Neil's R33 Gts-t Build

[Neil]

The poor front end really needed a clean-up after years of racing, so I pulled almost basically everything out, my god was it filthy. The only 2 things I had to leave on her were the upper control arms because they were in so tight, I didn’t want to damage the welded-on nut retainers, and you can’t get a rattle gun in there anyway so it would mean that’s one I’ll leave alone. They seem to be the great condition anyway, so I moved on. I tried to work out the best cleaner to remove all the muck, oil, grease and road junk, turns out window cleaner works the best using multiple brushes, including a toothbrush, unfortunately it takes small bits of the engine bay paint off, but I’ll touch that up. The following pics only really show some of what was in the engine bay and skirts after a brush down, there was tons more dirt and shit than in these pics than was actually there. I’ve started putting it all back in, loosely because I have a panel beater coming over to fix her right-hand front after clubbing the wall some years ago at Mount Cotton. I amazed after a month of scrubbing, how clean every comes up, the cross member is gloss black again.

[Duncan]

Wow, that came up ALL WHITE!

AHAHHAHAHAAA HAHAH AHAHAHHHAH

[Duncan]

R series skyline - check

Engine bay cleaned with a toothbrush - check

30 years old - check

 

yep, it's ready to be shipped off to USA for about $800k

[MBS206]

11 hours ago, Duncan said:

R series skyline - check

Engine bay cleaned with a toothbrush - check

30 years old - check

 

yep, it's ready to be shipped off to USA for about $800k

So still not enough for a house deposit in Sydney...

 

Keep going Neil! Giving me motivation to do the little tidy up jobs that I scrubbed off my build list after getting annoyed with them.

 

while the panel beater is around, have you thought about getting him to smooth over and remove any of the bolt holes and random holes that you don't need any more to tidy the bay up looks wise, and remove areas for dirt and crap to gather?

[MBS206]

18 hours ago, Neil said:

Seriously did you actually think Cheryl would never get any love again, she is the only real reason I bought a Hoist, it's Her's.

Might have to drag you 2 up here when both cars are up and running properly.

Zoe is very pissed off with you, she pointed out that you own a dirty filthy Toyota. Zoe's a lovely lady with pure class.

Shhh... He'll criticise you for that Honda you're letting sleep with Zoe and Cheryl next...

[Neil]

18 hours ago, Duncan said:

R series skyline - check

Engine bay cleaned with a toothbrush - check

30 years old - check

 

yep, it's ready to be shipped off to USA for about $800k

No Yank is ever getting my girl. Most of them wouldn't know how to change her spark plugs, they would ask facebook.

[Neil]

6 hours ago, MBS206 said:

So still not enough for a house deposit in Sydney...

 

Keep going Neil! Giving me motivation to do the little tidy up jobs that I scrubbed off my build list after getting annoyed with them.

 

while the panel beater is around, have you thought about getting him to smooth over and remove any of the bolt holes and random holes that you don't need any more to tidy the bay up looks wise, and remove areas for dirt and crap to gather?

Sydney, I feel sorry for anybody that still lives there. 

Nah buddy, she's a race car, not a show pony, so Mr panel beater will be just fixing the o/s/f skirt area. I really just want to clean her up, so she looks clean and respectable. Her days of State and National racing are over, Cheryl is now my fun local race girl and a driver trainer.

[Neil]

7 hours ago, MBS206 said:

Shhh... He'll criticise you for that Honda you're letting sleep with Zoe and Cheryl next...

No way tiger, he was the one that introduced me the best mower brand ever, I have her and a Honda whipper snipper, they are both excellent, both start 1st pull, pity his is now a dirty oil leaking, gets bogged Pommy pile of shit tractor, it's that shit he makes Kel drive it.

[Duncan]

ha, don't try and bait me, you know the Leyland is the coolest piece of gear around.

[Neil]

13 hours ago, Duncan said:

ha, don't try and bait me, you know the Leyland is the coolest piece of gear around.

Baited, Hooked, Fileted and now in the fry pan.

[Victory]

On 17/12/2022 at 6:32 PM, MBS206 said:

Shhh... He'll criticise you for that Honda you're letting sleep with Zoe and Cheryl next...

It is good to hear that the "Honda" is just a lawn mower.

I was starting to worry that you had gone soft in your old age and purchased a "Try hard Honda" as a daily street car.

[Neil]

36 minutes ago, Victory said:

It is good to hear that the "Honda" is just a lawn mower.

I was starting to worry that you had gone soft in your old age and purchased a "Try hard Honda" as a daily street car.

All good Charles, whilst I do actually like Hondas, there will never be one on our Rego list, not like someone that owns a Leyland and a Toyota, that bloke has issues.

