#ZedShed Dino’s Track toy 2.8 (6-Speed Gearbox Conversion)

[D0nni]

@Lee how many are through the shed now while I waited on my subframe getting returned to me? (only back last night!) took to finally threatening to take it elsewhere for him to get the finger out and burst the wheel hubs out

@Dino D that build looks absolutely unreal! Love to see her on the track - dont bin it! lol

 

[Lee]

@Lee how many are through the shed now while I waited on my subframe getting returned to me? (only back last night!) took to finally threatening to take it elsewhere for him to get the finger out and burst the wheel hubs out

@Dino D that build looks absolutely unreal! Love to see her on the track - dont bin it! lol

Very nearly 4 car builds mate, since Christmas I think.

 

[Lee]

Little update for Dino’s build. So he went and tore the arse end off his rear subframe. It’s known in the Zed community that Dino has the meanest gear change in the community so it was only a matter of time.

The damage was very substantial, diff hit the tarmac and broke two fins off.

as much as I would love to have a go at welding this I found a local welder who came over and worked his magic.

Photo before starting with subframe removed.

A right mess

Painful eye sparkles

few hours in, he’s left the top section of the old hanger in place so he can see where it exactly lines up.

all done with a coat of etch prime, With all this weld and not a single spot weld left I challenge Dino to rip this off.

boot floor also coated. Not pretty but functional

gave the subframe a clean up and loctited all the bolts for good measure. Still tidy considering this the pre Zinc coating change we now do.

for good measure we’ve also ordered a kit to strengthen the diff. Should be en route from the states.

she should be back on the road soon

 

[GazHyde]

I challenge Dino to rip this off.

Oh come on, you know he's going to find a way!

 

[Lee]

Been some further work done on Dino’s track toy. First job we decided to tackle was the constant puddle of oil it leaves everywhere it goes. This job was a real shocker as the engine was very nearly killed by lack of oil.

engine supported by the beam from above

quite alot of work removing the sump, lower subframe needs dropping, engine mounts disconnected, aux belt removed so you can rotate the power steering pump to drop the sump

so Dino did say a previous garage had tried to stop the oil leak, and this garage very nearly killed this engine. If I ever take a sump off I always inspect the Oil pickup that supply’s the engine with its oil. Just as well we did. Can see Sealant everywhere

least the sump pump nut has been welded. This is what killed my track car. If you have a higher redline the frequency’s undo this left hand threaded nut.

this was the shock we had. All this came out the oil pickup. It was a combination of sealant and an old elring gasket braking up, we know it’s elring as some bits had the logo on.

now it’s all been cleaned up, just waiting on new gasket and bolts to arrive.

also down the back we’re heading up to fit a selection of upgrades. We have the bush offset kit to reduce the wheel camber. Also an extra support bracket to fit, this requires the spare wheel hanger to be removed.

watch this space. Lots of cool upgrades going on.

 

[Lee]

Nice juicy update. We removed the subframe again so we could 1) remove the old spare wheel hanger & 2) fit the new subframe lifter bushes and support.

the amount of times we’ve had this subframe out over 10 years I’m considering wing nuts

Now gives us room to test fit the extra ear

now with the subframe out the way we can remove the hanger

And it leaves a nice bit of space

took some going to get this off

it even took a 15ton press to remove the old bushes. These go in by hand normally.

next we fitted the diff and subframe offset kit. This is designed for lowered cars to dial out some of the camber, Dino’s is at +4* of camber so if we could get this down and stop shredding tyres that would be great.

Spacers

We have found so many items loose on Dino’s car so we’re applying loctite to everything.

Looks the part this.

so this support hanger is designed for the E30 with the thinner cross beam so one side will fit the other will need welding. Will be worth it though just for the extra support.

front aligns nicely so we’ll trim it and seam weld on 3 sides.

the rear plate well fold and trim plus seam weld. Watch this space

 

[GazHyde]

we’re applying loctite to everything.

Think we need to apply some loctite to Dino's clutch leg...

 

[Dino D]

Think we need to apply some loctite to Dino's clutch leg...

