Paul's R32 Gtr Track Build

[paulR32gtr]

Finally able to start my build thread - things are progressing quickly! Have been threatening to set my R32 GTR up for tarmac rally since 2008 - and a knocking engine was the push I needed to get started. Went and did Targa tas with a mate in 2008 and the bug bit hard. Anyone that has built up a car knows the never ending list of shite you need so planning and funding began.

First a little history - I imported this 89 R32 GTR in September of 2004. It was an R grade car due to a hit in the rear drivers side which had been repaired pretty well - otherwise was in outstanding condition all around - nothing out of place, completely stock - it was very clean. Kept it pretty standard minus exhaust and some pod filters. Have done all servicing myself and get Racepace to do anything beyond my tools and expertise.

The aspiration - shot taken by my girlfriend in our support vehicle out of Queenstown on the western loop. Tassie has the some of the most amazing roads.

While I was away in Tas I left the car in the capable hands of the Racepace with some gtss's, power fc and a few other odds and ends. Returned to a very nice 290 odd rwkw. Drove this around for a few years, decided to get it ready for some track work as I didn't want to drive it on the roads anymore. Was just going to see what I got out of the standard motor and wait for an excuse for a full build, so completely overhauled the suspension subframe off all bushes replaced, adjustable arms, sway bars, some tein coilovers to replace the tired stockies, and an alcon brake kit from John @ UAS.

Gathering parts. Tomei oil pump.

New longnose crank

Sweet sweet pwr crossflow radiator with oil cooler in end tank.

Next up the stripping begins. Racepace pulled the engine and I grabbed the shell back to start all the painful stuff.

Rest of the hicas was removed, p/s pump bridged with p/s cooler hopefully will stop p/s fluid everywhere on shakedowns at the track - will see otherwise a cooler core will go in. Cleaning all the grease and road poo everwhere on everything. Can be pretty overwhelming at times but a proper clean will be worth it in the end - at least for the build completion shots - then start covering it with muck again

The dry icing begins. Make sure you use a good esky picking this stuff up - I put it in a cheap bunnings tub which proceed to shatter - didnt loose too much but yeah - its farking cold. As with eveyone else 1-2 hours to get 95% of the stuff off and out, then another 10 and counting hours to get all the goo etc off - but it must be done properly.

The stuff they used on the welch plug type things in the floor plan is the bain of my existence at the moment - bought 4 types of citrus cleaners today and have been working at it. Still need a little more dry ice for the remaining deadening pads.

Unfortunately when I first had the car I didn't have a garage. Frying aussie summer sun has perished a lot of the seals etc, seats have faded which was all perfect when I first got it. It also had a bit of a water leak into the drivers footwell which I could never track down. After stripping everything down I found this big rust patch below the clutch pedal - car is off to the cage shop either Meridian or Brown Davis next, then the panel shop to get the rust sorted and some paint for the interior and engine bay. Not sure if I will stick with the gun grey to make it easy and cheap, or go for something fresh like white.

[N1GTR]

Approved and reading

[zebra]

Looks good, I love tarmac GTRs

[sav man]

I used carby cleaner to remove the last bits of sound deadener. Makes you high as a kite, but works

[paulR32gtr]

I used carby cleaner to remove the last bits of sound deadener. Makes you high as a kite, but works

Yeah I spotted that in your thread on my quests for an easier way - can of carby cleaner on hand!

[phunky_monkey]

That goo is the biggest drainer going round, what a massive pain in the arse that was!

[Roy]

How does the PWR cooler go for fitment? Does it fit? If so would love the part number as I am after one, but have heard/read some horror stories about PWR getting stuff wrong all the time...not the thing i can handle when arranging this stuff from OS

[paulR32gtr]

Bloody goo - and I am convinced 1989 seam sealer technology is literally the spawn of the devil himself - chisel chisel chisel, fark, chisel, chisel, chisel. Not sure how Merli got his cleaned up in 10 hours - i would be closer to 20.

Off to Meridian later today for a cage, going to take it past micolour first so they can see the rust - make sure its not a bad idea getting the cage in first (Meridian have a slot for me now).

