April 30th, 2008 the Mad Scientist
I’ve been loving the 240z I bought (540z), but there are definite downsides to buying somebody else’s project. For one, the wiring is an absolute mess. I’m either buying a Painless wiring kit or rewiring the car completely in the near future.
Also, I was told that it had a 327ci Chevy v8. As it turns out, it’s a 1958 283ci v8 block but that doesn’t necessarily mean the seller was lying or wrong. A 350ci crank in a 283ci block produces 327ci of displacement (if my math serves me correctly). However, the stamp on the door and the stamp on the engine both suggest a 283 block, so I’m resolved to the fact that I have one of the smaller Chevy v8s. It’s making a clacking/rattling noise, which I need to hunt down. It could be a loose valve cover or exhaust manifold, or it could be something more serious (like a bent valve or piston slap). Hopefully I’ll know in the near future. If you think you can help, feel free to check out this video:
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Posted in Anger Project, CRX 2.0, Darth Z | 1 Comment »
April 27th, 2008 the Mad Scientist
Hans Reiser recently went on trial (in Oakland, where I work, coincidentally) and apparantly converted his ‘88 CRX into a driving futon, where he had been living. It’s actually an interesting project, but I think I’m okay with having not seen it before.
Posted in Shop Tips | No Comments »
April 24th, 2008 the Mad Scientist
When I bought my 240z, I had hood pins in the front and the back. Both were squeaky and wriggly. My
roommate had the killer idea of using spark plug boots as bushings, and it turned out great! If you have noisy hood pins anywhere on your car, grab some old plug boots, slip them on, and use a razor blade to cut them down to size.
This will not work if you drill the holes in your hood too big. The pins need to fit relatively closely to effectively grommet them.
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April 23rd, 2008 the Mad Scientist
I’m planning to make one final change to the design of ProjectCRX, then rename it and put it on my own hosting service. I’m looking for something slightly more generalized than “Project CRX” because I now own more than just CRX’s. Who has some ideas for a new name?
Posted in Shop Tips | 3 Comments »
April 21st, 2008 the Mad Scientist
I broke down today and bought another project. It was actually meant to be my “tame” daily driver, but the starter went bad on me on my way home from a place called Chico, CA and as things turned out it’s a project. I’m going to let the pictures speak for themselves, but I bought a 1973 240z with upgraded disc brakes all around (the most important upgrade, if you ask me), really crappy suspension (a travesty that will soon be remedied) and a 327ci SBC v8.
Oh, and it’s louder than the Devil screaming at the top of his lungs. More info to come after I make space to get it in the driveway.
Posted in Anger Project | 3 Comments »
April 12th, 2008 the Mad Scientist
New Eee
I just received my new computer that I ordered specifically for ProjectCRX, and I have to say it’s quite breathtakingly utilitarian. It’s smaller than most external DVD players, has precious little storage space, and runs linux right out of the box. My hope is that I’ll be able to use this thing more efficiently on the bus and (to a lesser extent) BART (train) during my daily work commute).
For those who’re interested in the Eee, check out:
- The unofficial eeeuser.com is the most comprehensive online resource for the eee.
- The official site also has a bunch of good info.
- You can purchase the eeepc right now on Newegg (subject to change).
- There’s also an interesting article on the EEE upgrade options that people have hacked in.
RX7 Donor
I got an offering price on the two RX7s (one salvage but running, the other streetable as-is) of $5000 for the pair. It’s more than I’m really comfortable spending, especially with the fast-growing tool budget I have laid out (just the oxy-cetaline torch and tanks get expensive, not to mention a jack, hoist, and miscellaneous wrenches that I’m missing).
I’m going to head over and get some more pictures, and hopefully hear them both run. I’m hoping to make a counter-offer with cash in hand and get something closer to what I want to spend in the end. After all, cash talks. So does the owner’s wife, who just wants them off the lawn. By then, I’ll have either sold the truck or junked it. I’ll have to see which will yield more money.
Until next time, good luck, and take lots of pictures!
Posted in Shop Tips | 1 Comment »
