Herrod's '74 260z

[herrods]

Hey All,

 

After much web trolling, research, asking of stupid questions, and all the other stuff that comes along with getting ready to play car buff, I am ready to begin my restoration/reschmick makeover to my '74 260z.

 

Modifications to come in the next month of so are as follows.

 

ITEM                                                       

 

Brakes

- MSA Stage 2 Front Brake Upgrade

- MSA Stage 1 Rear Brake Upgrade 1

- Warren Upgraded Brake Master Cylinder

- 240 z Wheel Bearings (x4)                

 

Suspension

- Urethane Bushing Kit,

- Tokico Performance Springs

- Tokico Illumina Gas Struts

 

Interior

- MSA Power Window Conversion Kit

- Corbeau GTS II Performance Seats

- MSA Vinyl Replacement Kit

- Moulded Carpet Trim Kit

- Centre Console

- Door Skins

- Rear Quarter Panel Pieces

- Rear Quarter Window Surrounds

- Headliner replacement

- Tail Light Panel Replacement

 

MISC

- MSA Weatherstrip Kit, 70-78 Z Coupe

- MSA Weatherstrip Adhesive

- MSA Weatherstrip rivets

- MSA Short Throw Shifter, 72-1/78 Z

 

Sound System

- Retro sound Classic Look Radio

- 4 Channel Amplifier

- 6" Split Speakers

 

Exterior

- MSA Type III Body Kit, 70-78 Z Coupe

Add Air Dam Grille

Add Rear Skirt Diffusor

 

- Konig Rewind Graphite 16x7 Wheels

     

Hopefully, all of this will give my z's cosmetic and interior looks a breath of fresh air, and an as new feel.

 

More details (and photos) to come, as I start on each bit.

 

Be prepared to answer many many more stupid questions

[Hunter]

Sounds like after a few dollars you will have a near as new car.

 

What are the warren upgrade master cylinder you speak of and how much. I might be looking for one soon.

[mrp69]

 

think he is talkin about warren from all z parts

[stevo_gj]

Hey Herrod,

 

Nice plans you have there.

 

I notice you are looking to get that retrosound head unit! I will be VERY interested to hear how it peforms as once I do some full time work at the end of the year I intend to upgrade the car's sound system with it.

 

What are your plans for speakers/locations? Where will you fit the 2x 6"s?

 

Steve

[herrods]

mrp69

 

Yes I was talking about warren, where I put warren or MSA in front, that just tells you/me where its coming from.  Im not sure exactly what brand the brake booster is though.

 

As far as the speakers go, my last set of 6" went in what were designed as door pods, and were mounted to the carpet by means of a sandwich plate, directly behind the seats.  They were on a small angle, and the sound crossover was at about head height between the seats.

 

Not sure where they will go this time, But I am thinking the same again because they were out of the way, and the only cut i needed to make was a small X in the carpet so that it got out of the way of the wiring.

 

They were basically on top of the 2 storage compartments, and to get to the storage compartments you just lifted the carpet and the speaker together.

 

I know that sounds dodgy, but they were secure, and didn't get in the way.

 

There is also a set of 6x9's that the previous owner mounted in the rear quarter panel pieces, because the pieces are curved (where he mounted) they speakers rattled and were not held in place very well, I haven't decided where to re-install those, but I'll keep you posted.

 

The amp I was considering doing a false floor either in the spare wheel well (remove wheel permenantly) or possibly (and this thougt came to me just then, doing a stepped false floor between the shock tower, so as not to lose any boot space.  The reasoninbg behind a false floor/hidden amp location is because the back window of the zed's must be like window shopping for shady car thief types, which is where my last amp and head unit ended up meeting their hasty exit from the car.

 

[Hunter]

you could mount your speakers like the pic below, I think this pic was off MSA or http://www.blackdragonauto.com/

 

It would be easy to make your own box though, The box is even large enough for a port and directs the sound straight to the front of the car. I think it was $150 on the site to purchase from memory.

[sexual_sushi]

ive got one of those msa speakerboxes in the back of my yellow car, looks stock and has great sound. I'm a bit of an audiophile and like a nice setup but these are just 2 pioneer 6x9's running straight from the head unit and they look great and are more than loud enough for highway driving. has a nice bass note too considering there isn't a subwoofer. only problem is when the back is loaded up with bags and car parts it gets a little muffled, but thats only when the backs chockas

[stevo_gj]

Sounds great Herrods!

 

Do you have an amp in yours sushi? And what head unit do you have?

 

I'm leaning towards the MSA speaker box and retrosound head unit, but I haven't considered if I'll need an amp 

 

Your car is gonna be beautiful with all these upgrades herrods.

[sexual_sushi]

its all pretty old gear, came with the car. no amp. Pioneer head unit and pioneer 6x9's. plays burnt cds but doesnt play mp3 which should date it around 2000-2001. ill take some photos on the weekend if i get a chance, probably have some lying around actually.

 

my white cars got a 12in pioneer flat mount ute sub between the struts in the back with the pioneer competition 6.5in kevlar splits with a cadence 4 channel amp (with the Z logo with the little swirls and everything). this is all run from one of sonys old (2003)flip down headunits, i got it cause the face is made up of 3 curves similar to the fuel/clock gauges etc. this pumps but the head unit has died (dodgy ebay job) and i think im over music THAT loud in a car now anyways (at home thats a different story). its still good for the highway though really clear sound and suprisingly there wasn't really any rattle in the car.

