DTMAce's Z26 project - DD usage for the time being - 6-8-12

[ErichZ26]

Just in case someone tries to look you up in a bad way. It just makes it more easy to do so.

Show me a FREE website that will link my plate to me in any way. Even after that you have a lot more trickery you need to do to get any more usable info from the plate search, they wont just give anyone my address.

The only thing a plate gets you in Illinois is if the car has a lien or not.

[DTMAce]

I just don't give a crap if someone can run my plate or not. Not like they are going to get much. lol

[Money pit Beretta]

In the old days around here all you had to do is call the DMV and tell them that someone helped you and they would give you the address.
Sorry to get off topic ACE.

[DTMAce]

Well, I have now updated posts with pictures through page 4 (post ID 29290) so far tonight! So feel free to see the newer, larger and in some cases additional shots! I will continue to update and add more photos throughout the next few days/weeks, as I get time. Hope you all enjoy them.

[DTMAce]

Updates. More work on the Z04 front turn lamps was completed today. For details see my FB page.

LED Linky

[indygurl]

I like #7 and #11. and kinda #12 which may look better with the front end. but great pics. wish we could find great places like that where were at.

[DTMAce]

I like #7 and #11. and kinda #12 which may look better with the front end. but great pics. wish we could find great places like that where were at.

lol

I just realized you had posted here! Sorry about that.

Yeah those pics were ones I took in the hope of getting into last year's calendar. But alas, I didn't make it. Oh well. However thanks for your input!

I hope to get the Z out of storage sometime later in April or first of May.

[DTMAce]

Well lets see. Went out the storage building I had the Z parked in. Uncovered the car. Popped the hood. Crawled under it and drained the oil. Removed the filter. Put on new Bosch extreme dirt filter and put back the drain plug. Poured Castrol Synthetic 10w-30 into the engine. Hooked up the battery negative cable. Climbed in and fired it right up. She ran rough for about a minute, but then smoothed out and was fine.

Now its sitting here in the yard. Going to be putting it back on the road Tuesday probably. Then the base will be parked so I can work on it some. I will get some new year pictures for the Z later today sometime! But it makes me so happy to be driving it, I missed it.

[DTMAce]

Here are some pictures, along with a really simple idea to lock the 3 pieces of the MRZ strut bar together to prevent them from being able to move:












Yep. That is a piece of 220 grit DA sand self sticky sand paper, folded in half then cut to fit the pieces. Once tightened up, they ain't slipping. I had to tweak a few things, including replacing two of the strut bolts because they were not long enough, but no biggie.

It JUST clears the alternator. I suspect that a hard reverse might actually throw the alternator against the strut bar, but lets hope not. I adjusted it as far to the left as I could to keep the bolt heads as far from the alt as I can.

Looks ok though. lol

[berettaboi]

can you put the strut bar the other way? (more towards the firewall like the z24 braces go...) i had to move the wire harness slightly on my 95, but it fits.

[DTMAce]

Nope. It will cover the brake reservoir cap, not to mention I don't think the bolt pattern will line up. I believe it was made to be installed just like that. The MRZ lettering is also going the right way the way it is now. It would be upside down from the front if it was flipped.

Why would it not work where it is? Or do you mean the alternator thing? Not going to worry about it, as long as it doesn't hit. If it does, I will make changes.

[3X00-Modified]

He aparently has a few different versions... I would prefer this type over what you got.



It looks like you have the cobalt style ends.

[DTMAce]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

I wonder if they are the wrong ends? I mean it works, but now that I see that, I think these are not the correct ends for the thing! They didn't have quite the right angles either, I had to mount it, tighten up 1 allen bolt in the assembly on each end to hold them in place then remove it to tighten all three of the allen bolts on both sides, then put it back on the towers. It was a bit of a hassle. And it wanted to spring up about 3 inches from one tower to the other. So there is some spring tension in it, the way it is now. Like its pulling up on the towers. Not much, but anyway.

Its probably because the ends are not the correct ones, with a slightly off angle, etc. This bar came with the base, but it wasn't installed. But I can tell it had been. Not only that, I couldn't use the nuts that were still on the base, because my Z has 2 nuts and one bolt to hold the strut on, whereas the base has just 3 nuts.

Oh well, it will work this way, but at least I know I can always get different ends.

[3X00-Modified]

There should not be any preload when installing that... I'd send MRZ an email asking if you could swap ends for the Beretta style ones, the preload could be doing more harm than good and cause your upper mounts to fail sooner with that stress on the bolts.

Kabraxiz was also trying to re-sell one that was hitting the alternator... I don't know why people don't compare what they got in the mail to whats pictured on his website and complain as soon as they get it and get the problem sorted out. Obviously yours came with a vehicle so you didn't see that difference, but that would have been the first thing I would have complained about if I had ordered one.

[DTMAce]

Ah.

Well, first off, the tension is not that bad. Wasn't like I had to lean on it or anything, I could easily push them down. And it seems to work fine, so we will see. And since I didn't buy them from MRZ, they would probably just sell me new ends, not swap them. LOL

Going to take it for a small road trip today anyway. Have to get some gas put in her!