Roy - see photos below. Dimensions are perfect (no engine yet though!) but it fouls on that small lip in the third pic - you see the gap on the top down shot. Just going to bend it a little and should be good. I have the drawing if you want it - pm me an email address and I can send it to you.

[nuclear_skyline]

Highly jealous of your build. I'll be watching this thread with lots of interest as you have or will be doing a lot of things i'll be doing in the future.

[paulR32gtr]

Highly jealous of your build. I'll be watching this thread with lots of interest as you have or will be doing a lot of things i'll be doing in the future.

Cheers - its been a long time coming but worth the wait to have the pennies to do it properly.

In other news... more tar... awesome.

[sav man]

it's everywhere!! And if you start pulling off the external body sealer, you'll find the only thing it does it seal rust in. So it's worth removing all you can, and treating the rust.

[Beer Baron]

looks awesome mate.

can you tell me (pm if you like) what the full F+R brake kit set you back and what size rotors etc, and what you think of it? they look very nice. should stop beautifully.

[paulR32gtr]

looks awesome mate.

can you tell me (pm if you like) what the full F+R brake kit set you back and what size rotors etc, and what you think of it? they look very nice. should stop beautifully.

You have pm. Yeah they stop really well time and time again - can easily out brake the crappy t1r's I have on there - will be able to give them a good test once I have some real semis.

Cheers.

[paulR32gtr]

After my little surprise of all that tar under the parcel shelf I was up early to pick up a car trailer and some more dry ice. Luckily the tar was in really good nic I could tell it was going to come straight off with the dry ice - which it did.

Loaded up and made the journey to Meridian. Good chat with Brenton and Andrew about cages and the rest of the prep - had a look at some of the work going through there at the moment and it's mint - amazing TIG work from Andrew. They are going to take care of most of the rust around the areas they will be working and Micolour the rest.

Things have really ramped up today, both with things moving along and allocated budget I was originally going to just get the interior sprayed, but there is some surface rust around the windows on the outside, so its just not worth mucking around. I am basically having the car reset the car back to factory condition - might choose a different colour though have to work that out. Michael @ Micolour will be doing the whole car once Meridian is finished. Inside outside and engine bay - and anyone that gets him to work on their cars will know the immaculate result to expect. Took the car round and had a good chat with him and a look through his awesome workshop and at some of his mint work.

Very excited but nervous about this, as much as I will want to wrap it in plastic and hide it away - I can't let it get in the way of getting out and enjoying the car once finished. Might have to organise a decent photo shoot to savour the memories with in the event I put a scratch on it...

Ready for some surgery.

[nuclear_skyline]

it's everywhere!! And if you start pulling off the external body sealer, you'll find the only thing it does it seal rust in. So it's worth removing all you can, and treating the rust.

Indeed. I found some rather nice holes in the joint between the rear guards and the valence. Remove it, prep it and paint it.

[paulR32gtr]

Dropped in at Meridian this afternoon. Cage is looking rather good - check out that tig work. Andrew said he needed to mig the cage to the body at the boxes as it's much more forgiving working with older weathered metal.

[LotusGTR]

Watching.....

[Roy]

Cage looks mint! Interesting the diagonals in the main hoop all merge at the one point. Some are happy to do it, some seem to avod it, i assume because the section that is a single piece becomes too heat affected by all the welding in close proximity

[paulR32gtr]

Cage looks mint! Interesting the diagonals in the main hoop all merge at the one point. Some are happy to do it, some seem to avod it, i assume because the section that is a single piece becomes too heat affected by all the welding in close proximity

Yeah not sure - they will be putting the extra bits on like the rear cross so should help.

No doubt I will be testing it for durability with my head many times before it ever sees any action.

[paulR32gtr]

Cage is finished and I couldn't have hoped for a better job. Now for Mike to work his magic - hopefully a little less stressful than working on R31's.

Having major withdrawals from not being able to drive this thing... these car's are an addiction.

Andrew has nicely sorted the rust in the floor - bloody rust!