jsnapsnz Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 The other Workshop in Japan I tried to visit was Runfree as I suspect my Levin was built by them! Anyway I missioned it to Aikawa and after checking out Autobacs I skated over to their workshop only to find it was a public holiday and they were closed. GRRRRRRRRRRR how dare they!!! Spot my longboard leaning against the shed In a fit of pique I slapped an AKA sticker on their door and moved along. Not before I snapped pics of the sweet white Levin out front (imagine what was inside if this was stuck outside!!! I left an apology note in the bag hanging on the door plus some stickers I was dying to check under that cover but I am too polite I want to combine a Runfree bonnet with a Goodline one for the ultimate AE86 bonnet! Super poke on those 17" Meisters I really wanted to meet Yamashita-san and buy some goodies! Oh well perhaps it just means I need to visit Japan again one day 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted February 23, 2016 Author Share Posted February 23, 2016 While in Japan I visited Classic Car Nagoya - I'm sure many of you must know of them, I can't recommend a visit enough! They were nice enough to give me a toolbox and let me loose out back Anyway here's some pics of the AE86 in their yard I raided: I grabbed the center Garnish but the tail lights were expensive and not that great - see dodgy tape/paint pen repair I circled. Runfree rear strut brace too, same as mine but difficult to take home... Turbo but Automatic(!!!) I grabbed headlight eyelids, corner lights, garnish and center console lid - they bubble wrapped and boxed for me then off I went on my longboard, skating back to the train station with my box under my arm... Awesome! Here's some pics of their parts dept upstairs J Parts HEAVEN! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 Here's some more pics from the parts department of Classic Car Nagoya. Not a lot really for my AE86 but plenty for early Datsun, Isuzu, Toyota and so on. This one's for you Alex Oooo yeah I'll have me ALL of those wheels thanks! AND the Hakos getting painted... Discuss? //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/51964-jsnapsnzs-1985-ae86-levin/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 Bugger! I had intended to run the belt in this fashion: Once I test fitted the belt however I decided I was unhappy with the lack of crank pulley contact - ~60deg. As it's a straight pull from the crank to the blower I got dubious. Totally not to scale by the way! I'm sure you get the gist however. Excuse the childish letters w-waterpump etc etc. Here's my revised belt path: In this configuration I probably doubled the belt contact on the crank pulley so much happier about this! Also I've ended up with shorter straight bits of belt between each pulley - win! Bugger all contact with the waterpump pulley but who cares, there's sfa load there... Here's the bugger bit: Belt "pull" was mostly down in V1 but not the pull is mostly sideways in V2. My flaming blower cradle was made with V1 belt path in mind and I've found it's flexible as a gymnast now. SHIT!! I have also found one of my header bolts to be stripped - crap idea making the cradle bolt up there! I have got the rear lifting point, the P/S mount and A/C mount to work with mounting-wise as I run neither. Maybe need to consider an over the head brace to the front lifting point... Oh well time to start fresh, flat bar Ali probably wasn't the best material selection for rigidity anyways... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 Well here's some more loot I brought back from Japan for my car. Specifically the 45mm RCAs from MotorFIX. Supposedly the biggest that will fit inside 14" rims - I can attest to that even though I had to remove the grease nipple that had replaced the bolt under by LCA balljoints. I decided to use buttonhead capscrews for ultra clearance but probably not necessary I heard NCRCAs can't be certed (? discussion://oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/51964-jsnapsnzs-1985-ae86-levin/ ) so I've put my Techno Pro Spirits goodness on my shelf to look pretty... my LCAs do look pretty flat now but I do want as much low as possible (poor exhaust) I also plan to have some fun with the Tinting sprays - note also the tint removal spray! (spray can with clear cap) pics to follow.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted March 3, 2016 Author Share Posted March 3, 2016 While I hunt for Whiteline Tail lights I decided to go "US spec" with my full face lights The spray looks so damn close to the factory red plastic I also slapped some LED bulbs in my corner lights and tinted them black & blue You can also see my bumper indicator lenses looking matt - Plastidip Smoke spray blends them into the Plastidipped bumper nicely.. Note the cheeky blue "eyelid" on the headlight - I did go full blue but too obviously illegit 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted March 3, 2016 Author Share Posted March 3, 2016 Ideally I would like to mod some facelift tail lights in this fashion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted March 3, 2016 Author Share Posted March 3, 2016 I was sorely tempted to abandon the Twinscrew path of enlightenment once I stumbled on these in UpGarage Gifu I do want to retain my idle pulse however which I understand is caused by the factory intake mani with big (but not too big!) cams I took a heap of photos after asking the chap at the counter if it was cool. After taking my time (and photos of most things) some workshop looking guy comes rushing up to me "no photo, no photo!!" Oh man but that guy... Shit!! He's gone from the counter Apologies and awkwardness later this guy was still good enough to give me a discount on the tsurikawa rings and wheel nuts I bought 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted May 14, 2016 Author Share Posted May 14, 2016 Phew been a while!! I am happy to admit I've been too busy driving to post here!! (Stop skiting.. ) I decided to take the "easy" option to "reliably" daily my Levin. So sadly I removed the Twinscrew and wrapped it up nice for future use. Reasons: * Cost to complete * Too noisy for neighbours and Wife (sellout I know) * Dubious blower condition - play/gear lash, need to get my original blower back from Rob as this is just my spare Anyways I threw a pod filter at it, tweaked the Master Fuel trim up 15% so it's not too lean and viola! Had several dodgy moments (as you do with first drives of a longtime project) with main issue being cooling. Sorted this now with another fan and 71deg