evest

Thanks for the feedback guys - good to know I'm not going bonkers! The Zed; so much more than just a car... Agree it's a bit unusually but hopefully when it's finished it will look

Below is a link to the plenum removal thread - good guide on how to remove and replace it:

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=11091&start=0

Here is a link to another thread on polishing up the plenum:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=16755&start=0&hilit=wire+drill

Shieldsie - If I'm honest, polishing the plenum myself did become a bit of a ball-ache without a proper workshop and professional tools. It will take many hours to achieve as you need to grind back the rough cast with wire drill bits, then sand repeatedly. A professional polisher with do it in half the time and get a much better result - cost I guess anything up to £100? But of course you will be minus plenum/car while they do it.

If you already have the necessary tools to remove the plenum, then your only outlay for a DIY job will be for wire drill bits, various sandpaper and metal polish - I reckon less than £20 easy. If you want to get into all the fiddly bits then you will really need a Dremel and plenty of spare time! The advantage for me (as a novice) was gaining confidence working in the engine bay and knowing I can take bits off and put them back on without wrecking anything.

Cheers

One year on and I can bite my thumb to all those who said the hours of loving care would just be 'a phase'...

I love my Zed.

A bit too much for my fiancee's liking, but then she has her cat... I dry her at night when she's wet (I'm talking about the car now); I clean her often, always slowly and with care; and I even talk to her on occasion - ok, probably getting a bit weird now. Anyway, I thought I would share what I have done to the engine bay so far - my theme is Red & Silver:

Stock plus Nismo oil filler and radiator caps

Polished plenum - I did this myself using the advice on this forum - it took ages and I was bloody nervous the first time I took it off. It looks quite good but admittedly still needs some more work to touch up the edges and fiddly bits.

SAMCO Hose Kit Silver - again I used the guides on here to install this.

Grounding kit (red)

Engine cover - I sanded this down, primed it and then built up the paint layers. I used masking tape the create the striped effect. However, I got impatient between layers and ended up making a right dogs dinner of the first one, as you can see! Plus, I completely mucked up the lacquer application. I had no choice but to strip it, sand it and start again (it was here that I decided to go with the bolder red/silver theme).

You can see in the first pic where the intended stripes have flooded out a bit at the sides - this is because I left the masking tape in place while the layer dried and it wicked some of the wet paint away. On my second attempt I learnt that it works better to take the tape of immediate when the paint has been applied, and this got a much sharper line.

My second attempt with the bold red and slightly different strip design - this was inspired by a Mustang I saw in town with a similar exterior paint job. I'm not about to win any prizes but I think it's starting to look good (IMHO!) but need a bit of touch up as you can see, prior to the lacquer and I will replace the Nissan badge. I haven't decided whether or not to paint the V6 figures. If it all goes wrong then I know I can at least strip it down and try again!

Well that's it for now - I've loved working on it so far and it helps me to learn more about the car as I go. I have an engine damper and some steel braiding ready to install, and a Stillen Hi Flow intake on it's way. Future ideas are polished reservoir tanks, new intake pipe, gallery bolts, carbon cooling plate, and a new strut bar.

But all that will have to wait; got clutch/flywheel and exhaust to go in...oh yeah, and a house to buy... coming dear!

ps - As I've used a lot of information on here to help me so far, I genuinely hope when I've finished the engine bay to be able to give a fuller review and offer back some help for others - but for now just wanted to post up some pics and see what people think so far.

Cheers

Sleechy

Thanks very much for the info - both places definitely within reach. Just got to get the day off work sorted now...

Hi all,

Having done a bit of reckless January spending, can anybody recommend a garage to fit a new clutch and flywheel in the Wiltshire area or within reasonable driving distance? I usually go to L&G in Manchester (top blokes!) but can't get up there for now. I have tried to search the forum but haven't found anything so far.

I have Westover Nissan down the road in Salisbury and have been there once (lost my wheel locking nut key) but don't know about their 350Z credentials and am wary of dealer labour costs. If anybody has any experiences to share I would be very grateful.

Cheers!

ps - a big public thank you to ZMANALEX for his assistance and advice today- top man for your clutch needs

Steve

Stopping off for a quick snack? I hope you weren't eating in the Zed!

