Laurel Build

Never Lift Garage · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 4:23 pm

I finally started to put together a blog entry for my Laurel build.

http://neverliftgarage.com/
http://nevrlift.com/2012/07/19/begining ... jdm-build/

Rory

Never Lift Garage · **Posted:** Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:15 pm

Thought I would add a few pics from my build.

In Yokohama, in the driveway of the gentleman I bought it from.

In front of my old shop in Boise.

What it currently looks like. Sans wheels.

Test fit of the VH45.

Clearance on the clutch master and brake booster.

The VH45 is out and on a stand, I am building a intake manifold that will clear the hood and take care of the ugly stock one.

Rory

Camshaft · **Posted:** Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:11 am

Holy cow, that car had a perfect look and stance when you started, and it just keeps getting better! Will you be modifying the hood for clearance, or are you trying to avoid that by making the new manifold?

Never Lift Garage · **Posted:** Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:27 am

Definitely not modifying the hood. The only real clearance issue I see is exhaust port 3&4 on the drivers (right) side to the steering box.
I am headed to the wrecking yard later to see if I can find a steering rack that will fit.

Rory

Camshaft · **Posted:** Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:30 am

Never Lift Garage wrote:

Definitely not modifying the hood. The only real clearance issue I see is exhaust port 3&4 on the drivers (right) side to the steering box.
I am headed to the wrecking yard later to see if I can find a steering rack that will fit.

Rory

What kind of steering options do you have available? A manual rack with a V8 in a super light old Japanese car will net you ~1M harda$$ points.

Never Lift Garage · **Posted:** Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:46 am

Not really sure, I know the rack pivot points need to be 16.5" apart. I have completed quite a few steering box to rack conversions with good success, but obviously LHD box to LHD rack. On the Laurel which is rear steer I will need to run a front steer rack upside down. I considered manual but I want to be able to park the thing without suffering massive forearm pump (Popeye).

Rory

Camshaft · **Posted:** Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:54 am

Never Lift Garage wrote:

I have completed quite a few steering box to rack conversions with good success, but obviously LHD box to LHD rack. On the Laurel which is rear steer I will need to run a front steer rack upside down.

Wait, are you saying you'd have to flip a LHD steering rack upside down to work on a RHD car, or are you saying that the Laurel has four-wheel steer? :shock:

Never Lift Garage · **Posted:** Wed Aug 01, 2012 10:09 am

Yes, I am flipping a LHD rack upside down, no on the 4 wheel steer, the Laurel predates HICAS (thankfully).

Rory

Camshaft · **Posted:** Wed Aug 01, 2012 10:15 am

Never Lift Garage wrote:

Yes, I am flipping a LHD rack upside down, no on the 4 wheel steer, the Laurel predates HICAS (thankfully).

Rory

I figured as much, but I'm always open to having my mind blown. :lol:

Eric · **Posted:** Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:25 am

Love the car but it was better in gloss black i guess.

wookieballa · **Posted:** Thu Aug 02, 2012 5:31 pm

FINALLY someone building a laurel. but DAMN... that engine is HUGE.. i wouldn't want to have to turn wrenches on that thing.

very nice car!

Never Lift Garage · **Posted:** Thu Aug 02, 2012 9:55 pm

Yeah, I have a feeling its going to be one of those cars that if you drop something in the engine bay it never hits the ground.

wookieballa · **Posted:** Fri Aug 03, 2012 5:55 am

kinda like a Z32 LOL FARK that engine bay.. i will stick with the Lseries, or a KA/SR any day!

looks sick though!

i really wish my wife would take a liking to Laurels, but she wants a Kenmeri. (i'm not complaining, but i wish i could afford it..)

Never Lift Garage · **Posted:** Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:42 am

No kidding on the Z32 engine bay, at least the VH45 wont have as many vacuum lines to get hard, crack, then leak...

Rory

wookieballa · **Posted:** Fri Aug 03, 2012 5:18 pm

no doubt!

did you find some way to convert to manual tranny?? or was your car already an auto?

whats the weight difference on that V8 vs the L6?

john · **Posted:** Fri Aug 03, 2012 6:31 pm

Never Lift Garage wrote:

Not really sure, I know the rack pivot points need to be 16.5" apart. I have completed quite a few steering box to rack conversions with good success, but obviously LHD box to LHD rack. On the Laurel which is rear steer I will need to run a front steer rack upside down. I considered manual but I want to be able to park the thing without suffering massive forearm pump (Popeye).

The 280Z is front steer. I used a manual one to do a RHD rear steer rack swap and it worked perfectly installed "backwards". Don't think it came with power steering though...

I know the 280ZX had power steering, but pretty sure it's rear steer...

Fat lot of help I am...

Never Lift Garage · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2012 9:19 pm

Update,
I haven't had much time to work on the car lately but I was able to test fit the motor again. I needed to remove the stock motor mounts that were part of the front cross member. Also had to remove the power steering pump, there wasn't enough clearance on the frame rail. I planned on running an MR2 electric pump mounted in the trunk anyway. It wont sit back as far as I would like due to the oil pan hitting the cross member but should still have the same or better center of gravity with less motor hanging out in front of axle center line. The intake I am building will have good hood clearance which is a problem with installing these motors.

ratmaz · **Posted:** Thu Nov 15, 2012 12:33 am

Best thing about this car is every thing.

Good luck with the build can't wait to see a vid when she's up and running.

john · **Posted:** Sun Nov 25, 2012 5:42 pm

That intake looks badass.

31GUN · **Posted:** Sun Nov 25, 2012 6:38 pm

I'm with you Ratmaz.
What I like particularly about this car is everything :mrgreen:

Laurel Build

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