thermostat. Aaaaand wedding car! My wife even suggested doing some skids with me after the ceremony(!) Thanks to my Bro in Law Sam for the second wedding car, keeping it classy with an all Toyota affair... Barely made it up to Whangarei and fouling plugs like a SOB but all GOOD!!! I then celebrated by taking it to the 4 & Rotary Birthday Bash Holy crap twin plate clutches are hard to drive, especially when you have no power! makes me look like a hoon/amateur (not completely inaccurate) 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted May 19, 2016 Author Share Posted May 19, 2016 So I had an amateur moment - pulling plug boots off but being too nancy to hack the heat of jamming my hand all the way down between the cams, sooo I pulled the wire out of the terminal I am going to go right ahead and blame the crappy pliers crimp job of the anonymous vendor of my leads though... So luckily I was able to do exactly that with my own pliers on the side of the road which got me home (then work, then home, then work again when my new leads showed up, then home to fit them, don't let that shit hold you back from enjoying your car!!) Turns out there's lots of V8 lead kits around but bugger all 4cyl (I run straight plug boots V8/13B style to 90deg boots on my 4G63 coils) Anyway I found ProParts Palmy online and ordered MSD lead, plugs, boots and a CRIMPER (yessss!) Nifty wee thing the crimper, just bung it in the vice (or G Clamp as I did) and viola! Not a bad bit of kit for $18 Overall I am super happy with the MSD straight boots even though they were a bastard to get the lead in there. I reckon they will be a lot more pull-out resistant. The crimp terminals are superior also! I let my mild OCD run rife to the fore and made sure to line up the writing on the leads. No time to test it late at night (I'm so considerate of my neighbours) so I left the old leads in the back and caned it to work in the morning. Bugger all chance to open her up, just the motorway offramp to work but I swear it goes better! (Going at all is a bonus really) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted May 19, 2016 Author Share Posted May 19, 2016 Now the Levin is proving to be "reliable" I felt confident taking it up to Whangarei for my mate Brad's Show n Shine at his biz The Tint Shop - coinciding with the Whangarei Festival of Motorsport. The only incidents were a big touch down on SH16 resulting in a broken exhaust mount and my starter motor failing on my way home. Sadly this happened on the busy St Lukes offramp with me stranded in the merging lane blocking Sunday arvo traffic, what a CU#T!! After 5 mins of bashing the starter with my powerbar while my bro tried to start it she fired up, just as a cop pulled up behind me. "Thanks for blocking the traffic officer, yeah mate just stalled it (fugn twin plate) and she wouldn't start but good as gold now, yep on me way THANKS!!!" and out... Phew! I mean I have a WOF but you know... Nice wee line up of Brad's B1600 (w/12A) & his FC3S, Kurt's Skyline, my Levin and Gus's Rotor Starlet 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted May 19, 2016 Author Share Posted May 19, 2016 Actually there was so much awesome old school all over the show so here's a few more pics from the day 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted May 19, 2016 Author Share Posted May 19, 2016 Aaaand a couple more of my Levin My young fella coping with a flat Ipad, chatting to his uncle 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 There was simply too much old school awesome so here's a few more pics 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 Went out for a cruise tonight with a view of taking some nice photos, attracted some undesirable attention: Rego expires tomorrow (oooh actually today now!) so SAFE! Thanks for the additional lighting for my shoot officer 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted May 24, 2016 Author Share Posted May 24, 2016 Before my police run in I bumped into Lewis Huysmans of Motoshots International. He asked if he could take some pics and we had a chat. Hot damn they came out awesome! Filling up with the good stuff!! More pics: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted May 24, 2016 Author Share Posted May 24, 2016 Finally got a video up of my IHI blower running - you'll see why I can't really get away with dailying it like this!!! Poor neighbours... I really should have given it a rev while filming as this is just the idle, suffice to say it was ridiculous and I thought it was broken, my 40mm HTD belt is obviously making it a bit more raucous too! Here's a video of an AE92 in West Akl (Cam) running a similar Twinscrew (Lysholm 1200AX I believe) **Sigh** I miss seeing my supercharger when I open my bonnet 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted May 24, 2016 Author Share Posted May 24, 2016 Not an original pic as my starter is covered in heat shield again but here is what I did to my starter motor: My starter is a recon unit so shouldn't have given grief. I did notice the power feed lug connection wasn't as tight as it should have been but for safety (and guarantee of not having to pull the bastard out again) I added a relay between the ignition wire and the solenoid with a fat power feed direct from the starter power feed. It sounds a bit mental now when starting, kinda has a continual 'clicking' noise (relay??) - unexpected noises in our cars are almost always a bad thing. I don't care though as it works without hesitation and hasn't missed a beat (and no more stranding me in awkward places) Oh and I think it is telling that when you Google Image search "4AGE starter solenoid" the above image is prominent! The OEM starter wire is perhaps a bit on the small side, no doubt deteriorated slightly with (4)age and gained resistance maybe? Or maybe my new solenoid on my recon starter is hungrier for juice than OEM? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 I attended the LACNZ event @ Hampton Downs last weekend. Sadly I missed out on the chance to hack around on the skid pan in the wet but had fun none the less. I managed to park up next to other old school deliciousness too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnapsnz Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 Here's a nicer pic (even with the shitty weather) I'm not such a fan of 'bright' photos, generally preferring a darker exposure By the way if any Oldschoolers in the AKL region want photos taken of their pride & joy we can talk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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