I'm a Poynton chap too - GM Coupe, '53

Got the cel reset this morning using the pedal procedure - I see what people mean about it being a knack! Anyway, problem sorted - thanks for your help folks.

Sleechy

Hi all,

Sorry to butt in the thread half way through, but I'm quite interested in knowing more about plenum spacers. Does anyone know why Nissan didn't simply design the engine to distribute air evenly to the front cylinders in the first place? Is there any effect on mpg with a plenum spacer fitted?

Sorry if I should have started my own thread with these questions.

Cheers,

Sleechy

Yeah I mis-read the initial instruction about turning the ignition on - thought it meant engine running which I why I didn't want to do it late at night! Don't worry - I haven't been red-lining her - just haven't got the timing right yet!

Thanks guys; I agree running engine without filter was stupid If its any consolation I spent a good 8 hours over the weekend rubbing various products on/in her, including wheels off for a full scrub and dress! As I said before - the car is running great so I don't think I've bust anything.

Have tried reset a few times today with no joy, but I'm aware it's not that easy to get right so will persevere. If it's not happening I'll pop her down to my local Nissan.

Thanks again for your input, much appreciated.

Sleechy

Thanks mate, will do!

Hi folks,

I removed the OEM air box today with a view to temporarily fitting an upgrade which a mate had lent to me, to try it out before buying one. Unfortunately it didn't fit as the piping section was too short so I put the old one back on.

Unfortunately the CEL is now on. I'll try the ECU reset tomorrow (bit anti social to do it now!).

My mate did rev the car a few time whilst the air box was removed - is this likely to have damaged something? Car has run just fine for the rest of today, and I'm confident that the air box has been refitted correctly.

Thanks for your time to anyone who can help!

Sleechy

They just re-welded to the existing flanges - looks a good job.

Hey Guys,

Well I'm pretty new to the forum, I said hello a few weeks back. Had my Zed for 3 weeks now - '53 grey, 45K - pretty much factory standard.

She was sounding a bit grumpy (deafening in fact) the other day so I went to Kwik Fit (only place with a ramp that was open Sat pm!), so after the fool wheel spins it on to the ramp (heart missed a beat - lucky no damage) I saw that the backbox pipe had completely snapped off at the join with the centre pipe. Great.

Nissan quoted £540ish for replacement (I guess you can get a decent upgrade for that amount!) - and then suddenly said they would do free labour so £440.

Anyway, took it to Torque Technique down in Wilton, Wilthishire - fixed in 2hrs for £70 (dealer I bought it from is paying), and they build custom exhausts too - so might be back there in the summer!!

No major point to this but thought I'd share the story. Sorry didn't think to take pics of the damage. If anyone has had an exhaust from Torque Technique I'd be interested to hear your opinions - cheers.

Shame for this to happen on the honeymoon period - but no big deal I guess and I'm still grinning like an idiot every time I drive her...

Well I'm from a town called Poynton up in Cheshire, but my work location is RAF Boscombe Down, its down in Wilyshire not too far from Stonehenge.

Its also just down the road from Thruxton airfield and I think they do track days there - so when I've got to grips with the car I'll look into it.

Cheers,

Thanks to everyone for welcoming me - I really appreciate it. I will definitely take the advice on board and ease into things out there; although I work in air traffic control so might try and sneak it onto the runway!!

Thanks again, hope to pick it up on the 22nd so I'll check back when its on the driveway and my old man is shaking his head!

Cheers,

Hi everyone,

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/ww ... x_mileage=

In just a couple of weeks I hope to be the proud owner of a Zed, I've attached the auto-trader link so I'd appreciate anybody's experience on the purchase - it looks like a nice example to me - but what do I know?!?

So this is my first 'real' car having been pootling about in a Peugeot 206 (yeah I know) for the last 5 years - so I'm long overdue an upgrade.

I'm very excited about the car and look forward to learning much more about it when I get going. I had look a few different sports cars but a petrolhead mate (VX220 chap) talked me into this one - so here goes!

I look forward to chatting soon, I'll let you guys know how I get on.

Cheers!