No idea what you talking about

 

[GazHyde]

View: https://giphy.com/gifs/bbcamerica-cars-top-gear-tg2701-jQgiNhVMYwBoD8unl4
"

 

[Lee]

So finally got a welder in to help with the bracket install. This kit is an E30 kit so needed to be modified to fit the Z3 beam. It’s finally in and holding strong. The bush offset kit we can visually see already that it’s taken out some of that rear camber.

nice n solid and grey primer coated

can see the offset bushes and spacers.

we also had to fit new rear pads. Was clear Dino managed to set them on fire at one point, they fell to bits.

Test fit

once we installed everything else we realised lots of little things needed to be modded. Like the beam plates sat slightly differently due to the extra thick bush so we opened the holes up by 1mm. Buy the big clash was the rear roll bar, it needs a second kink added to clear the second hanger. So Monday I’ll pop into my local blacksmith and see if he can add that. Will need to be re tempered after due to the heat.

other waiting on return of the roll bar she’s ready to rock. Gave her a fresh change of fluids for good measure.

 

[JayMe]

What an amazing post! This is very valuable information for almost everything on the underside. You guys are very dedicated Z’ers. Now all I have to do is find the correct transmission and miscellaneous parts and get it done.

As always, thanks for your time and dedication to help others…

JayMe

 

[Lee]

Now life is out the way and I don’t have to try be an adult I got round to doing the last bits on Dino’s Zed. First job was a custom rear roll bar, because we now have a twin ear setup on the diff it clashes with the stock roll bar. Took me a while but I found a Blacksmith willing to have a go.

Local a blacksmith in Arbourfield just outside Reading who adjusted the bar for me, said it only took an hour.

Here you can see it clashing, I got them to extend the slot in the roll bar

now looking smart after the test fit

removed and painted

huge job ticked off the list that. Last job was the oil leak from the sump. Even with new sump gasket it leaked worse than before. Decided to get rid and use a thin bead of sealant, I suspect there’s a slight warp to the pan due to the welding done next to it.

First up was to support the engine from above while I drop the subframe again. Engine mounts, steering linkage, power steering pump all need to be disconnect or removed

still clean inside, not even been on the road.

Very careful with the sealant, got a nice witness all round to see it squished out.

gave everything a clean and wipe down. Leaving it overnight to set before putting oil back in her. She’ll go into storage after this till Dino has time to give her a good going over.

she’s one very solid track 2.8 Zed now. No niggles left to sort.

 

[Delk]

Now life is out the way and I don’t have to try be an adult I got round to doing the last bits on Dino’s Zed. First job was a custom rear roll bar, because we now have a twin ear setup on the diff it clashes with the stock roll bar. Took me a while but I found a Blacksmith willing to have a go.

Local a blacksmith in Arbourfield just outside Reading who adjusted the bar for me, said it only took an hour.
View attachment 336203
Here you can see it clashing, I got them to extend the slot in the roll bar
View attachment 336205
now looking smart after the test fit
View attachment 336207
removed and painted
View attachment 336209
View attachment 336211
huge job ticked off the list that. Last job was the oil leak from the sump. Even with new sump gasket it leaked worse than before. Decided to get rid and use a thin bead of sealant, I suspect there’s a slight warp to the pan due to the welding done next to it.

First up was to support the engine from above while I drop the subframe again. Engine mounts, steering linkage, power steering pump all need to be disconnect or removed
View attachment 336213
still clean inside, not even been on the road.
View attachment 336215
Very careful with the sealant, got a nice witness all round to see it squished out.
View attachment 336217
gave everything a clean and wipe down. Leaving it overnight to set before putting oil back in her. She’ll go into storage after this till Dino has time to give her a good going over.
View attachment 336219
she’s one very solid track 2.8 Zed now. No niggles left to sort.

Getting the sump off must have been fun!?!?!?

 

[Lee]

Getting the sump off must have been fun!?!?!?

Not bad a job really. We do it so often takes just over an hour to remove. This one had already been off so all the bolts were ok.

 

[Lee]

Was so good taking Dino’s Zed out for its test drive. Car felt really good and planted. Gave her a quick clean and moved to storage till Dino finds the time to come visit

Looking very dusty

Quick little detail

now in storage with other Zed friends.

 

[Kai]

Looking great

 

[Mazza]

 

[Lee]

I actually sent Dino a separate picture going FYI this is not your oil

 

[MuttyMax]

I actually sent Dino a separate picture going FYI this is not your oil

View attachment 336591

So that must have been the red car in front of Liv's then ...