Project Leopard update

Published by F31roger

So let’s go over some quick updates.

** 2023 – SAKURA GARAGE WASTED TIME/MONEY AND DID A HORRIBLE JOB. Bolt text gives update.

 

 

Project Leopard is in Arizona

It’s been there since May 2020, but recently has been getting towards the finish.

I went to Arizona in Feb 2021 and earlier this May 2021

During those trips, I spent most of the time at Sakura Garage working on the car. Clearing up the engine bay totally took more time than I expected (after 8 months, the car didn’t change – red flag).  But it gave me an opportunity to go deep into the M30’s engine bay and see what I needed to redo/replace. (I spent time focusing on the engine bay so they can prep the car for paint).

The 2nd trip was really about taking the car apart even more. The biggest deal was the hood. Once Chuck figured out what to do, it broke down the process of blending even better. The current idea is painting the engine bay, trunk and door jambs and obviously the exterior of the car. The power steering rack needs to be rebuilt/replaced (which never happened). Glass needs to be removed and while out, tinted (which never happened as well). Besides the hood being messed with, Luke did the measurements for the radiator that I’m going to use (while the idea started to move, it also didn’t happen) and an awesome touch, with I hope will happen, is that Future Fab touch Project Leopard (Which also didn’t happen). Greg has an RB25 (which has been there longer than 4yrs) at his shop with the Greddy Intake manifold. Greg’s idea is to mount that all in, have Future Fab do the cutting in the engine bay (where battery used to be) and make charge pipes before he paints the engine bay (which again, never happened).

 

 

These are the goals of that. LHD M30 with a zenki leopard face and Nismo influence.

 

 

Aero consists of the more aggressive Zenki front lip, F31 Leopard Piko Racing side skirts and West Yokohama rear valances for the F31 leopard.

 

Oil Cooler

 

One of my friends in Japan sent me his Trust oil cooler in great condition.. now I just need to order the oil filter relocation kit and lines.

RB25DET is at The SR20 Store –

**2022 Update after 2.5 years and engine still incomplete, parts piling up and I keep begging, I left the SR20store.

A couple weeks before going to Arizona, I was in LA for a weekend trip. I stopped by the SR20store and talked to Marco about the engine/car and the timeline. It’s been sitting for a bit as he was waiting for the car to come back. Obviously the car hasn’t come back and so the engine became put on the back burner. This gave me time to finally look at what I need to do.

Full recap:

Engine was blown with #6 ring land bad. At that point, I decided to rebuild the whole engine. I would also address the oil issues that RBs have.

  • Engine and head work done at machine shop.
  • Head rebuilt with Tomei valve springs and components.
  • Crank machined with extended crank collar.
  • Engine internals with CP pistons, new bearings… etc.
  • ARP everything
  • Franklin Engineering head drain kit with new oil pan with welded bung.
  • Greddy Intake with Boost Doc water inlet insert (Greddy intake needs to be media blasted)
  • Tomei MX8265 RB25det upgraded turbo
  • New N1/Nismo Oil and water pump
  • PRP R35 coil pack set
  • Wiring Specialties RB25det harness
  • Wiring Specialties 5 point grounding kit
  • PRP LS alternator adapter brackets

 

 

A few more recent things that happened was that since the motor wasn’t completed as I thought it was, I decided to get Tomei Poncams, Tomei fuel Pressure regulator and Tomei adapter.

 

The other thing was my idea of dealing with heat. Marco wanted to use the stock exhaust manifold because it is cast iron. I really wanted to contain the heat and I thought I would wrap the exhaust manifold with heat wrap. But I decided to look into getting thermo ceramic coated… Hung found a shop that offers it and I had the exhaust manifold and heat shields done in Chromex finish.

 

 

Last was recent buy was an Optima battery. One of the previous owners located the battery to the back of the rear wheel well, where the spare tire would go. It was set up pretty horribly. Just drilled 2 holes and put battery tie down rods through. No platform to set the battery. It also looked like a battery exploded at some point with damage to that corner of the car. Greg wanted to keep the battery relocated and wanted to use the engine spot to cut for the charge pipe.

I’ve been gathering small components here and there, but I stopped by Pep Boys and they were like closing down.. so everything was 50% off.. I saw an Optima battery.. bought it and got a 3yr warranty. I will do a proper battery relocation set up.

 

Interior

I am happy to have taken cared of the dash, rear seats and some panels.

 

The to do list though:

  • Thrash Racing White leopard seat
  • Interior trim painted
  • R31 Door cars (on the next container, arrival end of summer).
  • Zenki center arm rest fiberglass together

Electronics

Bucky is working on the digital cluster (says he is replacing a lot of the stuff) and possibly making the harness. I still got a lot of pieces I need to put together. An interior harness definitely needs to be made for all the electronics.

I have almost all the stuff I need for the interior. I will need to get an A/F ratio gauge.

  • Old HKS items (probably some for looks)
  • Defi BF gauges
  • Yashio Factory water sprayer (with tank) and water temp monitor
  • Sard Attack meter
  • Pivot Mini shift lamp, KM reader, VCAPA and Raizen
  • Razo MT gear indicator

 

 

Bucky working on the F31 digital gauge cluster.

 

Wiring Specialties harness and 5 point grounding harness.

 

 

Wheels and Tires

Enkei RP01 in 16″

 

Probably need some spacers.

 

I believe this car was originally a Falken booth car too… So I will go with Falken for these.

Suspension

Still running the BC Coilovers. There is an extended 240sx LCA and Voodoo13 tension rods. I will change the LCAs for new OEM ones.

I definitely will change out the suspension for Tein or maybe a custom Stance coilover set up.

Exhaust

Like the suspension.. this will be during the final stages.

I didn’t have a Syko Elbow with Project Leopard. I don’t know if it is being used ( I think it is), but I would like to get a new one anyway. Marco said Syko has one available.

The other piece that I didn’t have was the SR20 Downpipe they used in the swap. I found one locally for $60. Rough used, but intact. Then Cameron (previous owner) found the original pipe and said I could pick it up next time. I do want it polished and cleaned up.

The exhaust will be down the line.. but it it will be 5 Zigen, Tanabe, Blitz or HKS axle back.

Chase Bays

After taking everything apart, I’ll be upgrading with Chase Bay’s Fuel line upgrade, Power Steering kit and brake line kits. (Chase Bays PS was back ordered, so I cancelled everything). I used the GK tech ABS delete kit with lines.

 

It’s insane to be at a level of upgrading everything and getting this car together theoretically would be awesome.

We shall see how it plays out.

 

Of course the intersection of Projects happened when the Diana kit arrived!