Andy's $2017 challenge build

Andy Neuman wrote: At this rate Mr. Stamps won't have had the most BA Q45 ever at the challenge or the prettiest.

Function over form Sir, function over form.

In reply to Stampie:

One of us needs to figure out how to make one of these cars fast because we have been letting people down.

I may need to buy a set of 300zx ebay coilovers. Since when did ebay coilovers start at $243?

In reply to Andy Neuman:

I'll let you in on a secret. We're going to use $43 eBay coilovers for an Accord that came off our $2015 Miata. It's not about bolting on, its how you redneck engineer the parts.

In reply to Stampie:

I already have my free ebay coilover sleeves and springs from TB. Not sure I want to try machining the front bushing 3mm wider on the 300zx coilovers.

In reply to Stampie:

Where and what tools did you use to remove your windshield? I was looking on amazon for windshield removal tools but couldn't pull the trigger on any.

We ended up with a heat gun and a sawzall on the front. It was a major PITA. The lower part was so deep with glue the tools didn't help. I'm thinking about make a hot wire to cut the glue in the future.

I usually try to be careful. I always wind up craking them and finishing the job with my boots in a fit of rage.

Current dilemma is I have a really strict broken glass/brittle plastic policy and I don't want to be a bad example since I work on my car at work.

Yea you might wanna do this somewhere else. I forgot to mention the use of a hammer to break up the bits on the lower part.

I like their technique. I told my driver to pick me up a sack of potatoes to fix all my problems.

Since they also like wasting time and sending me photos of potatoes.

.

Another day of limited progress. More progress to come tomorrow. Maybe even a video of parking lot testing and barely missing trucks in my limited space.

Flying car mode

Just because Infiniti had a fancy symbol back in the day.

Sunday update:
1. I'll add a picture of the entrance to my super awesome work space. Purchased a couple of new lights to spruce up the area this week.
2. The 335's rub on the inside of the rear so it looks like when I buy my actual tires they won't be as wide.
3. Looking for recommendations for drag radials, I plan to run them the entire event.
4. Changed the oil today. I still don't know why engineers put filters in the worst places.
5. The interior is trashed, not quite sure how I'm going to remedy that.
6. Still need to build the spoiler and splitter.
7. Nitrous kit will be on the way shortly. Also a lap belt for safety.
9. I need to cut out the mufflers and run a pair of pipes to the back.
8. Like the LS400 I won't post the complete car until the day before I leave for the event. The color combo/style I'm going for will be the last thing to happen.
10. Installed the Transmission control unit so I can do burnouts now but I forgot the tripod/second person to do videos.

Bad news the Q fell off so I guess it is just a 45 now.

Looking nice. Remember what happened last year in the autocross when someone tired to run drag tires? If you want you can borrow my rears.

In reply to Stampie:

If I can find cheaper tires I may consider a two set option but until then the plan is one set to rule them all.

Yes, I can remember. They ran a higher sidewall tire than I plan to run and other balance factors played into the way their car behaved.

Best I could do for my budget would be to use two of the 18" wheels it came with and order drag radials. That would leave me with about $170 for cosmetics.

Edit: I forgot I sent away the colorful Q45 away on those wheels. Then it depends if someone would accept the FMV trade between the wheels I kept and the ones I sent away. I mean I sold the wheels for $2500 and they got a free car with it so I should be able to recoup 100% of the value of my car.

I have a lot of 5x114.3 wheels. Whatcha looking for?

In reply to Stampie:

Free wheels with free drag radials.

Basically anything more than 8" wide at very low cost to mount drag radials.

Would two 18x9s for $100 be cheap enough? Or four 18x8 for $50? I'd give you a better deal on the 18x9s but it becomes a recovery issue.

In reply to Stampie:

I could get the 245 m and h drag radials for the 18x8 wheels, since I'd only be using two that would be a $25 budget hit.

Do you think they would let me use my two Q45 spares as skinnies?

What I do know is I don't want to run 95+ mph and be stuck in the 15s for the third year in a row.

The question is can I say I traded these wheels and tires that came with the 1991 Q45

For these wheels that came with the $2016 Challenge Q45. Note I had these wheels on ebay for 6 months and the best offer I received was $150 with free shipping. Technically I made $500 on the overall deal. Then I could use two of these at no budget hit.

Doing this trade would leave me with $228 in budget for cosmetic things. Stupid stuff like wings/splitters and a "terrible" paint scheme left to be determined by my Fiance who wants to paint the car. This assumes I don't find cheaper A6/7 tires and using the drag radials as my free tires.

I'm going to use two wheels from the purple Q45 as a trade and order a set of drag radials for them.

Realized I missed an item in my budget. I have $109 left for paint, spoiler, and splitter. I have two tires in my budget at $62.50 each if I can find some cheaper Hoosiers A7 for the front or back.

On my local craigslist that has a pair of 275 hoosier R7 tires that would reduce my overall budget by $75... Tempting.

Andy Neuman wrote: On my local craigslist that has a pair of 275 hoosier R7 tires that would reduce my overall budget by $75... Tempting.

Picking up the Hoosier R7 for $17.50 each to save myself $90 on the budget. Going to put the 275 R7 upfront and the 295 A6 on the back. This will also eliminate my rubbing issue.

Yes, I know the 335's would be BA but this will probably be just as fast with less worries.

My Fiance was questioning my obligation to document every cent I spend on the car. I told her "I'm not a numbers fudger, I don't cook the books."

In other news I didn't even think about tire height when ordering the drag radials... They are going to be 1.7"taller. The good news is they will fit perfectly on my mustang.

Not worried about them warming up at different rates?

In reply to Stampie:

Not overly concerned. Will probably hot lap it because I think it's one of the better strategies with old tires.