[Neil]

So on re-assembly, (as she needs to get off the hoist and rolling so I can service the wife’s Pulsar) I thought it prudent to replace parts that were either stuffed or needed an upgrade. So 1^st off was new upper adjustable outer control arm bushes, new lower ball joints, new sway bar outer links and inner bushes. Everything else feels in great condition.  I can’t believe how good the wheel bearings and swivel bearings are, not touching them. The clutch slave cylinder was showing its age so a new one was purchased from Just Jap.

I have also been playing this crazy game of soaking stuff in vinegar, works a treat, but you can go too far, my god it cleans crap off, but if you leave bolts ect for too long it will take the excellent coating off the factory bolts.

I bought 7 x 2^nd hand stainless steel baymarie trays off facebook marketplace up here for 10 bucks each, they make great parts trays and can withstand the vinegar/oils, basically anything. Awesome purchase.

Having the mini lathe has come in so handy, My Cusco bmc stopper has 12mm mounting holes, well 11.6 to be precise but the skirt has 6mm holes, so I made up 2 stepped spacers out of 6061 aluminum to sort that out. So much fun using the lathe.

 

[Neil]

I've spent the last 2 weeks just going through all the parts I have and sorting out what's good, what's spares that I'm going to keep and want's up for sale and what's going back on Cheryl. Thought I would find and clean the turbosmart bov and it was filthy, so I pulled it apart and cleaned it up. 5 stars to them, such a well-made unit, the piston and bore are beautifully made and came up a treat. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for its intercooler pipe, check out the damage I did to it, lucky I have spare. So out with the hole saw and cut the adaptor off, into the lathe and I machined all the welding off, so much fun. This little lathe comes in so handy, I also made an oversize 11mm exhaust manifold stud for my neighbour's rb20 drift car after all his mates said the head would have to come off, even cutting my own thread, now that's a 1st for me. The replacement intercooler pipe is longer and I'm thinking how the hell am I going to run a bead around it after I cut it. Onto to ebay and there's tons of them but 400 buck plus, and that's is not happening, then I find this one for 160 bucks and thought why not try it, they state aluminum pipe 16mm to 102mm at 3mm. I tried it on a 30mm pipe, and it actually works.

Enough for now, enjoy 2023 everybody.

[Duncan]

Nice, there's never a bad time to buy new tools. Have you go someone local to TIG the BOV back onto the new pipe?

[Neil]

16 hours ago, Duncan said:

Nice, there's never a bad time to buy new tools. Have you got someone local to TIG the BOV back onto the new pipe?

Actually, I do and it's my next door neighbour. He makes roll cages/trailers for his mates and people that he barters with to do stuff he can't. He's an awesome welder, mig, tig, stick and plasma. I often go over to watch and learn, I'll be doing my own soon. My back neighbor restores older cars, has a cool homemade spray booth made out of a big shipping container and Ian 3 doors down can panel beat like a demon, so it's like moving to car building heaven. How the hell did I stumble across these blokes I'll never know. I hold up my end up with technical advice, cool tools, labour and practical solutions. The rb20 drift car would not be running as sweet as it does without me. It's all a win win for all 4 of us. Life is great.

[McLoft]

Hi Neil. I have been a silent reader on SAU for a number of years. My particular interest is Skyline GTST suspension set ups for Track. I have just sent u an email so I can grab some of your insights. I love this thread in regards your work and views.

Thank you Bruce 

[admS15]

Hi Neil, if you don't mind responding publicly to the above post from Bruce, I and probably many other captains would also be interested in your insights.

Cheers Bill 

[McLoft]

On 1/11/2023 at 2:06 PM, McLoft said:

Hi Neil. I have been a silent reader on SAU for a number of years. My particular interest is Skyline GTST suspension set ups for Track. I have just sent u an email so I can grab some of your insights. I love this thread in regards your work and views.

Thank you Bruce 

My Interest is understanding firstly the optimum/ acceptable position of the rear lower control arm. Can it be parallel to the ground to achieve acceptable roll center? Then having established lower control arm position, what would be optimum camber and toe for suspension on a track car. The rear end is not on a skyline so i cant do wheel to arch measurement. Thanks

 

Edited January 13, 2023 by McLoft

[robbo_rb180]

26 minutes ago, McLoft said:

My Interest is understanding firstly the optimum/ acceptable position of the rear lower control arm. Can it be parallel to the ground to achieve acceptable roll center? Then having established lower control arm position, what would be optimum camber and toe for suspension on a track car. The rear end is not on a skyline so i cant do wheel to arch measurement. Thanks

 

This is how my 180sx is. I have also set up nissan IRS in nissan minitruck style builds to have full travel of the suspension with low static heights of around 70-80mm

180sx is 1200kg with driver
255/40/17 semi slick

You want it worst case parallel but I have found it slightly angled down towards outside is better.
I run rear camber 2.3 degrees, Toe in 0.9-1.2mm eash side
Ride height of around 105-112mm.

Apologies for hijacking 
 

Edited January 13, 2023 by robbo_rb180