Mike's Journal
 

My car was supposed to get into port in Jacksonville yesterday and to me by the 16th, but now it looks like the ship isn’t due in until the 14th, so I won’t get the car until late next week at best.

It is a black base with sport.

To pass time, I am starting my build thread

Already have:
Springs:
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5599/eibach.jpg

Stillen Sways:
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2465/sways.jpg

Nismo Wheels:
(bought them from Mushashi, he is looking into why the dealer didn’t include the required lugnuts, as they were supposed to, and they use a shank and washer style, not the typical conical lugs)
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9027/lugholes.jpg

Starting the powdercoat process:
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/2796/nismo1y.jpg
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1346/nismo2.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1267/nismo3.jpg

The lips are a dormant color, so they won’t show their true hue until clearcoated and fully cured.

Very nice, do you have a picture of what the end-product will look like with the wheels?

Oh, and the stock rays lugs might be the same style as what is required for the Nismo, so you may be in luck. I haven't actually pulled them off myself, but there were a lot of issues with wheel locks because of the style of our lugs.

I'd also love to see a finished product on the wheels. And I see you are in GA, where are you having the wheels done?

After looking a little closer it looks like you are going for a red lip and you haven't coated the center with the powder yet, so maybe matte black center with a red lip??

I'm in Loganville and doing them myself. I have a powdercoat business.
This is the final color for the lip, will have a picture of the entire wheel in about 2 hours.
Going gloss black centers. Satin would be nice, but since the lips have to be clearcoated, it would be much more work.
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/9797/sparklecopper.jpg

Very nice, looking forward to the results! So how much do you charge for wheels?? =)

Awesome stuff Mike, those wheels are coming along nicely!

I have been looking at doing small parts powdercoating at home, do you have some recommendations on small guns/equipment?

Thanks,

I started with the Eastwood Hobby gun, a small compressor and a used household oven. I have since upgraded everything to professional stuff. For starting out though, the eastwood gun is no longer one of the best. I would look at Powder Buy The Pound | Powder Coating Equipment and Supplies , Columbia Coatings and Plating Kits Electroplating Kits Aluminum Anodizing Kits Powder Coating Systems Metal Polishing And Buffing Supplies - Caswell Inc. for starter hobby guns that are a little better. I have a friend who uses the hobby gun from Caswell in his business. A small used house oven and 20 gal. compressor should get you started though.

Cool, looks like you know what you are doing. I'll be following this one.

The stock 370 sport and G37S uses the same shank with washer lugs so you can use what it comes with to start with.

:pics:so it's been over 3 hours now, where are the pics of the final product?

Finished product, at least the 1st wheel. Lots of masking time.

Flash makes it look a little more brighter orange than they actually are.
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/858/finishednismo1.jpg

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/8969/finishednismo2.jpg

Flat with no taper where it meets the wheel? Sharif @ forged said the GTR is similar, but they still have some taper. This is the inside of the lug holes, notice how the seating surface is flat?:
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9027/lugholes.jpg

The stock wheels look the same. There is a flat top and a flat bottom in the hole, yet the lug nuts still have taper at the end and a flat washer in the middle.

Very nice look. I'd also like to know about your business. Cost for wheels, etc.

thanks!, thinking about it all, the lug shouldn't need to bottom out, as the washer against the wheel is what is holding it in place. Guess I didn't need the new lugs after all. Oh well.

Thanks, but I'm not a forum sponsor, so I don't think its appropriate to discuss that openly. You can shoot me a pm if you want though, hopefully that won't break any rules or courtesies.

What is the actual size of the wheels and their offset?

I see 19x9 and 19x10 in one place, and then 19x9.5 and 19x10.5 in another.

19x9J +47
19x10J +30

Same width and offset as stock 19s.

is what is stamped on them. I don't know the significance of the J, but I'm guessing it doesn't mean 1/2.

that wheels look awesome man!!!!
wow, I never thought that the final product will be so great!!!

Thanks!

Looks very good! I love the color combination and the quality is impeccable.

awesome job...! wish i knew how to do all that stuff...

side note: has anyone figured out if the door handles are powder coatable? or are they plastic?

even if they are plastic, they 'may' be powdercoatable. If they don't melt at 375, they can be coated. Anyone want to be a guineau pig donor :)

subscribed! looking forward to your build! nice job on the wheels!

hahah if only you were close by.. i have a lot of ideas for powdercoat accents on the Z!

<--anxiously awaiting pics of the black Z riding on those sexy nismo wheels!!

Day 1
Got the calipers powdercoated, tires switched over and rear springs and sways installed.

Tomorrow: Clear bra, and the goal is to do the front half of the suspension, plus powdercoat the outsides of the ichiba spacers black (assuming they need it, I haven't opened that box yet). Since the rear took an hour and I've done several 350Z spring swaps in short order, it shouldn't take much more, but I do have 2 other sets of sport brakes to powdercoat and a Z06 set. I hate it when work gets in the way!

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/3774/day1ap.jpg

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/683/day1b.jpg

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/696/day1c.jpg

Teaser to see what it will look like!
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/139/day1d.jpg

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/9646/day1e.jpg

Lookin GOOD!! :tup:

although I have to admit the silver valve stem looks outta place

I like that! Makes me want to do something similar with my blue Z.....blue rims.....:drool:

yeah, If they hadn't been on the old wheels, I could have done something with them. I may figure something out still though.

although, if you are keeping the stock lug nuts they may not look as out of place when they match the lugs.

and I still have to do something with the centercaps. Probably spray paint black.

ahh yes, so many components to wheels that you need to change along with the wheel itself.

Looking forward to the completed pics, I'm really jealous of the calipers!! I think mine would look great with color-matched calipers to my pearl white paint behind the piano black spokes on my wheels. I wonder if there is a powder similar to that color, if so I may have to order me a starter kit :tup:

there is a pearl white. I've done a set in it.

any pictures of the pearl white? you can PM me if you have some, don't want to clutter your journal!

what is your email?

can you pm me a price and timeframe to powdercoat my calipers? im iffy about local places, i didnt think all the rubber seals on the inside could take the heat (or be removed). would want them fire engine red.

ichiba spacers installed. I have some vibration, and I think its because their hubcentric rings don't extend far enough for the nismo wheels. The barely touch the area where the taper ends behind the wheel. I have 20mm rear and 15mm front. I am going to ask ichiba to send me the rings for a 25mm, and put the 20s on the fronts and 25s on the rear. I think the extra 5mm of hub ring will do the trick.

Also, I powdercoated the outside edge of the spacers satin black because with a black rotor center and black wheels, we didn't need uncoated aluminum between them.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/647/ichiba3.jpg

and, the car as it now sits.

Next is alignment, then getting the rear taillights tinted.
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/8757/done1v.jpg