! 1990 2+2TT restored. 2.5+ years
     
Posted by LordZ on October 03, 2006 at 10:51 AM
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Message Let me start by saying a few of you probably know what I've been working on just due to me buying parts, asking questions and what not. But I'm not one to post a pic everytime I put a bolt in or add a lug nut. Been saving up for this post for a long time. But here it is finally. I'm probably at 99.999% complete, but that's good enough for me. :)

This has been an ongoing project for several people now. It started off with Steve Simmons (yes the 9th member of tt.net) and ended up with me. This was his baby and the original ZYA L8R license plate. As Steve moved on to other things I was offered the chance to pick up where he left off on this Z. It was a project that had been so far back on the burner it couldn't even see the front of the stove... Years passed since anything was done with her. Steve was nice enough to tow her down to me on a trailer along with several boxes of parts. Every bolts and screw from the firewall forward was in one of two boxes. No labels, no organization, no nothing (Thanks Steve!). It has taken me almost three years now off and on to get her finished. But now she's there and ready for the next 10 years probably 20.

*Click pictures to open up new windows with full sized images*


On to the details of what was done...

Since she was nicely delivered already stripped down, I took out what little was left and prepped her to have the engine bay painted. I knew this was going to be a long project, so everything was done in baby steps. It’s a hobby I enjoy and therefore no real need to rush it. I pulled out the AC system, a few harnesses, and bagged/tapped up what I didn’t want them to paint. I then called my handy flatbed wrecker service man, Joe, and had it dropped off at Modena’s Autowerks in SW Houston. We all know the default engine bay isn’t clear coated and thus a royal pain to clean up, so I went ahead and got a couple coats of clear sprayed over the fresh stock paint. We also had to cut out and reweld the battery tray due to tons of rust in the area. Once painted the long process of finding where all the unlabeled parts went along with all the new OEM hoses and clips.


The motor was taken out of a 1993 TT with 80k miles on it. It was pure mint condition, 0 mods, and perfect compression (155 across the board). Was from tt.net member "Boris" with whom I flew out to AZ to pick up the Z and drove all the way back to TX. This wasn't some ebay special, or a crate motor. Was from a perfectly running Z with a documented past. The only reason he removed it was to do some turbo upgrades and he decided to go with an SGP built motor to go with them. There was documented records of the 60k mile maintance, but since I was going to be cleaning her up anyway I went ahead and made the first of many many many orders from Coz and got the 120k kit. Along with anything that was rubber from the firewall forward, all seals, hoses, belts, connectors, bushings were replaced. If it moved it was replaced, if it was rubber it was replaced. Everything got hand cleaned and inspected. Yes I know I'm anal, but damit she was going to be done right. I was tired of working on ghetto Z's that others bring to me. This one was going to be done once and done correctly. I have all receipts from Coz to prove it. Over $1400 in just OEM parts alone. Coz can testify how meticulous I was on this. Almost weekly I was annoying him with the next little part I needed. Seems you are never done finding *something* wrong...

The interior was in pretty poor condition as well. Almost all the panels were peeling from the years of Texas heat and humidity down here. I hit up Jamie and his ImportExtreme.com guys for a vinyl kit and installation. While I've chatted with Jamie a few times this was my first purchase with him. I have to say his kit is top notch and his install guys know what they are doing. I opted not to recover the leather seats due to many wanting their own color combo's and/or racing seats so those were not done and show the normal tear and wear marks that most Z32's have. The dash was peeling as well, so here recently I had the rock chipped windshield pulled out so I could actually get to the dash to glue it back down. I’ve got to say, Gorrilla glue works great. I’ll still be getting some of the dash vents though. Just to make sure it doesn’t have any reason to try and move again.

After getting the engine all done up with the cleaning, painting, and powder coating I sent the 80k mile, yet still good stock turbos off to Majestic Turbochargers in Waco TX where I know the owner, Kevin personally. I have had 3 sets of turbos built by them with no issues at all. Nothing major this go round, just a simple reseal and cleaning. I doubt there will be any issues with the turbos, but if there is I'm sure Kevin will do everything possible to make sure the new owner is taken care of. There are very few vendors/shops I stand behind. His shop is one of them. Once I got them back I put on all the powdercoated items from Allied Powdercoating and got the motor re-assembled and finally put back in the car. Was just over 2 years at this point I believe.

