Wednesday 31 August 2011

Jap Bash 2011

Upcoming Events:

Japbash! Held at Bentley Wild Fowl Trust in West Sussex UK.

When: Sunday 4th September 2011.

 'These meets have been a great success and we are pleased to be returning again this year. Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum currently hold over 20 car shows a year and continue to be perfectly suited for an event like Japbash.'

Reading Jap Car meet

When: Tuesday 20th September 2011 Madjeski Stadium Reading.

Replacing the horn Beep-Beep!

A side effect of fitting the Skyline option Spec 2 grille, is that you can see through the mesh of the grille into the car. Now obviously there isn't all that much to look at in there, a bonnet release, a bit of radiator and the horns are just about visible. It becomes much more apparent when popping the bonnet to reveal all.
As it stands under the hood especially at the front of the car, things are not in too bad a shape. I removed my very manky and rusty bonnet catch for one that I had refurbished some weeks ago. So that was good. However now my eye was drawn to the original horn fittings, which were looking tired and worse for wear. Quite understandable as these are by design, front and weather facing. In short, something had to be done to beautify this area.

 The old fittings are pretty simple and straight forward to get at. Each horn has one electrical connector and is held in place by a bracket connected with one bolt to the central support for the bonnet catch. Simply remove the connectors and unbolt the two M12 bolts.

The replacement horns came complete with some brackets which could be bent into shape. Keeping the trumpet part facing down (so water etc. can't get in), they horns were test fitted.


The replacement units were from Ring Automotive and can be seen here the pack comes with the parts needed but no wiring. Also there is a relay supplied, but this is not required on this installation.
Wiring is actually simple. If you check out your front engine bay fuse box you will see that there is a relay for the horn, delivering 12V every time you 'honk'. There is nothing super special about the replacements, although they do need to be suitably earthed. Having worked this out it is simple to attach an earth wire of suitable thickness (17/21 amp) following the existing cable back to a suitable termination point.
As you can see in the picture, I even kept the original Nissan terminals for the live connectors.

Okay, so now the wires are done and the brackets are 'bent' all that was needed is a quick clean up of the finished area. The horns were bolted into place and given a test 'beep' to make sure that they were working.


The finished result is quite pleasing and in total I would suggest it took me a couple of hours to do total.

Things you will need.
Horns.. duh!
Electrical connectors 2x spades, earth and splitter.
Suitable wire
12mm spanner and a crimp tool.

Tuesday 30 August 2011

GTST Spec 2 Indicators

I may have touched on this simple upgrade in the past. But on the weekend (we had a nice long one) My friend (Dr Evil) popped round to see if we could make his indicators (or as the say in Japan 'Winkers' or repeaters) a little less 'in your face'.
I have seen conversions done on the indicators before where the lens has been replaced with some other lump of plastic, usually hacked out of a strip light cover. I myself did experiment with a old fog light lens, grinding away all of the surrounding glass and cutting the amber portion away from the indicator. However both of these methods are unsatisfactory and I'm big headed enough to say that as an experienced model maker you need better tools for the job!
Standard GTST Spec 2 Indicators
I have heard of a mythical after market set of front indicators that actually come with a clear lens. But until the day I touch it with my finger and go 'ooooh' this will have to remain a myth.

After Tinting with film.
Actually there is a third option.. This would be to fit the four door version of the indicators (which are kinda clear). These look very similar to the older Spec 1 indicators (see the four door posting). Only down side to doing this would be getting hold of some as they are rare. Even though I did manage to get some they are no good to me as they come with a grille that fills the lower air intake. Alas I have the NISMO front splitter style on my car which would preclude this from being feasible. I have still kept the parts just in case I go mad and change the nose in the future.

Anyway, if you look at the pictures you will see that the simplest and most effective way of 'taming' the indicators is to simply use some window tint film.
Make a template from paper, tracing around the indicator lens (remember it's not perfectly round).
Give lens a good clean.
Cut out two circles from your tint film (remembering right and left hands)
Squirt some slightly soapy water on lens (so you can slide the film into position)
Remove air bubbles etc, with a credit card or similar (place masking tape over the edge)
Use a hair dryer to conform the film around the edges of the lens.

Job done. Your car is now cool!

Adds a bit of excitement to a dull street to see the Skylines!

Friday 19 August 2011

In the flat fields

I was sent this picture of a Ford Ka, resplendent in it's coat of Panther Black. Taken somewhere in Holland the home of flatness.

Racing Ka
I suppose you could tilt the camera to get a more exciting shot, although I take some pleasure in picturing the photographer trudging through the field to get this shot.
I was also sent a picture of a genuine cheese shop, is a strange old world isn't it?

I have even received some flack lately for having the audacity to post about my car on line, 'why do it' I am asked. All I can offer in response is; if you have to ask that question, then really, come on, your a bit dim.

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Reading Jap Meet August 2011

Reading Jap Meet is on every third Tuesday of the month, starting around 7PM and generally thinning out around 9 ish.

Held in the public car park of Reading Gate Retail Park, Acre Road, Reading BERKSHIRE it is a friendly and relaxed gathering.

Even if you are not a Jap car nut or even remotely interested in cars, you can't beat the thrill of hearing the cars as they arrive, engines revving, exhausts purring, as the sleek, classic or downright stupid cars enter the car park.

I recall earlier this year a man with his wife saying to her "what on earth is happening here! What are all these cars, what is happening!" which on the face of it is, pretty funny.

The gathering was made more special with the arrival of a few R33's, of course mine and a good friend from the Owners Club were probably the most noteworthy!

Ms Skyline and Dr Evil's
Naturally as with all things a few people who said they would come didn't make it.. Come on! One day in the month isn't a killer, is it?

Wednesday 3 August 2011

The art of Ms Skyline

A good friend of mine Caroline (Cazzer) decided to cheer me up with some graphics of Ms Skyline. She is still messing about with them but sent me a taste of what she can do. I love the effect so far, what do you think?
I can't help but look at her!
I always find it difficult to take a 'good' picture of the car, what with it being black it tends to reflect everything. When Cazza offered to create something interesting I was delighted and hope to be able to get it printed on some specialist paper (like a canvas or heavy type). So I can frame it for the wall.

Is funny, regardless of how cool (or even uncool) it is, I really don't have any photo's of my cars from history past. This is not going to happen with Ms Skyline.
I took a few pictures the other day and although (typically) at time of posting I forgot to bring my camera, will upload a few of the better ones.

Stop the press! I was just sent an updated picture with some of the missing detail in. I had better post it or Caroline will kill me.

Is all in the detail!