Cement

Completed the power steering and oil system plumbing at last !!! Looks really busy in the photos but in the flesh it looks fairly tidy. Just need to get the real brackets made for the power steering and breather tanks. They are 3D printed items at the moment. Radiator / heater hoses are also in the country at last so should have those arriving this week to complete the cooling system. The blue hose is the place holder for the radiator hose. Poured in some oil and got the power drill driving the pump to check everything ... got oil pressure up no problem so thats really reassuring prior to start up !! Got another side hustle project going also to make a PID temperature controller box for the 3D printer heater ... in reality the cabinet is so well insulated that i almost need a cooler as opposed to a heater 😆

Yes I'd like to replace with something less ... woody. Hopefully I can start to look at some of the cosmetic bits once its mobile !! I was thinking the other day, once its on the road again it will look EXACTLY like it did when I brought it 2 years ago 😂 Some additional bits to report on today after getting my laser cutting back. As per usual I'll let the pictures do the talking. Dry sump guide washer to keep the belt where it should be along with the slightly modded pump bracket in the back ground: Power steering cooler mounted up all cosy ... happy to supply the DXF for cutting this bracket if anybody wants to use the same Chase Bays cooler: Blanking plate for the exposed section of the transmission: Oh yes and did my daily postage tracking review to discover the new Nismo gear knob was apparently sitting in my letter box or garden ... and sure enough there it was !! Looks really good in the car, harsh lighting not doing it any favors here. Fits nicely with the theme of subtle nods to the VQ beneath

A long time between posts means ... lots of pics and progress Had the 3D printer at it again making some custom functional parts again. Made this cover for the hole in the trans tunnel where the Serial Nice CD999 shifter comes through. Got a hold of a rubber shifter boot courtesy of Mitre10 Its not fantastic but should get the job done for now. Next up was the mini project of making a home for the 5 gauges i'm running without having to use an A-pillar or steering column mount. With a bit of luck this will look kinda fitting with the interior style. Decided to not carry on with the remake and 3D print but instead to modify the existing console. First up was to glue the existing flap closed with some of this JB Weld goop ... used hot glue on the back side for initial location. Once dried i sanded flush or slightly less than flush. Next up used some Isopon plastic bumper filler to fill and contour ... this was pretty good stuff. Did about 4 applications to get it looking fairly good. Once happy with the shape I drilled the holes for two gauges not catered for in the top piece (Ebay sourced). Gave it some painting with Dupli Color Vinyl and Fabric and it was looking pretty reasonable. May change when its in proper sun light but can always re-do or wrap it etc. The final product looks pretty cool, white illumination during the day and amber at night which ties in with the rest of the console very nicely. Also here you can see the fake leather shift boot installed topped off by the auto selector knob Got all of the new fluids at last !! Decided to go with the Redline products ... trans oil, diff oil and power steering here. Another milestone achieved in getting the radiator sorted !!! Canceled the Chase Bays item i had on order due to crazy long lead times (ordered April, shipping in September ... maybe). So got a unit from Fenix which was their race 56mm edition for a Holden HQ / Torana It would have gone in with minimal modification if the oil tank had not being in the way ... alas it had to get 70mm taken off one end. This proved very useful however allowing relocation of one of the ports to work beautifully with the oil tank in place. Also got two temp sensor ports installed along with a drain bung and mounting tabs where they needed to go. The filler neck was also removed as the Nissan VQ filler is engine mounted. Made another 3D printed item to mount one side of the radiator to the stud thats in the cross bar thingy in the front. Will be in interesting to see how it holds up. That about brings us up to date ... current mission is getting all of the plumbing sorted. Have done most of the -6 line for the power steering and will start on the oil system as soon as the tank is mounted with its final brackets etc (waiting on laser cutting).

Liking the DIY action going on here !! Had not seen the thread until now ... will follow

It has been decided ... locking in September the 3rd for the 1st start party Will also be spring, and I think Fathers Day eve errrrr ... so plenty to be happy about if it turns out to be a 'come and listen to it crank for a while' party !!

So I have a pretty rough looking 3D mesh of the console. Should serve as a reasonable base for positioning the mounting locations and getting the overall shape in the ball park I think. Still lots of work 😕

Main achievement in the last few days was getting all of the gauge sensors in place (bar the water temp, as no radiator still) along with the power / light signal etc for them. Have them stuck onto a bit of plastic for now while I get the console sorted. Pretty happy with them, white backlight during the day and amber at night which will suit the factory cluster lighting perfectly !! Decided I want all 5 gauges mounted in the centre console, so have started on that project to 3D model and print a new console with the gauge cutouts just as I want them (probably aim them at the driver a little). Will ensure I have a mechanism to trigger the peak / programming button on the rear of each without having to remove them. In order to get a head start on the 3D modelling I'm trying the hand at some photogrammetry to see what sort of results I can get. Was pretty bad with the black of the console so its got some grey paint drying on it at the moment ... have dug out the camera camera also to see if that can get some better results than the phone. The random generated images are to help the software do its thang.

I'm trying to avoid the hot rod look but will see how we go once there is a lot of stainless braid about the place ... hopefully should be contrasted by black silicone for the cooling hoses and Chase Bays cans etc.

