Spoona_Jay21 Posted May 15, 2019 Report Share Posted May 15, 2019 (edited) Hey everyone! So I used to be here often.... but I strayed for a while, got back into VW's, and various other things.... some may remember, most probably won't. ANYWAY! After my Lexus made me HATE owning a "newer" car, I decided it is time to get something "SIMPLE" again to daily. and here it is. 81' 720 - z22 - Nothing crazy. Got it from a buddy of mine, by trading him R33 GTR wheels for it 😂. she is rough, been sitting since 2014, LOTS of rust, but it has character, and I love that. Oh! that reminds me! She goes by Ladybug, because a previous owner decided at one point to cover rusty spots, by BRUSHING BLACK PAINT OVER THE SPOTS! A trend which will continue 😂 Basic plans include: -Roadkill it to run again -Relocate battery to bed (OG tray is DUST) THEN: -Cool wheels from Japan -Euro mk1 Vw front bumper (sorry, Dubber @ heart) [tested, doesn't fit] -US Spec Mk1 GTI front air dam (tested, doesn't fit) -Custom Tube rear bumper -Minor interior updates(steering wheel, shift knob, ect) -Weber 32/36 -Header/full exhaust A few friends and I will be learning to Weld on this truck, so look forward to bad Amateur Rust repair 😂 Anyway, here's Pics WARNING! Progress will probably be sorta slow, as My Cabrio is still my first love, and Priority as a project.... I know. I'm dumb. Glad to be back guys 😈 Edited September 30, 2019 by Spoona_Jay21 1 1 Quote Link to comment
hobospyder Posted May 15, 2019 Report Share Posted May 15, 2019 I may have a bumper you can use. Message me on the Instagram and I'll take pictures and send to you. It's either mk1 or mk2, not sure. 1 Quote Link to comment
bananahamuck Posted May 16, 2019 Report Share Posted May 16, 2019 Is there any way you can get the passed out dude out of engine compartment so hood will shut?? . . 1 1 Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted May 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 Battery Box Aquired 1 1 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted May 18, 2019 Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 I do remember. Nice truck! Welcome back. 1 Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted September 8, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 So my buddy and I actually did some shit on the truck today! Got her pulled out of the field and washed, Established she had compression, and fuel, then realized it had intermittent Power to the Coils. After doing some looking about... we realized the Wiring in the bay is a rats nest! things taped together, quick spliced, incorrect colors, ect. After establishing that, we quickly realized that it would be a NIGHTMARE to try and rewire everything with the cut up, OEM harness. So we have decided to rewire the truck. I will be doing some research on figuring HOW we want to go about it. However while we are doing the wiring work, we will be pulling the Engine/trans as well, to clean up the engine bay and go through the engine. Basic engine plans consist of EITHER: A: remove all emissions crap and replace Hitachi W/ Weber and do a basic Reseal and clean up of the engine (new gaskets, paint some shit, ect) B: build an LZ with Sidedrafts Either way, excited to get more work done! hope to actually get it HOME and in the garage soon (within 2 weeks) and I'll keep ya'll posted with pics! Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted September 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2019 So I finally got her home today! did some final clean out, to see what was all there, And not there 😆 Found out the floors are a little more Rotten than I thought, but workable. also Found an Unopened Can of Coors Light under the seat, Wonder how long that's been there! Also, some Final Decisions have been made, 1. We are keeping the NapZ and going to reseal, with a new Hotter Cam, Weber 32/36, and Pacesetter Header (picking up tomorrow, will post pics) 2. The truck is getting completely Rewired with a Painless 21 Circuit Harness (just to ease my mind of ANY electrical Gremlins that may be due to 40 year old wiring that may, or may not have been fucked with) 3. The engine bay is getting rust repair while the engine and harness are out, and is being repainted a nice Dijon Mustard Color. Unsure of the EXACT color we will use, but I'll keep it updated once i figure it out. Some Decisions I am toying with: 1. Late 720 all chrome bumper (much prefer the look to the early plastic capped bumpers 😷) 2. Shaving the Center Latch on the tailgate, in favor of Chromed Earlier style Side latches like on 620's and older. anyway, not really any real progress, but I figured I would try and keep this up to date, and share some ideas i've had. 1 Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted September 23, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2019 