Sam's VN

[savage1987]

the straight shifter handle was supplied by GMM with the ripshift after I described what I needed on the phone, they had one still there from a batch they had in stock previously. I think it might be the same top handle the corvette setups use but don't quote me on it. There is none of the VT-Z shifter involved except the VY SS gear knob and boot (which I'm still not sure how to get integrated into a VN centre console)

[savage1987]

so ummmm

tonight I grabbed second pretty hard off a set of lights, was up at the limiter and I gave it very little sympathy with the shift, and I heard a weird snap noise from down the back somewhere. Car started lurching left a bit under power, and had next to no traction.... and the minispooled diff is no longer minispooled.

Snapped her first axle I'm kinda upset, but mainly proud lol, and to be honest a little happy because this is the kick in the arse I needed to build my 3.9 TrueTrac diff.

now I REALLY need to get the other car back on the road ASAP!!

[savage1987]

Stripped the front end yesterday to get some new control arms in - Pedders are making me up new front LCAs, and rear upper and trailing arms with Nolathane through them and new ball joints - unfortunately I couldn't get the old LCAs to separate from the struts so I just removed the whole strut/LCA assembly on each side to take in to Pedders. By the time I'd finished stuffing around they were closing so it will have to wait until next week. While I was there I replaced the tie rod ends and threw in some new Superpro mounting bushes around the sway bar, which as it turns out was 26mm from the factory.

Also I'm in the unfortunate position where I've installed new steering rack ends, boots and tie rod ends, but the rack could use replacing. I'm wondering if it's going to be possible to get a reconditioned rack without those parts on it.

I got a quote from Brinks Performance here in Townsville on a Truetrac setup using the 3.9s I have in the shed. It wasn't as much as I expected - $1900, with about a week turnaround.

Fair bit of work going on but it should be well worth it once it's done.

Oh and I got in touch with Joe from AutoTek in NSW (first Momo distributor I came across) and he said if I email him a photo of the steering wheel in this car he will talk me through all the options available for a horn pad - I bought it without one and I think it will look so much better once it's set up properly - it is a good looking wheel


Aaaand there's an exhaust leak I keep forgetting about that kinda stinks up the cabin if the windows are up. It's from the driver's side header where it joins to the head. These CAE headers just keep getting less awesome. Should be just a matter of unbolting the header and being generous with some sealant on the gasket then sliding it back in and bolting it all up again.

[savage1987]

couple of quick photos...

Here's where the car's at right now - doesn't look too happy really haha














when I figure out how to do a neat boot instal whose layout I'm happy with, this will make its way into the car...








I still need to get around to this job as well.










and if anyone wants slotted 330mm / skyline 4pot brakes to suit a vn/p, LET ME KNOW as these are taking up room in the shed!! They were for the 304 but didn't end up fitting behind the spokes of the 16s.

[RB30X]

Regarding the shifter mate, I've got an LS1 in a Datto 240Z and I bought an shifter from ebay US for cheap as, which included a shifter knob with the 6 speed pattern on it. I think it looks great plus if someone ever needs to drive your car they will know where to find reverse..........eventually.

[savage1987]

Regarding the shifter mate, I've got an LS1 in a Datto 240Z and I bought an shifter from ebay US for cheap as, which included a shifter knob with the 6 speed pattern on it. I think it looks great plus if someone ever needs to drive your car they will know where to find reverse..........eventually.

I actually have a VY SS shifter on it now, just need to work out how to integrate that into the centre console. At the moment it's just sitting out in the open with the leather boot just flopping around

[savage1987]

OK this is where we're at right now:




















There's a new bonnet cable on the way, the new door locks have arrived (awaiting inspiration), and the four rear arms have been re-bushed with Nolathane.


Also discovered the tailshaft bolts had worked loose presumably from the minispool's violent tendencies.. not ideal but there you have it

[hotbox]

where do u live man? intersting setup

[savage1987]

Townsville mate, which part are you talking about in particular? The dual sways? They are coming off due to me not being happy with the link setup.

[savage1987]

Took the front suspension out of this car today and put it in the 304. This car will get the overhaul I had originally planned for the 5 litre, which should hopefully allow me to move to a much better setup overall.

I don't know what options are available for getting coilovers into a VN, but if there isn't huge (structural) modification involved then I'm very interested in going down this road.

The axle is still snapped clean in two, still chasing options and a bit of free cash to get this fixed (I recently moved house so financially I'm a little behind where I'd like to be at the moment)

Once these jobs are done I can finally decide what to do with the motor, whether it be continue down the N/A route with the cam and head swap or avoid my header fitment issues and turbo it. Need to look into legality for engineering there but in a perfect world that's probably where I'd like to end up.

[qwigybo]

good write up man any more progress lately ?

[savage1987]

good write up man any more progress lately ?

Thanks




on the way: Harrop Truetrac LSD centre!!!

getting somewhere finally!!




and for anyone who hasn't seen inside these things, they are a helical / mechanical type LSD, no clutches:






A few people have asked why I went this way instead of a Kaaz centre. My answer has always been that a clutch type just seems so much less efficient and I don't like them. It's like they just threw a whole crapload of consumable parts in there that are bound to just loosen up / burn and cause problems over time.

I like the helical design, ever since I first saw them


for comparison, a kaaz centre:





Here's the Harrop page for anyone interested, contact details are on that site also.






Anyway she's in pieces again at the moment getting a wiring tidy up / freshen up, the battery moved to the boot, this new diff with 3.9s, and probably coilovers while I'm at it. I really do miss driving it. Feels like such a waste having it just collecting dust in the shed.

[savage1987]

Small progress

[cthawes]

this is really coming along well great job

[savage1987]

Thanks

we (well I didn't help much so mostly Brad) have almost finished up the driver's headlight. The loom for that incorporates the thermo fan wiring as well, so it's a bit of a fatter one. I have started re-routing a few wires through the guard from the driver's footwell; not many have to go through there at all which is nice. While I was there I put the bonnet cable through the same sheetmetal so that will be hidden under the guard as well, although the way I am running it will mean it needs extended a little.


Haven't attacked the fuses/relays or the main power wiring yet, but we're getting there.


Also yet to mount the battery box and figure out exactly where everything is going to end up in the boot area.