So I had a quick look over the crank after Adam stripped it down, and there was some very slight scoring on #1 Big End Journal so I took it to a local machine shop and they polished it for me - at the same time I took my flywheel to get skimmed aswell
The next day I went and picked them up and took them back to AB - me and Ali spent the next few hours checking clearances with Plastigauge and building the bottom end up
Came back the following day and built the rest of the engine up with the help of Adam and Ali - also fitted the new Mishimoto 68 degree thermostat and the Tomei N2 Oil Filter Housing adapter for -10 AN Lines to run to a relocation plate
Finally we got it built back up fully - after this my mum came round again in her van and we hauled it in there and back to mine!
Back at mine, before the engine went in - I wanted to swap out the front subframe bolts. Since I built it I've always had big allen key headed bolts - bit of a pain - so I finally decided to buy the nissan ones that are supposed to come with the car.
I decided to order a new clutch aswell - my current one was a random mis-match of parts, it never seemed to engage right and the clutch pedal itself was mega heavy.
After looking around and speaking with a few friends, I decided to go for an Xtreme Stage 2 jobby - still a sprung single plate flywheel which is exactly what I wanted
Bolted up the 350z box
Threw it in the car... (by throw I mean spend 3 hours shouting and swearing because it wouldn't just drop in, luckily my mum called round and socially distanced helping me get it in the car millimetre by millimetre - WHAT A PAIN!
Once that was done it was a case of plumbing everything back up and replugging all the plugs back in etc - although one thing I needed to do was make -10AN Lines for my new oil filter relocation/cooler setup. This was all fairly straightforward once I got my head around it - but since I have the fusebox and battery in the standard position - finding somewhere to mount the relocation plate was a bit of a pain...
That was one of the last pieces of the puzzle and I was getting more and more nervous to fire it up for the first time...
Throughout all this time of fitting the engine and putting it all back together - Amy was in the garage helping me and it was mega nice! With her being pregnant she can't really help much unfortunately, especially being under the car etc etc - so doing engine bay stuff she can get involved and it was nice to have a helping hand!
Just before doing that though, I had another problem to attend to... On its way into the bay - the adapter plate had caught the top hose on the rack and snapped it off - great...
Luckily sourced another one locally within a few hours and had it fitted.
Then it was the fun job of trying to tighten the -10AN Lines that go onto the block adapter plate - with no real easy way to access them - I managed to find a gap infront of the front subframe between the alternator and engine mount - boom! Although it required a special tool...
Out came the grinder and I made this concoction - the V I cut out in the end of it was so I could put the pry bar in and tighten the fitting against the alternator bracket - works a treat!
Then it was first start-up time...
All went smoothly! I bought some cheap 10/40 oil and ran 2 lots through the engine - letting it get upto temp and then draining it out, both with fresh filters, and then after that I put some fresh Driven DT50(5w50) stuff and a new filter on.
Then I hit the track - Went to Three Sisters yesterday for my 2nd drift day since all this COVID stuff kicked off - it was real fun! Turned up and had a pretty severe power steering leak - luckily Harry and Adam managed to sort it for me - the banjo I have is way too big, but its the exact same setup I've had for the past 2 years so I'm not sure why its started now...
The car felt pretty good, but it was far from my best driving - pretty average tbh!! I wasn't fully feeling it and I think I've put it down to spending 27 hours over 2 days on the car having constant late nights - I was shattered! None the less I had fun!
I ended the day early though as my turbo to manifold nuts kept falling off - despite having locking nuts and the genuine nissan tabs that you fold down and hammer over the nuts - so I've now ordered K Nuts that are using in aerospace environments - apparently they are impossible to vibrate loose...we shall find out!
The new Xtreme clutch is also amazing - the pedal is so light and very nice to drive now! No more having to use all the power in my leg to change gear haha, and quick clutch kicks no longer feeling like I'm working out!
So far there has only been 1 picture but its a cracker!!
The next day I'm booked on for is the 15th at Teesside so hopefully have my turbo issues sorted for then!
<3
)
) - got the car dialled in with a bit more grip
So had a nice drive over in the 13 - Video will be coming soon on BDC Insider - if you haven't already go and sign up
