Tweet
I bought my 1st z31 (85, 2+2, N/A) in 2005, and I had it until 2013. Initially it was my daily until it became a parts car, then scraped. It's what I learned on, and when it came to buying another car in 2008, I bought my current Z. Once I found a Florida original, rust free,1986 GL turbo on craigslist for 2300, I had to have it.
In 2008 I had the car for a few days and installed some amber fogs and shortly after I had the engine out, I was eager to learn.
I had some money saved up, and a weird desire to have a fresh zero mileage VG. So I did some shopping and bought a remanufactured motor and sent the stock t3 to Arizona Turbo & Tractor Supply for a rebuild.
A few weeks later I was ready.
Fast forward a few months:
The engine I installed had a bad internal vibration at 3500 rpm. In just a few miles it destroyed the front and rear main seals. I drained the oil and saw a lot of metal shavings. I figured I voided the warranty since I intentionally turbo'd a N/A VG, so I pulled the motor and tore it apart.
This gave me some insight on how the engine was remanufactured.
The compression cambers on the heads were unevenly ground away.
After seeing this I decided to use parts from my other VGs.
I had taken the remaned internals to Pittsburgh Crank to have them balanced.
Pittsburgh Crank said the rotating Assembly was out 40 grams and they need to use my flywheel to counter balance.
Shortly after I had the new motor together and in the car..with no success.
The 3500 rpm vibration was still there. I was very frustrated, so the car sat and I throw that remanufactured engine away.
A few years later (after college), I bought a 160,000 mile VG from a 91 Maxima for $225
My taste and goals had changed since 2008, and I wanted to Drift my Z, So I put my ass in high gear.
A bent cam, head gasket, bad oil pressure sender, and clogged sump later, the car was driving (finally)
I drive it for a few weeks
Once winter hit, It was time to get it drift ready.
Its no secret Z31s have astronomically bad steering angle, So I got my hands on some modded knuckles
I installed OEM tie rod ends, ball joints, wheel bearings, Stance 9k/7k coilovers, Z store quick links, Stance tension rods, 87 z31 turbo front hubs, poly rack and LCA bushings, Modded knuckles, welded the stock diff and Z32 front brakes.
(I originally didn't want big brakes because I wanted to run 15in wheels, but the brakes just happen, too good of a deal to pass up)
The car was ready!
So April 2014 rolled around and it was the 1st drift event of the season!
I was soooo worried about the engine because of the initial oil problems, but the 160,000 mile VG sung all day long. With just a rad cap failure the car was mint, amber fogs and all, lol. Happy with the car I couldn't wait to get more seat time.
With some downtime I installed a 3in straight pipe, got the car aligned and bought some wheels.
OG san17, 17x10 +15 with a 25mm spacer, square.
I wasn't happy with the wheel gap, But I waited till the next drift event before lowering it. (didn't want to throw away my alignment without at least trying it.)
A few week later the next drift event was here.
Still very happy with the car, I lowered it, installed a Bee*R rev limiter, and some Boso Pipes.
at the car wash, lol
And just this past weekend I slid the car at the June event.
The car feels good, but my plans are to extended the Front LCAs and install Stance tie rods (inner and outer) with spacers for more angle, and eventually get the car caged. I'll Keep the updates coming.
In 2008 I had the car for a few days and installed some amber fogs and shortly after I had the engine out, I was eager to learn.
I had some money saved up, and a weird desire to have a fresh zero mileage VG. So I did some shopping and bought a remanufactured motor and sent the stock t3 to Arizona Turbo & Tractor Supply for a rebuild.
A few weeks later I was ready.
Fast forward a few months:
The engine I installed had a bad internal vibration at 3500 rpm. In just a few miles it destroyed the front and rear main seals. I drained the oil and saw a lot of metal shavings. I figured I voided the warranty since I intentionally turbo'd a N/A VG, so I pulled the motor and tore it apart.
This gave me some insight on how the engine was remanufactured.
The compression cambers on the heads were unevenly ground away.
After seeing this I decided to use parts from my other VGs.
I had taken the remaned internals to Pittsburgh Crank to have them balanced.
Pittsburgh Crank said the rotating Assembly was out 40 grams and they need to use my flywheel to counter balance.
Shortly after I had the new motor together and in the car..with no success.
The 3500 rpm vibration was still there. I was very frustrated, so the car sat and I throw that remanufactured engine away.
A few years later (after college), I bought a 160,000 mile VG from a 91 Maxima for $225
My taste and goals had changed since 2008, and I wanted to Drift my Z, So I put my ass in high gear.
A bent cam, head gasket, bad oil pressure sender, and clogged sump later, the car was driving (finally)
I drive it for a few weeks
Once winter hit, It was time to get it drift ready.
Its no secret Z31s have astronomically bad steering angle, So I got my hands on some modded knuckles
I installed OEM tie rod ends, ball joints, wheel bearings, Stance 9k/7k coilovers, Z store quick links, Stance tension rods, 87 z31 turbo front hubs, poly rack and LCA bushings, Modded knuckles, welded the stock diff and Z32 front brakes.
(I originally didn't want big brakes because I wanted to run 15in wheels, but the brakes just happen, too good of a deal to pass up)
The car was ready!
So April 2014 rolled around and it was the 1st drift event of the season!
I was soooo worried about the engine because of the initial oil problems, but the 160,000 mile VG sung all day long. With just a rad cap failure the car was mint, amber fogs and all, lol. Happy with the car I couldn't wait to get more seat time.
With some downtime I installed a 3in straight pipe, got the car aligned and bought some wheels.
OG san17, 17x10 +15 with a 25mm spacer, square.
I wasn't happy with the wheel gap, But I waited till the next drift event before lowering it. (didn't want to throw away my alignment without at least trying it.)
A few week later the next drift event was here.
Still very happy with the car, I lowered it, installed a Bee*R rev limiter, and some Boso Pipes.
at the car wash, lol
And just this past weekend I slid the car at the June event.
The car feels good, but my plans are to extended the Front LCAs and install Stance tie rods (inner and outer) with spacers for more angle, and eventually get the car caged. I'll Keep the updates coming.
Comment