-89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Racing Project 2

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Nismo
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-89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Racing Project 2

Post by Nismo »

Hello everyone!

I think it's time for a little project thread on this forum, even though there might not be super much activity, it's always funny to collect and share the project as it goes forward.

My name is Tomas, located in Stockholm, Sweden! My first Piazza project was a white HBL that had been standing on a grass lawn for 7 years under a plastic cover. Not the ultimate pre conditions you might say...

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Also had a red spare car for parts, but I never used anything from it.
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I had so many plans for this car but unfortunately this one had to move on beacause of excessive rust all over the car. In Sweden they salt the roads att winter making our old cars disappear like cotton candy in water... :angryfire:

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So away with that rust bag and fast forward about 5 years. I finally became a Piazza owner again, but this time with a lot better car to start from!
As we speak I have changed all fluids, resurfaced the brakes, changed pads and tried to wash it as good as I could. Almost passed inspection with one fault: A leaking exhaust that requires a re-inspection, but with that fixed I should be good to go! :)

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And this is the wheels I try to fit the car - Classic Japanese wheels Kosei Sniper 17". Found a pre-used set that will have to do it for now. In the future a setup of 17" gold BBS Lemans replicas will probably end up on it! :prayer:

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So now I am waiting for spacers and centric rings for the new wheels, and waiting for some help with the exhaust for the re-inspection.

I will keep you updated! :)

//Nismo
Last edited by Nismo on Thu Jun 03, 2021 10:24 pm, edited 3 times in total.
ISUZU PIAZZA TURBO -89 | HANDLING BY LOTUS
KAIZEN RACING PROJECT かいぜん
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Re: -89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Project

Post by Piazza_man »

Welcome Tomas, nice ride too. What are doing to stop the salt rusting out this car too?
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Re: -89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Project

Post by Nismo »

eyecon wrote: Tue May 12, 2020 8:24 pm Welcome Tomas, nice ride too. What are doing to stop the salt rusting out this car too?
Well first of all I am going to give it well needed corrosion protection treatment with sand blasting and total recover of surface protection.
Then the easy answer: Not drive it during winter time! :yawinkle:
ISUZU PIAZZA TURBO -89 | HANDLING BY LOTUS
KAIZEN RACING PROJECT かいぜん
www.nismo.se | www.kaizenracingproject.com
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Re: -89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Project

Post by Piazza_man »

Excellent
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Re: -89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Project

Post by Nismo »

So I've got some more parts to install on the Piazza. K&N air filter, new rear brake pads and also the custom made spacers for the new wheels.

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K&N air filter in place!

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Rear wheels are test fitted with spacers and it looks good! :tonqe:
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Wheels are getting a new color, they should end up in gold eventually!
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Within the next few days I will get the wheels painted and fitted properly on the car. It will make a huge difference!
Last edited by Nismo on Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
ISUZU PIAZZA TURBO -89 | HANDLING BY LOTUS
KAIZEN RACING PROJECT かいぜん
www.nismo.se | www.kaizenracingproject.com
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Post by Piazzish »

Will be following here ;) Car looks NICE !! As long as you garage it during salt season, you will have a good car for years ahead :supz:
1989 Isuzu Piazza JR120 Lotus Turbo Red 92000km
1989 Isuzu Piazza JR120 Lotus Turbo White 183000km
1987 Isuzu Piazza JR120 Pre-Lotus Turbo Red 131000km
1984 Isuzu Piazza JR130 N/A Two-tone 145000km
1984 Isuzu Piazza JR130 N/A Black 92000km
1989 Isuzu Gemini JT190 Red 173000km
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Re: -89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Project

Post by Piazza_man »

Great pics, and great work. Keep us posted.
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Re: -89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Project

Post by Nismo »

Car has passed inspection! :heart: In Sweden cars that are 30 years and older are considered "veteran vehicles" and therefore free from yearly road taxes, and also only has to be inspected every second year instead of every year! So now I am good to go until May 2021! :hello1: Pic below is from my job, a car dealer and workshop that sells american cars, mostly pickups.

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But that joy was short lived since I got rammed from behind by a 19 yo girl in her dads Audi... :violent1:

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ISUZU PIAZZA TURBO -89 | HANDLING BY LOTUS
KAIZEN RACING PROJECT かいぜん
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Re: -89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Project

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In the meantime that I was waiting for a workshop to fix the damage I started working with some detailing. This is with heavy cut compound first round! Quite a difference!

