desertfox

Belfast had its moments......... Its not so quiet here at present. I was thinking about having a supercharged motor but its plenty quick enough as it is , I am concentrating on making it real world usable as I plan to sprint across europe in it when the weather gets to dodgy for the bike. My old body spent far too long stagging on in the rain ya see...........

Well a big bill that was worth every penny from Abbey and the car is going well . About 900 mile s before I left her to come back to work. So when I get home Ill run back to Abbey for an oil change and fitting the cooler plus a once over. Then Its time for the cosmetics / handling. Carbon Bonnets ? What do we think ? I like the look but if its going to be all wobbly and need pins to secure it I wont bother. I need a pair of sills as I have one that is split. any recommendations / avoidance when it comes to aftermarket bodywork ? I will buy a couple of carbon bits, front splitter etc then its off for paint or a wrap. still undecided on that. final part will be wheels, im not after cosmetics and have had my Rays powdercoated in a very shiny deep black, but I could go a little wider any advice ? I fancy uprating the satnav as well and liked the idea of a touchscreen , anyone still doing this ? or know where I can get it done. I am not trowing cash at it blindly and know what I want in the end, a nice fast GT car thats as striking to drive as it is to look at and hear. I have the go, the stopping and the sound. just the middle bit missing now. Please discuss and give me some feed back. It will pass the time in Iraq... Nobby.

My 350 is now tucked up for another 5 weeks while Im in Iraq, Ive done about 900 miles since the rebuild and it will go back to abbey for the oil cooler and a service when Im home next. Really pleased, it goes really well and sounds epic... next on the list is a set of wheels some carbon and a paint job. Possibly a satnav upgrade as well. Im going to fit wider 18s any suggestions ? Anyone have any tips re Carbon Bonnets, I like the look but dont want to get into too much impracticality. On the sat nav front any suggestions ? It will give me something to think about in the evenings.

well 2 months and a fair old bill later and she is back together. What can I say ? its now has more torque more power at the hubs and stops and handles better. Lighter flywheel helps no end, downside is a little more noise from the transmission and a bit of gearbox rattle at Idle, but i own a Ducati so dont really care about that. The list of work is as follows. Strip and rebuild with , Wiseco pistons, Rebuilt heads New oil water pumps Stillen sump All new seals bearings etc Kinetix big bore cats Mongoose full systemKinetix inlet K and N filter kit Up rev New suspension bushes Front Discs replaced (I had put ebc drilled discs on it, 3000 miles ago and they are rubbish) Ive powder coated the Rays in high gloss black. new tyres all round. It goes like it should handles and stops and is fun to drive. Next on the list is a load of carbon a paint job and some wider 18s. Ill take some pics and post them shortly. The team at Abbey have been brilliant, if you want your Zed to be looked after there is only one place to go. They looked after me and I can trust the workmanship and the level of knowledge of the engine and car in general is 1st rate. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Its going back for its oil cooler when Ive done a 1000 miles . By which time I will have a load of carbon bits on the way. Ive now spent almost as much as a nice 370 would cost me, is it worth it ? absolutely. Would I do it again ? no question. I now have a very quick normally aspirated 350. As a real world sports GT its great. Now all I need is some time to enjoy it.

Well the car that started this is now back on the road. New post to tell all.....

Well as its my car that started this thread I am pleased to report that the motor is nearly done and on its way back into the car. It would seem the damage was indeed done by the previous owner , I am looking forward to getting the beast back on the road, Abbey have done the rebuild and a fair few improvements along the way. Wiesco Forged pistons, all new bearings uprev oil pump etc. I planned run the car as a cold / wet weather substitute for my bike but after all this I am just going to just have to carry on, loads of carbon , paint job etc.. be rude not to really..... Home from Iraq this week cant wait. DF

This was an 06 Car that had done just 40.000 when it decided it wanted to be a five cylinder, I had had a spurious misfire at 38.OOO and thats when it got crap bosch plugs of the wrong grade I will be going back to the dealer as I think this is not just a "detonation" problem. Ive seen enough holed pistons with racing two strokes , the plug grade is a factor although of course the fuel is too. Why didnt I fit the plugs ? If I had taken the old ones out I would have spotted the sooty one, compression tested it and saved some damage, still would have needed a rebuild of course. When I get the pics from abbey and the details of the whole rebuild Ill document it all and post here so others can learn from my misfortune. I am lucky enough to be in a job that pays for it and be single enough not to care ! But this could be a disaster for the unwary . Any more tales of expensive blow ups ? While its in bits I may as well do whatever it needs. I have thought of supercharging but wont as Tony at abbey assures me that the up rev will transform it and with the other mods and the new hi comp pistons, skimmed heads and set up it should be a very health quick car. Now where can I get some cheap avgas... ? Once had an old 6 litre Buick in Canada that we ran on Avgas we pinched from the Beaver aircraft we had , That car went like hell. until it blew up..... hmmmmm I seem to have wrecked a few engines in my time.. Back to the snow and ice. - 15 here and getting colder .

Well thats my piston ! Centre pot on LH bank. had been using oil steadily worse from when I bought it 34 on the clock, ran it on 99 almost from the day I got it but the damage had been done in its past life. It was made worse but fitting the wrong grade of plug by my local dealer which has effectivly spark erroded the piston. Im not happy, most of all because I should have identified it sooner . It wouldnt have stopped the engine strip and I was always going to have it rebuilt and set up. Lesson learned , they dont like it ! The bill is going to be comedy numbers..... but its worth every penny. Nobby.