 

in my project car i think i might go back to just the 6x9's in the msa box or at least only a small sub and amp that i can recess in the back.

 

ill give ya a demo when we go for a drive anyways

[herrods]

Im not too keen on those rear speaker boxes because you cant get to your spare, which for some would really be an issue, but i'm just finnicky.  i'm thinking of making something that recesses into the left and right extreme back corner, but doesn't interfere with the rear panel of the car, the only thing it might cover is part of the light access panels.

[mrp69]

my zed has custome boxes which are mount behind your seat

 

with a set of 6x9s they arent visable from the out side but they do crank really good

 

also have moulded 6 inch boxes above the strut towers in the rear of the car will get some interior pics of mine and post em for all to see

 

once upon a time my car had its whole interior redone.

 

peter

[herrods]

well its been a while since I updated this, mainly because I have ben having such a time putting all those parts in.

 

The MSA stage 1 disc conversion is in at the back, along with the urethane bushes, that was not too hard except for the removal of the spindle pin.  On another note, my bushes all round the car were impossible to push out.  Friend of mine had a shot with a 5 tonne press and nothing, had to burn them all out.

 

Front brake upgrade went it substantially easier.  MSA instructions were very good and the fabricated parts were good quality.  Was a little disapponted by the quality of the supplied pads but what can you expect.

 

Tokico Illumina shocks with springs were easy enough once I sorted out what was on the car.  I had one fluid filled (drivers side) and one gas filled on the front, and all 4 were collapsed to the point that gravity was stronger.  no damping/resistance AT ALL.  Car sits about an 1" lower at the back and 1.5" lower at the front

 

So far everything I have come across that was wrong is a result of somebody butchering something to make it fit in a previous life.

 

pics and an update once I get it back on the road to come.

[S30Mike]

oh nice one.

 

Nice to see you back on the forums again mate, i bumped into you at power play remember?

[herrods]

I do indeed, how did u go with ur enquiries there?

 

oh and I cant remember if it was you or someone else who was asking but I have gone with a sony headunit and not the retrosound model due to cost and not enough info on it.  trying to make that fit without ripping too much apart at the moment.

[260Coupe]

Herrod

 

where are you getting you Short Shift kit from ?

 

 

[stevo_gj]

Hey Herrods,

 

I ended up purchasing and installing the Retrosound model one a couple months ago it was pretty good in the end. If you have any questions about it I'd be happy to ask.

 

http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,2857.0.html

 

Good to hear your still working on the 260!

 

Steve

[herrods]

The short shift kit was ciming from MSA www.thezstore.com  but it has since been put in the OH NO the economy *explosion* basket along with the rest of my hard earned savings which seemed to halve on their trip across the atlantic....

 

short shifter to come, but for a Skyline gearbox many many moons from now.

[RBZ 260]

Dave this needs to be resurected.

I know u been doing lot of work so how about some inspirational photos for us to see.

[herrods]

a large writeup is on the way, after I sleep off the effectsw of spending too many nights on the floor of the garage @ midnight

[RBZ 260]

LOL mate been there done that. once u get ur missus to help u work on it till 5am in the morning trying to finish a Z for a z meet at 10am than it be something. LOL

 

so hows it all going.? havent had any abusive calls yet (hope never get them)

 

[Hunter]

ha ha one thing I do not need to worry about anymore.

[herrods]

It goes well

 

you left a hell of a lot of stuff in the loom there johnny, were you running all the goods?  climate control, power windows central locking etc etc etc?

 

We cranked the motor last night, it started, popped farted and died, which is to be expected with no vacuum connected up and poor grounding, but it cranks and will run which is good

 

for those of you who dont know what im talking about, well i suppose you will just have to wait to see the write up haha

 

[RBZ 260]

mate i had all that running in my car. both climate control power windows central lock  electric mirrors etc......spent weeks getting that all to run on Z. hence i couldnt see myself giving it away. same story with the guages.

 

make sure the airflow meter is not shorting out and that boost controller loom every wire is isolated. they are directly connected to the ECU loom.

also make sure the alarm fuses are not shorting on the body anywhere.

 

other than that like u said the grounding is important . i didnt cut any of them out. so bolt them up.

 

have u got the engine in the car?

 

If u need any pointers just ask. expecialy during work hours LOL....

 

Andrew (hunter) u got PM.

 

 

[herrods]

No worries mate I'll get it sorted, the engine is in the car, had a lack of storage space so we shoe-horned it in there quick smart.

 

Currently working through the loom and tidying it, and poking it where its supposed to go.

 

What boost controller were you running?  and I cant find the one that was included, the retro style one.

 

Cheers

Dave

[RBZ 260]

i used Apexi AVCR. i did see on on ebay currently cheap at 250. the retro one i forgot to send it to you its only 4 wires and a hose to connect.

 

+ve, gnd and two wires to solenoid that i did supply. im still chasing the AFM plug as soon as i get it ill send it to you with the controller.

 

i knew i was missing something but couldn't figure what.