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And outside after one round heavy cut.

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A very kind Facebook friend from Norway sent me new grill badge, since I'm aiming for that "stealth" look that no one will recognize what car it is! ;)

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ISUZU PIAZZA TURBO -89 | HANDLING BY LOTUS
KAIZEN RACING PROJECT かいぜん
www.nismo.se | www.kaizenracingproject.com
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Re: -89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Project

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Yay! A couple of weeks later my car is back! Next goal: Finish detaling with fine cut compound and wax. Then mount the gold wheels! :D

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ISUZU PIAZZA TURBO -89 | HANDLING BY LOTUS
KAIZEN RACING PROJECT かいぜん
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Re: -89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Project

Post by Nismo »

Almost forgot to mention, but I also got a new pair of quad lights on the way, all the way from Australia across the globe to Sweden! Hopefully the pandemic state of the world won't make that valuable package to disappear along the way... :o

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ISUZU PIAZZA TURBO -89 | HANDLING BY LOTUS
KAIZEN RACING PROJECT かいぜん
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Re: -89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Project

Post by Piazza_man »

This COVID-19 is really slowing freight down. I paid good money and for what. Anyway I hope it arrives soon.
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Re: -89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Project

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eyecon wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2020 9:21 pm This COVID-19 is really slowing freight down. I paid good money and for what. Anyway I hope it arrives soon.
Status quo on all tracking services when I look it up....We'll see what happens! :)
ISUZU PIAZZA TURBO -89 | HANDLING BY LOTUS
KAIZEN RACING PROJECT かいぜん
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Re: -89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Project

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A little update on what has been done so far, and my future plans as well.

DONE
[X] Change fluids, oil, coolant, brake
[X] New wheels 17"
[X] Resurface brake discs
[X] Pass inspection
[X] Spacers to fit wheels
[X] New air filter, K&N
[X] New brake pads
[X] New grill badge

TO-DO
[ ] Kakimoto or HKS muffler
[ ] Custom stainless exhaust
[ ] Quad lights
[ ] Wax and polish
[ ] Fix squeaky panel
[ ] Re-do window tint
[ ] Paint wiper arms
[ ] Change spark plugs
[ ] Change ignition cables
[ ] Fix gasoline gauge
[ ] Fix radio
[ ] Fix steering bushes
[ ] Fix hood latch handle
[ ] New gold line stripes
[ ] Change thermostat
ISUZU PIAZZA TURBO -89 | HANDLING BY LOTUS
KAIZEN RACING PROJECT かいぜん
www.nismo.se | www.kaizenracingproject.com
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Re: -89 Piazza Turbo HBL - Kaizen Racing Project 2

Post by Nismo »

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I don't always write updates here, but when I do they're really good! :rolleyes:
Anyway since last post a lot has happened and some of the "To-Do" stuff is actually ticked off:

TO-DO
[ ] Kakimoto or HKS muffler
[ ] Custom stainless exhaust
[X] Quad lights
[X] Wax and polish
[ ] Fix squeaky panel
[ ] Re-do window tint
[ ] Paint wiper arms
[X] Change spark plugs
[X] Change ignition cables
[ ] Fix gasoline gauge
[ ] Fix radio
[ ] Fix steering bushes
[ ] Fix hood latch handle
[ ] New gold line stripes
[X] Change thermostat
[ ] Fix heating/cold air
[ ] Add front lip

Since last post I also visited the Jap Days at Mantorp Park where the car draw some appreciated attention! :)

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This is the current look, but I'm glad to tell you that 16" BBS Lemans look-alikes are ordered and will be mounted in this summer! :cheers:
Also just ordered new Zoom springs from Japan that lowers 35-40mm so the car will be extremely low with that setup! :o

I recently got the question from a friend to be included in a sound recording for a video game database full of sound effects and vehicles!
Now they got a Piazza in their database, as they ran up and down the air field strip recording any posssible combination of sounds on all gears, shifting, buttons, braking you name it! Fun thing to do, and maybe just maybe it will be my Piazza that you hear in a upcoming video game!

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ISUZU PIAZZA TURBO -89 | HANDLING BY LOTUS
KAIZEN RACING PROJECT かいぜん
www.nismo.se | www.kaizenracingproject.com
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