acf321 Posted May 14, 2011 Author Posted May 14, 2011 Bit of an update on the Hornet for those that have enquired. Given severe ongoing frustrations with local and other suppliers, I decided to take advantage of the A$ strength and bought some much needed parts from Motorsport Auto in the USA (which just about finish all my major required parts). I bought the rear interior plastic quarter panels, and interior tail light piece. The big test was, would they match up with the genuine interior window surrounds and overhead pieces that I still have and will use, dating 1971? Given a good polish with Meguiars 'swirl remover' polish (which is a very fine grade polish), the aftermarket parts are virtually indistinguishable from the 1971 originals, and so I can report that these parts are excellent. I polished the new to give them shine that is consistent with the OEM. Out of the box, the new parts were very slightly more dull than the 40yr old originals, but now they are identical. Also from MSA, I bought a set of 'precision' rubber weatherstrips that go onto the body and seal the doors when closed. I have seen these precision rubbers before and note that they come only in one part (as opposed to the the OEM style welt and clip on style strip that were installed in two pieces) and the quality is again superb. They have a specially cut top corner section, as opposed to the other type that requires you to mould (read - bend!) the rubber around the corner in the top door corner. Price was right too, asking $68 or so, but I managed to get about 10% off the whole order, so they came in at $US62 each, or about $56 Aussie. Also bought the ultra rare front qtr panel to body rear seals (that look like little mud flaps) and a bunch of engine bay decals for the radiator, brake MC and so on. In all, the price was excellent, but postage was quite expensive (about $A265), BUT landed in Australia, these parts were still cheaper than any other supplier (local or otherwise) I could find, and the quality is extremely good. The hornet has been hibernating a little of late, as my Family is in the process of moving .. Still on it, but at a slower pace. Have completed the re-furb of the OEM light covers, and will send the MK63's off for blasting and painting in the coming weeks. Aside from an LSD 3.9 R180, and the install of the exhaust, I think I am probably just about complete in terms of major parts required. Its now just a matter of sticking it all together. Cheers all. Adam Quote
scubasteve Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 Adam, What a truly inspirational thread, it has taken me months to read through it, but your continued attention to detail is just outstanding and I'm sure will help myself and many others on their Z journeys.... Thank you for taking the time to keep us all informed on your progress. Steve. Quote
Sirpent Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Adam, All I can say is excellent work, and there had better be a very long detailed walk of the car with close ups in a video posted at some stage for us Mexicans to watch ! Well done, never surrender. Cheers John Quote
acf321 Posted May 18, 2011 Author Posted May 18, 2011 Thanks John and All for your comments. You'll be pleased to know that Nat and I were talking only yesterday, and aside from a clutch part, exhaust and battery, the car is just about ready to start / drive. I've told Nat that i'll do the complete interior myself, as we all know its just a matter of glueing, clipping and so forth. Attention to detail on the finish will be important, and is the thing I want to spend lots of hours on to get the car as best as I can. You'll be pleased to know i'm going with a locally sourced, 1 5/8" primary SWR extractor system, as he's in the process of making more right now. Still planning on the 2.5" system from there back. Sorry for wasting everyone's time on this topic, but as they say, it is a black art, and each and every person has a completely different, and well construted argument on which works, and which does not. Suffice to say that the budget on this car has gone into the 'criminally insane' territory, and I have been having constant counselling on this point, albeit the twitching right eye and uncontrollable left hand spasms are still unfortunately a daily occurrence! Stay tuned, as always Cheers Adam. Quote
Sirpent Posted May 18, 2011 Posted May 18, 2011 Adam Suffice to say that the budget on this car has gone into the 'criminally insane' territory, and I have been having constant counselling on this point, albeit the twitching right eye and uncontrollable left hand spasms are still unfortunately a daily occurrence! take my medication combo, it should work, 1 Viagra and 1 Prozak every 12 hours, you will walk around all day H0rny and happy about everything while not giving a F*CK about the expense, the twitching and other ailments should subside almost immediately. Cheers John P.S. POST PICS ! Quote
MaygZ Posted May 18, 2011 Posted May 18, 2011 P.S. POST PICS ! Not of the happy and horny you, please. ;D Quote
acf321 Posted May 18, 2011 Author Posted May 18, 2011 Teaser video of the hornet. Took this today! http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/267454/mclaren_mp412c_gt3_racing_car_new_pictures_and_video.html?CMP=NLC-Newsletters&uid=63e6e51ba0e99db5838d6392ab17aeb7 Quote
Agno Posted May 18, 2011 Posted May 18, 2011 VERY keen to see what these extractors look like... and of course how they deliver power Quote
Mr240z Posted September 14, 2011 Posted September 14, 2011 Adam is there any updates on the Hornet... Been awhile. Quote
acf321 Posted September 16, 2011 Author Posted September 16, 2011 Yeah, it has been too long, had a Son yesterday, my first boy taking to three the tally now!! Have been working away in the background on the hornet. Am in the process of ordering the koni yellow shocks, but there seems to be a dozen options on this so I'm actually yet to finalise this. Received my early rear hatch glass from the US with vertical defroster and it looks fantastic (I now have one for sale). I now have the complete interior kit, mk63's, oem headlight protectors and a bunch of other bits including the 'performance' door to body seals. I am planning on picking up the extractor kit nxt week, so once this is done I'll post a few shots of that. Reading the Octane article really made me want to get this thing done, they really rated the 240z in stock form. Will post more in the coming week or so Quote
mossy Posted September 16, 2011 Posted September 16, 2011 Congrats on the son Adam, someone to share your car passion with Quote
