Mikey's Datsun 240z

[mikey]

Not much to show for last nights efforts. I fitted the oil pressure sensor and bodged together a MAF housing:



Edit: FRKN PAGE THREE!

[mikey]

Got a fair bit done today, picked up the new driveshaft and put it in along with the axles.



Reinforced the floor above the trans mounts.



Put the guards back on. replaced a bit of rusty steel on one of them.



I also managed o read the DTC's from the ECU, it is throwing NATS errors which is good because it explains why it's not starting AND STM are coming around tomorrow to reflash it and turn NATS off YAY!

[mikey]

I've hooked up a few more bits and pieces and the new airdam, I'll paint it to match the car when I have more time.



Oh, and it bloody runs!



STM popped round and reflashed the ECU and we're all go. It sounds brilliant with just the headers.

So this is what's left to do this week:

• 
  
• Get exhaust made - check with TTT when the can fit it in
  
  
• Fit radiator - It's at the radiator shop at the moment.
  
  
• Fix front brakes
  
  
• Put front bumper and indicators on
  
  
• Get wheel spacers to clear brakes - At machine shop, hopefully pick up tomorrow
  
  
• Fix Leak in fuel filler neck
  
  

I suspect the front brakes need a residual pressure valve. There doesn't seem to be any air in there, and if I pinch off the softlines the pedal is hard.

[mikey]

Last night I put the radiator in. I got the outlets moved and a fan put in by Auto Radiators on Nixon St, can't recommend them highly enough they did a great job.



I was gonna use a new aluminum one but really happy with this; suits the car better.

The spacers are turning out to be a massive pain in the arse. A miscommunication ment they put a locator ring around the original one without taking out the id to fit over my hub. I did explain this was required but it was lost in translation.



I'm trailering the car to TTT first thing tomorrow morning to get the exhaust made so the spacers have to be finished today.

I also fixed my brakes after swapping the calipers around so the bleed nipples were at the top. And wired up the alternator.

[mikey]

Dropped the car off for more exhaust this morning. Which means I got to drive it around a car park a little bit. The clutch is very snappy, I did wee skids off the trailer. ha ha.



I had to take the airdam/bumper off because of clearance issues caused by the wheel spacers, I can see this all becoming quite a pain in the nutsack. I might see if I can make it TTT's problem, time is running short and my engineer's a fag.

[mikey]

TTT did a choice job on the exhaust, stoked I got them to do it instead of trying to do it myself. It's tucked up there good and proper, no knocks.



So last night I very gingerly drove it home, took all the back streets and scraped on about 8 speed bumps, probably should've just taken main streets. ha ha

I got fully beached on the gearbox coming into the garage, so yeah, I really need to jack it up a bit. It is mega low at the moment, the sump is about 2 inches off the ground.

I fixed all the guard clearance issues and got the airdam back on. And drove it to work today. Took it pretty slow, probably didn't get past 3000 rpm, hill starts are very slippery. Can't honestly say how fast it might be yet.



I still need to sort the bonnet latch - currently there's some weedeater cord tied to the bonnet and threaded through the firewall. I just wrap it around the passenger seat to lock it in place.

Hook up radiator fan - seems to do a bloody good job without it thou.

Sort out shifter boot - exhaust gasses aint fun.

dejack.

Silicon around the windscreen.

Gearknob.

[mikey]

Sussed the bonnet latch and radiator fan last night. I haven't managed to do the other shit yet. I better get the windscreen watertight cos it looks like rain for the trip to Hahei. I think I'll just chuck a floor-mat over the tunnel for now to keep the exhaust out.

I tried to take it for an actual burn last night, the ECU was switching to failsafe mode if I try to thrash it, I'd get into the top of second gear before it'd conk out. Then I'd have to switch the car off for a minute or so.

I didn't get to check the codes but I suspect a bad earth or bad connection to the throttle body. Hopefully get it sorted on Saturday. Woo hoo!

[mikey]

I made it to Leadfoot Ranch and back and met Rod Millen. We got to drive the driveway, the whole thing was properly rad.



by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr



by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr



by SnoozinRichy, on Flickr

This is what the engine bay is currently looking like



Inspection light of radness for Rookie:



All and all I'm stoked with how the car ran.

There was an issue with putting my foot right down, the ECU would go into failsafe mode when the pedal goes past 100%. That was easily fixed by winding out the pedal stop.

The engine stumbles a little bit sometimes when on the gas, for now I think that's an earthing problem. Will tidy up the earths a little and see if it helps.

And finally, the fuel pressure shits itself occasionally and starts fluttering and bouncing like a tap hammering. Might need some dampening?

[mikey]

I've been doing some bits and bobs, mostly boring shit like uni-joints, window regulators.