Hi Guys, (and any ladies that may be on here !) and thanks for the warm welcome, The Z is with Abbey and they have taken pics, being rebored for the Wiseco Pistons as we speak. I have used them in bikes and they are good quality. I have had problems with JE pistons in bikes so didnt want them and the Wisecos are are cheaper than OE. Crank was ok but a couple of the shells had been marked . I just know it will be quick, getting a light flywheel and clutch which will effect road manners a bit but its a GT car and I use at such, so dont mince about town in it ! Im sat up a mountain in Iraq writing this and cant wait to get back next month, Might have to have a sit down after I get the bill but what the hell. I did think about having it blown but supercharging isnt worth it , I may as well buy a GT R. The paint job is the next thing, car is silver and I want to keep it simple and sort of original so Im thinking stripes , 2 tone or something along those lines, toyed with having it wrapped, I thought about white, Gulf Oils , JPS lotus, and all manner of things inbetween . I had the bottom of the car done in grey (pics to follow) which is ok but Im disapointed with wrapping , just doesnt look good enough close up. So I have a body shop lined up to do the work. Any ideas ? Dont want it to be lairy, but striking, Ive always loved the way the old F1 cars and GT cars looked. have a soft spot for muscle cars (what petrol head hasnt) and Im a bike loon as well so lots of influences. I have also thought of copying some of the paint seen on the Reno Unlimited air racers. (used to fly myself and on my "to do" list is flying in a mustang ) Take a look at "rare bear" on you tube. its 350 with wings. Anyway, suggestions welcome and it will keep my brain active in the cold ! Regards Nobby. PS pics when I get home i think .

Hi all, I have had my zed some 6 months of happy and very unhappy motoring. Its an 06 UK GT with a mere 33 on the clock but a bit of a "history" but it was cheaper than market value so more cash to spend on making it go properly. Hmm there was a flaw in that plan. Well replaced the fried brakes (it had been to a track day or two and the pillock who owned it was not really mechanically sympathetic.) and belly plate, front grill, on with a mongoose system, cure a misfire that has put me off Nissan dealers forever..... , redone the wheels, new tyres just set up the Kinetix plenum (new stainless jobbie from the good ol US and A ) K and N Fitted and then the oil consumption became a little excessive . Bit like the Exon Valdez was a minor spill...... eaten a piston. Mark at Abbey arranged to pick it up and I arranged a therapy session and some overtime... and a lie down later I got the full story. So Its getting forged pistons and a new clutch rebuilt with all the new bits and uprev (which was next anyway) . Should go like a good un when I get it back. Then it will be some minor paint to make it really stand out and the fun can begin. still cheaper than the 911 i was considering and much more fun. Ill keep you posted on how it all goes . Nobby

If you are going to southern Germany, or what is in fact Bavaria, they are not Germans ! (bit like the welsh) Then you need to take the cable car up the Nebelhorn to the Gasthaus at the top, Strudel and custard.... Then there is Brietachklamm. (phonetic spelling) which is like cheddar Gorge on acid. not far from the Nebel horn, the roads around there are amazing including the run down from Oberjoch which has more bends than a bendy thing, early morning for that is best as overtaking is a death wish. Then if you are going to do it right without lots of boring autobahn on the way, you could go Calais- Eindhoven- Wankum (yes really) Essen Dortmund up to soest. (4 hour run) Then turn off into westphalia and take in the Mohne Dam, followed by the Eder and Sorpe, then its south for about 5 hours to Bavaria. Munich is worth a visit, outside is Dachau, the first concentration camp. not a jolly place but everyone should go and see it. The Village of **** is a must stop for pics... I spent 9 years stationed in the Army in Germany. Best laugh and the greatest education a 17 year old could have. Im planning to do the Dams Raid in june / july on my bike with some old army buddies but I have it in mind as a recce for a bigger 350 mounted expedition in 2013 the 70th year of the Dambusters raid. Its a great country and if you havent been a few other tips. 1 learn basic phrases and the Germans will speak english almost straight away. 2 DO NOT ARGUE WITH COPS. they have guns. 3 The Autobahn is not speed limit free. if you get nicked they can take your car ! 4 More so in Belgium and Holland a 300 quid roadside fine isnt uncommon. 5 Local Beer is always best, Wietzen (wheat) beer will get you plastered and no hangover. 6 The Scnell imbiss is a great way to eat cheaply and well. beats the crap out of mcDonalds. eating out neednt be expensive. 7 Buy rolls and cakes from the bakeries that are in every village almost. fresh and brilliant. 8 Make sure you have good insurance cover and breakdown cover that WILL get you and your car home. If you wrap it round a tree it can get very very expensive. This includes medical cover no NHS ! 9. Watch out for Porsches and Mercs when in the outside lane, they will flash their lights and EXPECT YOU to get out of the way. They will sustain very high speeds even if it seems that they dont know what they are at in the bends. Eyes in the back of your head. 10. When it rains, standing water can be lethal. Many of the older autobahns have little or no camber. Wrecked my MK 1 Capri like that. 11. Have fun. after all we did win. Twice. Well including 66 Three times.... Nobby.