Next was time for the looks. Pulled the hood, fenders, new 99 jspec front, and 99 wing off and dropped them off at Casari's paint and body. Jorge has to be hands down the fastest painter in the area (or just a slow week). After two days everything was done from his body and paint guys and ready for his inspection. They even shaved the front plate off the bumper. They didn't have a chance to buff it out since the parts were off the car, but I have to say the paint itself looked better than any of the new cars I’ve bought in the past 5 years. Simply amazing. Next I took everything home to bolt up and started to prep the rest of the car for paint and dent removal. I opted to fill in the rear wiper hole in the hatch, and paint the top panels between windshield and hatch gloss black. At the same time I also ordered yet another $600+ in parts from Coz for all the moldings and to replace the old stuff under the hood. Can't have all that clean paint and dirty moldings/heat shields messing up the view now can we? It took a few weeks this time, but in the end it was all done right again.

Now it's time to get the stuff done for actual driving. AC, brakes flushed, clutch flushed, and an alignment. The only thing else I would really like to see done would be to replace the a-arm bushings themselves. Front and rear. Also the rear diff and subframe bushings probably need to be redone just due to the age. But here she stands. Ready to be back on the road again. As most of you know, I will be selling her. So if you know a Z enthusiast that would take good care of her please let me know. Ebay, Autotrader, and newspapers will be a last resort. I will also have her at the Steerling McCall car show on Oct. 14th should anyone want to drop by and say hi. But she’s back on the road and had enough done I can finally mark her as *COMPLETE*.


Mods were very modest, some due to costs, but mainly for lifespan. I wanted this to be a fast reliable car that won't spend any more time on jack stands. She won't break any dyno or 1/4 mile records, but will last for a long long time if well taken care of.


1990 Nissan 300ZX 2+2 TT
Cherry Red Pearl Exterior
Black Leather Interior
5-speed Manual Transmission

Engine/Powertrain:
80k mile TT motor from documented 93TT
Unorthodox Pulley
Stillen Intake
JWT ECU
2.25" Stainless steel downpipes and testpipes
GReddy SPII Catback exhaust
GReddy PRofec B-Spec II boost controller
1 piece Alum driveshaft
Stock clutch and flywheel (for turbo break in at least.)
TT fuel pump
TT injectors cleaned, re-tipped, flow tested, and matched (80k miles before)

Suspension and Handling:
Specialty-Z subframe spacers (red)
Skyline calipers and rotors
Rack and Pinion from a 94TT
Front and rear sways from a 94TT
OEM shocks and springs from my 60k mile Slicktop
All new ES bushings for suspension (sways and tension rods)
4 TT wheels

Clutch and Brakes:
Stainless steel brakelines
Speedbleeders on all bleed points
Master and slave cylinders from my 60k mile Slicktop

Dress up Stuff:
Sanded and repainted engine bay
99 Front Fasica (shaved)
99 Rear Spoiler (shaved rear wiper)
99 Tails and center panel
Stillen silicon boost hoses
T-Bolts for boost and water hoses
Woody short throw shifter
Import Extreme black trimkit
Powdercoated Items
Plenum, Valve covers, Waterpipes, CAS bracket, and Balance tube.
Stainless bolt kit for engine bay

OEM Replacements for longevity
New motor mounts
Hosetecniques for all boost and vaccum hose
Nissan OEM fuel hose for all fuel and water lines.
Windshield cowls
All belts and hoses
More little oem parts than you can shake a stick at (I have the receipts so
not listing them all here)

Stereo:
Kenwood Z919 MP3 deck
A/D/S 6.25 components up front
Infinity 4X7 plate components in the rear

Fluids:
Amsoil 10W-30 Oil (motor)
Redline MT-90 Gear oil (tranny)
Redline 75W-90 Gear oil (diff)
Prestone Anti-freeze and Distilled water (70/30)
Redline Water-wetter
Prestone Sythetic DOT3 (brake and clutch)

Thanks to everyone that helped me finish this long term project. Glad to
see another Z restored and back on the road. I'm sure I forgot some, it
wasn't intentional. Just me getting old...

Coz at [ www.conceptzperformance.com ]
Greg at [ www.specialtyz.com ]
Kyle at [ www.importpartspro.com ]
Jamie at [ www.importextreme.com ]
Jamie at [ www.modenaautowerks.com ] (engine bay paint)
Jorge at [ www.casaris.com ] (exterior paint and body)
Kuah at [ www.splparts.com ]
Steve Simmons (Member # 9)
Woody75 (Denver) (Member # 22423)
Guapo (Member # 24453)
Bernie (Member # 25020)
Atti2de (Member # 33920)
Boris (Member # 35711)
Mazzoo (Member # 53767)
John(Houston) (Member # 9573)

     
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