datsunfreak Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 My boss picked this up for a very good price, so we are going to spruce it up a bit and hopefully use it as a track car for HPDEs, etc. Current drivetrain is a 5.0L Mustang engine with the Mustang's T-5 transmission. Beefy aluminum radiator, but otherwise bone stock. So first on the list is probably brake upgrades, seats, and a roll bar. Definitely needs paint... Don't hate the turbines, but may switch to something a bit more aggressive. B) Removed the rough stock seats and the nasty carpet... Swap was reasonably well done, but we may rework the engine mounts a bit... Lots of work ahead, but it'll be a ton of fun when it's finished... :thumbup: 1 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted November 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 I will soon source a 280Z console and weld up that hole in the tunnel... :rofl: 1 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted November 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Got all the parts and trim out of the back. Floors look pretty good back here... Up front, not so much... ^_^ Got the drip rail trim off and quarter glass out. That is not easy... Gonna work on patching the floors tomorrow, and hopefully some more teardown to prep for body work and paint... :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 26, 2014 Report Share Posted November 26, 2014 You don't need a console if a track car. Tear all that shit out and slam it to get the center of gravity lower or will corner like a pig with that V8 in it. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted November 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 You don't need a console if a track car. Good point. ^_^ It was really just to make the inside look a bit better or more "complete"... slam it to get the center of gravity lower or will corner like a pig with that V8 in it. The engine has all it's weight a good bit further back than the stock engine. Notice the front of the block lines up with the axle centerline? Also, it really only weighs a negligible amount more (560~ pounds with trans) than an L28E (490~ pounds with trans). I don't think the swap is going to effect the handling much, if at all. But we will slam it to get the center of gravity lower. B) 1 Quote Link to comment
j.Mack Posted November 29, 2014 Report Share Posted November 29, 2014 I look forward to seeing the progression of this build...good luck with it! Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 So weird idea #1 pops up... Boss decided he wanted to use a beer keg for a fuel tank. :rofl: We picked up two today. One really nice, one kinda beat up. Probably use the beat one for mockup then the nice one for the final install. Since they are stainless steel, I also think we can shorten it a bit. It holds 15 gallons as is, so if we cut 6-8" off the bottom it should still hold over 10 gallons... Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2014 Santa brought some classy... 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 27, 2014 Report Share Posted December 27, 2014 So weird idea #1 pops up... Boss decided he wanted to use a beer keg for a fuel tank. :rofl: We picked up two today. One really nice, one kinda beat up. Probably use the beat one for mockup then the nice one for the final install. Since they are stainless steel, I also think we can shorten it a bit. It holds 15 gallons as is, so if we cut 6-8" off the bottom it should still hold over 10 gallons... Aluminum Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2014 Aluminum I know for sure the one on the right is thin wall stainless. ;) Until I saw them, I would've sided with you. Seems like every one I've ever seen is aluminum, but that one is definitely not. Looking at the photo, looks like the one on the left might be aluminum? I'll check tomorrow and confirm. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2014 Looking at the photo, looks like the one on the left might be aluminum? I'll check tomorrow and confirm. I can guarantee they are both stainless steel. Neither is aluminum. :thumbup: According to the guy who we bought them from, they stopped making them out of aluminum because it got too expensive, and people would steal them for scrap value. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2014 Back glass came out in one piece... Bottom corners have a little rust, but mostly on the surface. They still seem fairly solid. Probably get away with grinding the rust off and sealing it up... Thankfully the front glass came out in one piece also... Lower corners on it were in much better shape... Quote Link to comment
fyanrudger Posted December 27, 2014 Report Share Posted December 27, 2014 Re: the kegs... It's your car, just don't ruin it. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted December 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 Re: the kegs... Too late. ^_^ Quote Link to comment
fyanrudger Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Which way to the frat house?! 1 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 A little more "because racecar" today... Got tired of trying to fix things in the engine bay with the engine in the car so... Removing all the unnecessary brackets in the engine bay... And removing all the HVAC stuff... Main reason for engine pull is some slipshod work done by the last guy when the engine was installed. It's also not shifting very well, so we're going to see about getting the trans rebuilt. Stay tuned... Quote Link to comment
datrod Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 So your going to use this as a track car? I don't think a beer keg will pass tech inspection. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 I don't think a beer keg will pass tech inspection. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: We'll tint the windows then... B) 1 Quote Link to comment
datrod Posted January 3, 2015 Report Share Posted January 3, 2015 So I take it you have never been thru a tech inspection. They don't just look thru the windows. Plus if you do any open track days that could be deadly. If some ass hat happens to hit you from behind. BOOM!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 So I take it you have never been thru a tech inspection. I take it you're not much for jokes... :rofl: Yes, been through it many times myself. The car owner never has. Plus if you do any open track days that could be deadly. If some ass hat happens to hit you from behind. BOOM!!!!!!!!! You do understand the factory fuel tank is even closer to the rear of the car right? And made of thinner metal? ^_^ Also, not my car. So not my boom. :rofl: That was a joke. Quote Link to comment
datrod Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 OK. As long as we are on the same page. :w00t: Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 Got an R200 LSD today... As well as another T-5... Turns out the Ford T-5 that came in the car was absolute junk. Hoping we can make the T-5 from my 280ZX turbo donor work with the Ford engine... Quote Link to comment
afbrian13 Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 Sad news on that zx t-5. Unless you want to take the case apart its not going to work. I was thinking the same thing but just sold the zx trans and decided id just find a mustang t-5 when the time comes. Check out hybridz org for all those questions. Nice find btw. Itd be kinda cool to find a 5.0 swap as loong as they didnt butcher it. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 Sad news on that zx t-5. Unless you want to take the case apart its not going to work. This is what I'm finding out. Pilot bushing is a slightly different size, and obviously the clutch spline is completely different... :blush: Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted January 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Cruising craigslist last night and found this... Looks like hell, but it has a T-5 in it, and this will give us a spare engine just in case ours goes boom... :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
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