1 More part down! picked up a Pacesetter Header NIB off Facebook Marketplace today. Said her husband bought it for their work truck, Then changed his mind. got it 100$ off retail! Also ran across a clean little Comanche! Not too often I see them in the wild anymore Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted September 29, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2019 got a Decent amount done today! My buddy Josh came up and helped me yank the Engine and Trans. had a few small casualties, but overall everything went SUPER SMOOTH! Not a broken stud or bolt! at least today anyway, here are pics... Removing the rest of the rotten battery tray with snips, cause we were tired of cutting our self. Removed the Grille with 1 small Casualty 😭 but the other breaks in the Grille look Fixable 👍 Exhaust cut off and out! getting her ready to come out! After we got it out, we needed to admire the ANTLERS 😆 However, before we got it on the stand, we had a small causality... the engine Hoist kinda fell over.... damaged the front valance, and front pulleys... but in the end, finally got it on the stand, and the new Header mocked up! In the end, i am still feeling super confident. This is kind of my first REALLY big "Build" and super exited to get more work done. hoping to get the engine torn down to a long block and cleaned tomorrow, THEN we can tare it down further to investigate how good this little Z22 still is. 1 Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted September 30, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 HOLY FUCK! So Josh and I tore the engine down to a short block today, checked the Bearings, and any other wear, and this Z22 is one of the CLEANEST engines i have had the pleasure of tearing apart! only 1 broken bolt (lower bolt on the lower coolant outlet) which to me is a SOLID win! This was taken IMMEDIATELY after we pulled the Valve cover off, I was BLOWN AWAY on how clean it is. However when you flip it over you can see some bad carbon build up on the valves, and see they aren't quite seating right, along with a bit of oil in cyl. 2, So i am goin to do the valve seals, and re-seat the valves \\ Also looking at the block, the cylinder walls are SO SMOOTH! kinda surprised, only one that has any issue is a bit of rust build up in Cyl. 4 but honestly I think that might be from sitting for a while. After flipping it over and pulling the pan, we found ALOT of sludge in the pan, but no particles in the oil pickup, so i am pretty confident the sludge is just from the truck sitting. In conclusion, today was a HUGE Success! Honestly, I am feeling More and more Confident as they project goes on. just waiting for that other shoe to drop 😅 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 30, 2019 Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 7 hours ago, Spoona_Jay21 said: HOLY FUCK! So Josh and I tore the engine down to a short block today, checked the Bearings, and any other wear, and this Z22 is one of the CLEANEST engines i have had the pleasure of tearing apart! only 1 broken bolt (lower bolt on the lower coolant outlet) which to me is a SOLID win! This was taken IMMEDIATELY after we pulled the Valve cover off, I was BLOWN AWAY on how clean it is. This is what happens when you change your oil and filter regularly and keep it tuned up. The oily #2 is troublesome. Hope it's just a seal. 1 Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted November 30, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2019 Well, after watching a few people online and not having the money for the BIG stuff, mustered up the Motivation to "Restore" the distributor. Started with exterior Disassembly. Then started to Wire wheel some stuff. Then Primed and painted a few items While I was waiting for that to dry I repaired a Borken Connector on the ignition Wiring Also Put a Semi-gloss Clear over all the bare parts. And After Drilling out the Pins that held the side clips on, needed to replace em and found some Cotter pins in the garage. Not quite as "Clean" looking as the OEM Pins, but they will do. And My Newly "Refurbished" Distributor. Nice way to fill a cold Afternoon. Might start this process on the Alternator Today. Might not. Not sure Yet. