75 replies to this topic

[bradlee]

I just finished my 5-speed swap on the 1JZ, so I figured I'd post my version of a "build" thread...

Going back to when I first picked up the car for $250...





After sitting in the backyard for a while, I ordered a JZX90 motorset from J-Hot Imports...



Here's where I cheated a little bit. Towed the car down to Grip Industries with the 1JZ in the back of a U-Haul. Instant JZX!







I picked up a fender, some headlights and an '89 grill from a junkyard car. Test fit the 18x8.5/18x9 Astromax wheels (must be like the Rotas of Japan, clearly VIP knockoffs). Donk status!



So, to fix that. I got some JIC coilovers. Also put on Z32 brakes...





Fast forward to a couple months ago, I started a low-budget W58 swap on the 1JZ. I didn't take many pics along the way, but you know the routine. I also put in a Supra 4.30 LSD with solid bushings and a pretty janky fabbed front mount. It took me a while cause I work slow and only have time to work on the car on Saturdays. So, after finally driving the car around today with an open downpipe, here's how it's looking today...





So, assuming all this junk holds together for a while, I'm probably going to start making it a little prettier with some fresh paint. I know the coilovers still need to be lowered some more. I swapped out the front 245s for some 225s so I could lower it down some more, but said screw it once I got the car fired up. I just wanted to drive it. Gonna put some more miles on it and see how this POS ebay clutch holds up *sigh*.

Update: 100 miles on the clutch so far. It's holding

[Garcia]

Those wheels gotta go. Good start & good luck.

[theianmonster]

Those wheels gotta go. Good start & good luck.

[lucas]

not a bad start, I think those wheels would look better with the car slammed w/o mudflaps.

[knshro]

I like it. good start man.

The wheels look good. but hey, everyone has their own tastes.

Like what Lucas said, it would look better with the tire tucking.

[bradlee]

I like 'em, but I've always got my eyes open for something else. Eventually I'll pull the trigger on some Works; VS-XXs, Equips, or something like that. I was going to run the 17x9s you see on the Z32 in one of the pics, but the offset sucks and I think 17s look too small on the X8.

[Jason]

Those wheels gotta go. Good start & good luck.

^^^

i like them but not on x8. 18s or 19s or bust

[shoesandsocks]

Agreed the wheels gotta go and u should sell them to me so i can put them on my gs

[bradlee]

Haha, I never see these things, but there's actually a set on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...em=120543672483

I was thinking about grabbing them and putting the 18x9s up front, then sell the 18x8s and 18x8.5s as a set to someone else. Hmm?

[bradlee]

Ran the 1/4 mile tonight. Ran almost identical to when the car was auto. I feel like I have to baby the W58, so I'm probably shifting this thing like a DSM. But the car is still more fun. Got a lot of Cressida love in the staging lanes. No video, bummer.

[Kyle]

what'd it run? You have th 430's in when you ran it auto?

[bradlee]

On 12-13psi, it's basically 13.8 @ 100. On the auto, I was still stock open diff. The car could go faster, but I'm not going to tear up the stupid W58 trying to do proper drag launches. However, I managed to pull a 2.0 60' on my first pass, which I think was the best I could do with the auto. I need to go dig up my old timeslips. I really need to grab a boost controller.

[bradlee]

This small local road course management cries about how you might tear up their grass, or what insurance will do to them if you crash while "drifting"...so you have to sneak it in where you can. I didn't have a single spin, but got kicked towards the end of the day. So, this isn't a full blown "drifting" video, but just having fun in a few corners.

[Gibbs]

cool beans car looked like it has alot of body roll

[bradlee]

Really? I guess it's a little soft in the rear. I thought I was gonna have to get some other springs, but after driving it, it feels great. Much better than the squishy lowering spring Z32 I used to try to slide around in.

[Gibbs]

whats the spring rate on the jic's?

[Mo]

Did that guy wave you off the course?

[bradlee]

Right now I'm 10k front, 7k rear. I can jump on the rear bumper and the car dips down about an inch. The front doesn't move at all. How stiffer should I go in the rear?

Yeah, they're Nazis about the grass and cheap asses when it comes to insurance, and what they'll allow on that course. Supposedly if you spin 3 times, you're done for the day. But it all depends on which ATV-riding track Nazi is in charge that day. That guy was just being a dick.

[bradlee]

I finally put the right downpipe gasket in, so the car is super quiet now. Exhaust leaks are so annoying.

Then I discovered that my radiator has some pin-hole leak somewhere along the drivers side. I have a spare from my other X8, but I'd rather upgrade then start swapping parts between the cars. While taking it apart, I broke my fan shroud. Now I'm considering running e-fans. For those who have messed with Altima/Maxima fans on the S-chassis, what size relay did you use?

BTW, I could use some input on the rear spring rate.

[Gibbs]

my megans are 8k which are crap but usally people go with 10k it seems to work beautifully i will be upgrading to 14/10