Time to throw some more update pictures up ... firstly, pimped out the 3D printing capabilities so I can do some more functional parts in ASA filament. The heating element is a 700w unit so can essentially heat the enclosure to any temperature required. It takes a descent while to get going but when it does the temperature rockets up !! So much so it overshoots the thermostats set point by over 8 degrees which is not ideal. I've ordered a PID controller off Amazon to keep it super steady but as it turns out the chamber is so well insulated now that it sits at about 46 degrees just from the heat coming off the build plate set to 110 ... at least it'll be there if I need it The Peterson oil tank finally arrived !! Its super tight in the engine bay, and I had to offset the radiator (mockup at this stage) all the way over to the left hand frame rail ... but it fits, which is good news. I had not counted on the clamp to be so large and sitting right near the OEM power steering pump which I originally did not intend on using. Now that the 3D printer is in a heated chamber again I made a two piece 'grommet' to seal up the hole where the trans cabling comes through. Next up is making a much larger flange for the shifter linkage to hold the OEM rubber boot (since i had to enbiggen the cutout). And now for the real fun stuff where we finally get to add some visual appeal to the engine bay !! Completed working out all of the remaining plumbing for the oil and power steering systems. Worked out where the dry sump breather can will go (you can see it on the middle of the engine front) as well as the power steering reservoir, coolant expansion tank and washer fluid tank also (all Chase Bays). The red pool noodles are the beginnings of making the two intakes which will head down into the corners of the bumper. Will do some sort of snazzy carbon fibre bendy tube action ... current thinking is to use either copper tube through the middle and hand bend to shape, or maybe PVC conduit plus steam. Then parcel tape, release agent, carbon and Bob's ya uncle etc 😅

Good feedback on providers thanks folks ... has anyone had first hand experience with a valuer they would recommend ? Have thrown out an inquiry to https://www.carvaluation.nz/ but no reply as yet. Also there is https://www.aucklandautovaluations.co.nz but have not approached at the moment. Anybody else worth a contact even ?

I'm starting to dream that one day soon I will be able to drive my project car ... this shall require some insurance. I'm looking at Star Insurance as the provider currently as I hear (mostly) good things ? In any case who ever I go with I will likely opt to get a proper valuation done as there is no real market value for a bespoke builds as such. Has anybody got recommendations of a good valuer in Auckland who's brain can cope with bespoke project builds and doesn't just look at collectable type cars ?

Yep that's exactly what the orange thing is Will just use the leather / vinyl boot off the LHD one with the new frame and winner winner chicken dinner !

Last night got the super thick power cables (starter, alternator and engine fuse box) under control finally with some nice rubber lined P clips. Also reinstalled the OEM PCV lines. Most exciting news is the arrival of the first batch of custom anodised AN fittings, along with finding a 3D model online of the shift boot surround so i can convert my accidentally purchased LHD boot to a RHD one

Not any pics of fun things to show at the moment but things are moving along nicely still. Decided to ditch the electric hydraulic power steering pump and throw on the VQ37 unit instead. Will be lighter overall, no electrical to faff with and gets me back to a 7pk belt as I could not find a shorty in the previously super short one. Dry sump tank is in a container somewhere between Tauranga port and Cardwell's Racing ... crossing fingers to get it this week First batch of custom colour Speedflow fittings should be here this week !! (returned the black ones) Working out the next (last?) batch of Speedflow fittings to order to cater for power steering and things which are not yet mounted in the car STILL waiting on the radiator !!! Latest is it will be manufactured August 1st ... then has to go in consolidated shipping, USA -> NZ Got the clutch line installed, bled and validated it actually functions to disengage the clutch !! Started a bit of planning for the heater and radiator lines Ordered the last Pro Sport gauge for crankcase vacuum, no idea where i will mount it yet. Made a hole in the brake booster for vacuum gauge that the Nissan ECU wants and ordered grommet plus valve fitting from BMW Got the fuel pump chooching and set pressure to the required 52 psi. No leaks Looked at PWM radiator fan control but decided I might just use a standard relay and control it via the Arduino since it will have the temperature from CAN anyhow. In writing the list it turns out there has been much thinking and research lately !! Must be time to get back into the exhaust soon also and get it to the first muffler !!

Small but significant gains lately ... welded all of the spring loops for the slip joints, sorted out the oxygen sensor bungs finally, put fire sleeve on the fuel lines, completed the fuel return line and have mounted the headers up for the final time !!! Also put some gas in the thing so the fuel pump has something to pump when i'm switching things on and off now. Might be a little premature but its a fun step. Have ordered a bunch of custom anodised Speedflow fittings to give the engine bay a bit of bling ... STILL waiting on the dry sump oil tank and radiator. Hey look ... a person !!!

Just got to finish weld all this lot now and we are into the single 3" tubing at last !!! Plus make some hangers etc.

That kiwi BMW forum with the expired certificate

Working along the header secondaries still ... pretty happy with how its coming together. Will need another bottle of argon to get everything finished up

It does... Just hidden a bit from that angle.

No input of value from me ... just high five to my V6 brother on Bimmersport 🖐️ Also looks like your kitchen backs onto your garage !! Much support.

Oh, also got a letter for my drivers side airbag recall ... can't wait to take it in to BMW for that 😅 Need to setup some hidden cameras !!

Added a cone to the main exhaust collector to get from the 2.25" secondaries to the single 3" exhaust. Having to weld without purge gas from here so I can try and avoid another bottle fill which I won't use all of. No pics at the moment but also will be working on the header secondaries ... looking like the first start will be with a full exhaust which is disappointing Was hoping it would be headers only Also have the rear muffler roughly in place so I can start working out how I will mount it ... should look pretty boss I think !!

Got some solid work in today and completed the fabrication of the trans mount / drive shaft loop !! Just need to clean up the welds and a bit of spatter etc then paint and it can go in for good at last.

Got the laser cutting back and it all looks really good, drilled the three remaining holes for the trans mount and it fits up perfectly. Will be nice to get the posts welded up onto the plate and remove the jack stand finally !! Also picked up the first load of AN fittings for the dry sump plumbing which is pretty exciting. So eye watering, that's about $650 worth 🤯 and about a third of what I need.

If this were my kids doing I could understand it ... and probably change it. Instead I correct it and bite my tongue ... over ... and ... over ... again 😆