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 30, 2019 Report Share Posted November 30, 2019 22100-N8561 was only used on the 1981 S110 200sx with the Z20E engine. Some time in the past this was swapped into the 720. That's alright it will work just as well. 1 Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted November 30, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2019 1 hour ago, datzenmike said: 22100-N8561 was only used on the 1981 S110 200sx with the Z20E engine. Some time in the past this was swapped into the 720. That's alright it will work just as well. Oh! Great to know! It was the one that was in the truck when I got it, and it worked when the truck ran last 😆😆😆 Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted January 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 Nothing Crazy, but making VERY Small Progress. Since the Alternator still worked, I just tore it apart and cleaned it up a bit. Not show quality, but nice enough for this truck Also picked up a small used Flux welder and helmet. Had a go at the old muffler of the truck. not amazing, but i don't think it was terrible for a first try. Hopefully i can do the sheetmetal work I need to now. Burned through a few times, but that's why I was practicing on scrap and not the truck! 😆 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 Flux core and sheet are very difficult and frustrating. Make sure that every time you end a weld you chip and scrub all the flux out before starting another weld that contacts the first weld. Because sheet requires small tacks to avoid warpage, cleaning a row of tacks before running the next row will take forever, but will be necessary. 2 Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted January 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2020 8 hours ago, Lockleaf said: Flux core and sheet are very difficult and frustrating. Make sure that every time you end a weld you chip and scrub all the flux out before starting another weld that contacts the first weld. Because sheet requires small tacks to avoid warpage, cleaning a row of tacks before running the next row will take forever, but will be necessary. Thank you sir! Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted January 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2020 Since I am kinda Held up on the Engine right now, I decided to tear apart some bits around the battery tray and see how bad it ACTUALLY is. Workable. The body mount is Solid still, but the rest of the sheetmetal around it needs love... Lots of love. Sorry for the shitty Video Quality. Planning on cutting out alot tomorrow.... We'll see how that goes! lol Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted January 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2020 Oh! and my buddy Is media blasting some stuff for me. sent me a few pics of the timing cover, he also has my engine mounts, oil pan, valve cover, and some other misc bits. Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted January 29, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2020 Actually made some REAL progress last night. cut out the battery try, cab mount, and a bit of the core support. . next up is to finish cutting the scraggly bits of rusted sheet on the Cab mount, then rust Neutralizer on it. after that, making new panels for what I have cut out. I am moving the battery to a box in the bed, so no need to "Replace" the tray, just the sheetmetal underneath. Still a bit of Pitted metal, but not alot. i reckon a neutralizer, and body filler after i fix the surrounding area should fix it right up. Cab mount looks a bit Boofed. but it still feels super solid, so it will go back in. just after it gets some more love Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted January 29, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2020 (edited) One thing I did learn however is.... I am like Picasso with an angle grinder! Lots of crooked lines that either intersect weird, or kinda go nowhere! 😂😂😂 Edited January 29, 2020 by Spoona_Jay21 1 Quote Link to comment
Spoona_Jay21 Posted March 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2020 Z22 is red. Quote Link to comment
mikecaleb Posted January 31, 2021 Report Share Posted January 31, 2021 On 11/30/2019 at 1:01 PM, Spoona_Jay21 said: Well, after watching a few people online and not having the money for the BIG stuff, mustered up the Motivation to "Restore" the distributor. Started with exterior Disassembly. Then started to Wire wheel some stuff. Then Primed and painted a few items While I was waiting for that to dry I repaired a Borken Connector on the ignition Wiring Also Put a Semi-gloss Clear over all the bare parts. And After Drilling out the Pins that held the side clips on, needed to replace em and found some Cotter pins in the garage. Not quite as "Clean" looking as the OEM Pins, but they will do. And My Newly "Refurbished" Distributor. Nice way to fill a cold Afternoon. Might start this process on the Alternator Today. Might not. Not sure Yet. None of the pics are showing up. But if you dont mind could you send them to me if you have em still. Im rebuilding my z22 right now as well. I also used a painless performance wiring harness to wire my 86 d21. Have had lots of trouble getting good spark. Very interested in how you wired yours up. If you have already. Thanks Quote Link to comment
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