I've closed in the tunnel, makes such a difference:



I've finally gotten to a point where I can try and sort out the poor running. It stutters when you floor it sometimes. It seems to have gotten worse recently.

It seems to be related to throttle position, the engine will sometimes stutter a bit when I put my foot down. Sometimes it'll die completely unless I release the pedal a little bit, at which point it picks up again.

I'm pretty sure the ECU & throttle body are still operating when this happens because the induction noises seem to match the pedal position - even thou the engine isn't firing. The engine is fly-by-wire BTW.

I haven't worked out if it's fuel or spark that's missing, I'll try and suss that tonight.

I've had some nagging doubts about some of my wiring so last night I:

• 
  
• Moved the ECU and O2 heater power supply off the fuel pump relay and on to their own relays.
  
  
• Added a fat new ground cable to the ECU.
  
  
• Cleaned up all the surfaces for the other grounds.
  
  
• Used fatter wires for the fuel pump.
  
  

There are no unusual codes being thrown.

Remaining doubts are:

• 
  
• The Fuel pump relay still gets pretty hot
  
  
• Wondering if the ECU ground should be seperated from the other grounds that are there?
  
  
• The pedal sensor wiring is a bit iffy.
  
  

This is the fusebox I'm using:

[mikey]

SUSSED.

I pulled the baffle out and drilled a 10mm hole in three of the sides. I also slid clear tube over each of the solder joints on the wiring.

It now pulls like a mo fo. I'm so friken stoked. I'm pretty sure It was because of the wiring shorting, not the holes. The relays don't get nearly as hot as they were before. I might put an undrilled baffle in there later to test.

[Guest mikey]

Sometimes the little things are satisfyingest. Painted the bonnet latch:

Radiator overflow bottle from a Honda:

I've also been bashing away at the tacho. I want to use all the original gauges. The idea is it senses the ignition signal to one of the coils, then uses this circuit and some code running on that chip to control the original tacho. But it doesn't work..... I'm pretty fed up with it.

It replaces the circuit board here:

Controlling the needle seems to work sweet, just sensing the ignition signal is muffed. Pretty sure it's my code. Am very over it. I really need an oscilloscope to debug it properly but they're expensive and I'll hardly use it again. Maybe I'll commission someone else to sort it.

Upcoming plans are:

• Get speedo working - This will be another Mikey electronics special so I can use the factory speedo
  
• Driveshaft loop
  
• Cert - rego expires in a couple of weeks
  
• Half cage
  
• Reupholster the seats and maybe add more lateral support
  
• Plug various sources of fumes & noise in the cabin
  
• New door seals - to attempt to make the interior a little more soothing
  
• Bullet fender mirrors - black
  
• Full Respray - Done by a pro, not me. Charcoal/black bumpers and flares the rest red/orange/whatever you call it.
  

If I get all that stuff done the car will actually be kinda finished..... weird.

All I'm missing is some fucking motivation.

[mikey]

The most perfect things I've ever bought:

 



 



 

They're brand new Datsun 510 mirrors which were chrome but now powder coated. You cant buy 240z ones anymore but they're almost identical. Matt black was a factory option too.

 

I also got my radiator re-cored:

 



 



 

Other fun things are about to happen too!

[mikey]

I nows haz all the rollcayges! 

 

TTT did an awesome job on the fab work and I painted it.... except for the bits I missed.

 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 

 



 

[mikey]

I put my new mirrors on:

 



 

I'm gonna be stripping the paint of this in preparation for a respray, if you live in Auckland, have an angle grinder and have some spare time on the weekend come to my Stripper Party!!

[mikey]

Stripper party!!

 



 

[mikey]

Lushness.

 



 

Factory seats reupholstered by Westgate Auto Upholstery.

 

Dropped the car at GT Refinishers with the help of 10speed today too. EXCITE.

[mikey]

GT Refinishers have been doing some amazing things:

 

They've replaced the whole lower panel of the boot. And done a fucken sweet job too. 

 



 



 

This panel is a work in progress, but has some tricksey curves.

 



 

 

[mikey]

More panel work. Two layers along here replaced and same on the other side. There's nowhere for rust to hide!

 



 

 

[mikey]

Marvel at the hackyness of this circuit board!

 



 



 

It actually works too! It takes the 4V ignition signals and means I can run the factory tacho. Big ups to Ned for persevering with me.

 

I got my belts re-webbed and tarted them up with some paint.

 



 

Riveted new furry bits on my door cards for the windows to rub against.

 



 

Riveted new squeegee bits to my door trims for the windows to rub against.

 

[mikey]

Dashboard is recovered and looking super! Before:

 



 



 



 

 

After:

 



 



 



 



 



 

 

 

Latest pic of the car, 50% in primer, many new patches, no filler yet.