I Like Exclusive: V. 2.0 Fairlady Z content

[tdilynch]

soo awesome.

[MIGS]

disgusting car. I love it. too much awesomeness all over. plus u can draw ur ass off, lol.

but let me cut straight to the shit, how much do you want for those VX-S??

[1badg35]

haha, the Vip Modular wheels arent going anywhere anytime soon. I couldnt be happier with the way the car all came together around these things.

Im actually selling the second temp set (mb battle 18x9.5 and tires) now, and i plan on building another 3 piece set for the car, if you will a knockaround set. something interesting probably 18x9.5 and 18x11. currently looking for the right set to start with though, as I am looking for a real project set of wheels. Something timeless and needing work..
ideally, i would like a set of work ewing III 5 spoke wheels in 17", and producing custom stepped lip 18" barrels and lips for them. or something of this caliber. But for now its just a dream until i source the perfect set...

[MIGS]

Ah well, looks like i'm gonna have to go directly through vipmod to get a set.
roughly how long did u have to wait for yours?

i've been contemplating between Leon H. Bugles or these modular wheels, and your car helped me make up my mind.


GL with the rest of the build sir..

[1badg35]

Thank you. Its kind of a long story, but because my set was one of the first production sets for this new design, it took some time and a lot of attention, ridiculous details that i made evident as part of the design i wanted, a million phone calls, and lots of progress pictures along the way. And we had some ridiculously crazy measurements to get it perfect which just added to the detail. Now that the design is out, it probably wont take that long to produce. No matter what the guys at VIP Mod have great customer service, and make a quality product.

since i decided that i was not going to party tonight like the usual saturday night, spent some time sketching, as i am in a not so great mood.. Drama and bs i felt like distancing myself from. Thought i would take some quick phone pics of the drawing area. the wall has some sketches, some inspiration, etc. The wall is plastered for about 15' from floor to ceiling around the drawing table with ideas, previous projects, renderings i completed, and some of the sketches i dont have in sketchbooks. The wall is about 25' long, and soon enough it will likely be completely full. Almost wallpaper if you will. haha

[DoWant]

Very impressive and inspiring work.
As said above great attention to detail - like many of us to the point of where it's seems (and probably is) not healthy.
I'd be interested in seeing some of your projects for work.

[MIGS]

sweet. so u were involved in designing that wheel somehow? correct me of i'm seeing into that too much, but that's what i got from ur post.

and being someone who is also from an artistic backround, i can even more so appreciate your work.

[1badg35]

Sorry Its my fault for not being clear. The wheel was their design. I just had very strict things i wanted to do to it, and details like the one off center caps and modified design, bolts used, inner barrel finish, exact color (based on the way light hit the edges and sharp corners to create added depth, all added to the overall time needed to produce these things. And the fact that this was the first set in the stepped lip production, and the first VX-s produced at 18" (i think they were typically working on 19-20" wheels in general for their lines).

These wheels were basically tailored to the project to a ridiculous level, but in the end it shows, and is why she takes home trophies at events for defying all logic. haha. there is less then a mm of clearance to the bbk all around took some time and figuring, and then in the end modifications to the caliper to get perfect. but that detail alone leaves people scratching their heads, and asking questions like "does the car actually move?" haha

I actually have been focusing a ton of hours, and designed a new 3 piece forged wheel line, which will be going into prototyping very soon. Hoping 2012 should be interesting for spinFAB design studio.

[1badg35]

so back on track, Z is going for some wetsanding and polishing to finish up the bay, and then the top portion of the motor comes back apart the second it comes back in the garage. ITB project is being put on hold for a few weeks, mostly because i still dont have the new tig welder. so its staying with 2 TBs for now

time to start messing with the upper intake manifold some more. I already have about 8 hours into shaving this upper intake manifold in addition to the work that was done to extrude hone the inside of the runners, so i decided i am going to blast the manifold back down, make my second set of modifications to it, and then re-powdercoat it. It wasnt worth starting from scratch again.

plans for it. remove the balance tube (one of nissans ugliest designed pieces on that motor) and relocate it to the bottom of the manifold. i am going to run a -10an line from side to side under the manifold, and a few fittings. same effectiveness, and you wont see it.

that way i can weld shut the holes on the manifold, and while at it, cylinder 6 runner is going to get chopped. I am taking the donor manifold, chopping off cylinder 4s runner, and transplanting it onto cylinder 6. the runner for cyl 6 has always been known to be starved of air because they changed its shape, and it just doesnt flow as well. so why not make it more uniform.

also removing the last piece of the PCV system. no need for it, its not functioning properly anyway, so since i am at it, might as well shave that area as well and call it a day.

here is a quick photoshop of the plan for the manifold. obviously the one on the left is the "after" then it will go back for wrinkle black powder unless i decide to change it up (doubt it)

[mighty mouse]

So dope, I'm loving all the fab work! We'll have to get together again this year for something.

[1badg35]

Thanks Andy.. it was awesome to see yours in the running for car of the year man.

We should definitely see more of each other this year. Once i finish this winters stuff, its going to get driven a bit. not 500 miles like last year. haha

[1badg35]

I forgot how much i missed driving this ridiculous thing. It was 55 degrees out today, and i had some time this afternoon, so i took her out for one of the lucky winter spins around the area before she comes apart again for the 3rd time this winter. All i can say is that it reminded me why i put so much time into this thing.

attempted to take a video of the motor running, but the car is so loud, the iphone couldnt capture it. might try that again next time with a real video camera when she comes out of the garage next.

onto some updates. i made good progress with the new front lip. you remember the foam i shaped a few posts back. so i got my kevlar in, and started layering it with the proper resin. a few layers later, removed the foam shape, and reinforced the underside of the lip. its extremely strong now, and doesnt weigh much considering how big it physically is. I have been on the task of sanding it smooth at the moment, but shot a quick layer of matte black on it and temporarily mounted it. here are a few pictures









still needs a little more sanding and smoothing, but you get the idea. oh and the socket that is holding the corner in place is 1.5" tall for reference. that corner is the highest spot on the front bumper with this lip. im happy with it so far

more to come...

[Icana4dit]

Where did you get the kevlar and resin? Going to make a lip for mine soon.

Great job man

[parttimeprojectionist]

you should do the engine covers in the kevlar that going on the front lip. all matchy matchy and shit...i like how the exhuast tips are the same shape and profile as the tail lights. good stuff!

[1badg35]

thank you guys. The kevlar, i purchased from a local boat supplier, but i see the stuff on ebay every so often, and it is the same product. There are different grades of resin for it, but standard fiberglass resin does work. I bought a specific product for my application that was recommended to me, but the standard gallon of fiberglass resin will definitely work.

it is easier to work with then carbon fiber, but remember it is pretty thick, so it can be a pain to make perfect curves and stuff like that. I literally formed my curves by stretching the material around the foam, and using a hundred brads to mount the kevlar to the foam base while letting the resin cure. without that, the kevlar would never have wanted to keep the curved shape.

and yeah, thanks for the comment about the tips. that was the exact reason i went with the quad ovals. It was perfectly matching to the rear shapes present on the car. The finished pictures of the exhaust should happen this weekend if all goes well.