Cozza Posted September 16, 2011 Posted September 16, 2011 Congratulations on your little boy Adam, sounds like you are evening out the odds at home. Cheers Mick Quote
acf321 Posted September 24, 2011 Author Posted September 24, 2011 Ok, went back to have a look at the Hornet today and did not have the heart to lift the sheet... nothing has happened in a while! However, I did call SWR to order my custom extractor kit that i've decided to have ceramic coated as opposed to a more simple paint finish. The theory goes that not only does the ceramic coating inside and out protect the metal from oxidization literally forever, but conceals the heat of the exhaust gasses inside the extractor, so as to; 1) improve the scavenging effect of the extractor, and 2) minimise heat soak into the surrounding engine, car and importantly carbs. Whilst the usual silver coating is normally preferred, I actually chose white to replicate the look of the aluminium oxide coated extractors of the 60's and 70's formula one cars. Here is the inspiration for my white ceramic coated pipes, which I should be collecting next weekend. Hope you like! Quote
Whittie Posted September 24, 2011 Posted September 24, 2011 You'll love the ceramic coating! It's true what they say about increasing the scavenging effect, the heat keeps the volume of the gasses up for a longer distance, and hence a larger effect as each cylinder exhaust gas can only pull gas from other cylinders once it reaches the collectors. I have the silver ceramic on mine and they went dull after 1 track day. They were chrome for the photo's tho, but are now a grey, White is a much better colour!! Also, it's true about the heat, I can come in after 20 minutes on the track and actually hold onto the extractors with a bare hand! It's incredible how much insulation the coating provides. It also helps keep engine bay temperatures down by a lot and with the extractors so close to the inlet venturi's it makes an even bigger difference. Quote
acf321 Posted October 1, 2011 Author Posted October 1, 2011 As promised, another update on the Hornet. Popped out to Stewart Wilkins this morning to collect my extractor kit which I had asked to be coated in white ceramic. The good news is the extractors look superb, as Peter Mc had suggested, with all welds, bends and collector junctions finished to a very high standard. The coating is more a powder finish, which I suspect in time will be more grey but to me this is the better choice than a chrome look. I spoke to Stuart about suspension, and he confirmed that the koni yellows are a fantastic choice that they use all the time to great effect. He suggested adding a coilover threaded part to the standard leg, so we could infinitely vary ride height, spring rate, and strut stiffness. I'll get round to this once the Hornet is on the road, but as a minimum, I'll get koni yellow's installed, like Andrew and Chris240 have done. I also took out my Mk63's to ask about refurbishment. We will remove the pistons (i have two sets) and have them machined and then re-chromed to make them as new. Stu will also blast the calipers and set them up properly. I'll have Nat spray them in hi-temp paint, or if I can, I'll find the OEM paint finish and colour and have them done that way. If anybody knows the colour or correct factory Mk63 finish, i'd love to hear how they were done. Anyway, here are some pics of the extractors. I think they'll be great. Quote
benny Posted October 1, 2011 Posted October 1, 2011 they look pretty... what is the diameter of the primaries?? Quote
acf321 Posted October 1, 2011 Author Posted October 1, 2011 primary's are 1 5/8" and the collector and exhaust pipe is 2.5". Quote
KatoKid Posted October 1, 2011 Posted October 1, 2011 Aaagh.....sigh. Thats better, been missing my regular Hornet fix. Keep em coming Adam, the end must be in sight! Quote
salty Posted October 1, 2011 Posted October 1, 2011 looking good , ;Ddude why not go with the "firing or :-\der" ones? just painted an FJ holden in a similar colour, doesnt hold a candle to your Z !! Quote
peter mc Posted October 1, 2011 Posted October 1, 2011 nice mate you can not buy better pipes under $1500 they work a treat Quote
NZeder Posted October 1, 2011 Posted October 1, 2011 They look great hmm if I ever go L6 again those could very much end up in between the struts of a zed I own Quote
Sirpent Posted October 1, 2011 Posted October 1, 2011 Nice plumbing Adam, make sure the good lady wife doesn't find out or your appendages may look similar once she has had her way with you LOL Quote
acf321 Posted October 24, 2011 Author Posted October 24, 2011 Another brief update. Dropped the pipes off to Nat at the weekend who told me he'll stick them on in the next week or so and then we'll fuel here up and add a spark! Will be taking the car to Liverpool exhausts at some point to have the balance of the system finished off also. In case you missed this earlier in the thread, i'm going 2.5" mandrel bent stainless with mid resonator and rear sports muffler. Interested in any thoughts on what mufflers are good these days. Told Nat NOT to do this before I am armed and ready with the video camera, for you long suffering Hornet fans. Should be an update in a week or two. Quote
Sirpent Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 I await your porn footage with bated Breath Adam. Quote
acf321 Posted November 8, 2011 Author Posted November 8, 2011 Hello Folks briefly had five to call Nat today and enquire about the extractors. The good news is he has put them on, and the less exciting part of this was that he needed; 1) a hammer, and 2) a file to make them fit !!!! Hhhmm I thought to myself, before thinking hmmm again. Nat is a complete fanatic, so I gently asked if he'd cracked any of the ceramic coating off, the answer of which was 'no'. Apparently the issue was that there was literally no room between the inlet and the extractor, such that he had to 'very very modestly flatten the top of the extractor, and file the underside of the inlet manifold'. He told me not to worry, and that often this kind of fine tuning is necessary to get a proper fit. I guess this is right, although not having tried this I cannot comment from experience. He assures me that the set up is excellent, and there is very little to be worried about. I do trust Nat, so I am hoping to pop out Sat morning early to have a look and grab a few photos. I'd say it'll be going to the exhaust shop in December, so that should be the start date! More to follow. Quote
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