My Piazza

[GeminiCoupe]

Had posted this up but its been lost with the recent server dramas. Basically, ive always been a fan of Isuzu's being an avid Gemini nut. Ive owned 4 in the past 2 years, including one which is being rebuilt and turbocharged from scratch [see below]. It was only a matter of time before i succumbed to temptation and got behind the wheel of a Piazza.

My Gemini

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v403/ ... 4cdf39.jpg

I finally turned 18 and felt that finally being recognized as an adult i should make a car choice akin to an adult, so i bought a BMW 318i manual. Hell, it was RWD so it couldnt be that different right? Despite being an absolute ball to drive in the wet, the lack of power was getting to me so i decided it was time to go on the hunt for a Piazza. And here i am...







Bought this 86 Turbo Manual for a rather pricey $2800. I always wanted a red Manual, so i guess beggers cant be too picky. Atleast it was the "loaded" model, coming with every option bar the auto tranny. LSD, elec mirrors/windows, cruise control etc etc. It does however, need alot of work.

To bring it upto my "standard" [funny to hear this from a Gemini owner who drove around in a boot floor-less TE when he was 14] its going to need alot of work. Before registration a couple of key areas will need to be addressed including:

-stereo. I already have a good Clarion CD/MP3 player with sub out, Clarion 12" sub and US Audio amp to go in. All i need is 6" splits [funny, the Clarions are on special atm...should get them] and some 6" 3 ways for rear fill.

-Handling. I never thought the handling would be THIS bad. Attempting to carry speed through any corner is a really hair raising effort - for all the wrong reasons. The car already has Bilsteins and apparently a larger front sway bar [im yet to check] so it shouldnt need that much work. As evident from the pics, it rides higher then a Toyota 4Runner with a 2.5" lift kit, so thats going to need serious attention. Bigger wheels [15" steelies are on the wish list] with lower profile tyres with a soft compound are planned.

After its registered, i will slowly attend to other key areas like the mauled paintwork. Ive already got a few litres of XR6 Chilli Red lined up, just need to buy it and find time to paint the car. Two things which need major rectification [dont know if i could justify spending the money when the Gemini needs it though...] is the exhaust system and standard intercooler/inake piping. HORRIBLE.

Thatll be enough from me.

Nick-

[Chris]

Yeah sorry nick you had to post it again, hense server drama. But looks like our new host is abit quicker and alot more stable.
You will also need to re upload your avatar as I couldnt save them.

I think in the previous post we where talking about your respray?

[GeminiCoupe]

Paint job on the Gemini or the proposed paint job for the Piazza? Either way..

Gemini was done by a mate and his father, both have been responsible for some well known show cars out there. It cost me a fortune and unfortunately i wont be taking the same path with the Piazza. Paint is 2pack and Nissan Daytona 350Z Blue.

The piazza will be using the aforementioned Ford XR6 Chilli Red acrylic off the EB falcon range. A mate has the paint, its just a matter of going to get it off him [he lives down the road, im fair slack ah?]

I dont think spraying the Piazza "just" red will do her any justice though. I will be spraying the bumpers red, along with the side skirts, front spoiler and rear spoiler. Doorhandles will stay black, and mirrors will be black too. Im currently considering mixing a pearl into the paint - nothing gaudy, if anything more subtle. Currently thinking either pink [sounds gay, looks suprisingly tough] or gold.

Nick-

[Chris]

Just remember red colours fades alot quicker because it is more attracted to the sun.

I still reckon that Canary yellow (Top logo impulse) or kermit green or even Deep Purple would look awsome on a piazza.

[GeminiCoupe]

Reason im going red is because i dont really have the time to remove the engine, interior etc to respray the car a completely different colour. Besides, with the amount of wiring and shit crammed in the engine bay, im not sure i could do it. The paint should last well over 5years, and i probably wouldnt have the car at that stage - id probably be married and replacing it with a family car. Who knows.

Not a huge fan of yellow or kermit green, as i tend to shy away from bright look at me colours. I much rather deep, pearlescent colours - hence the blue on my Gemini.

If i were to change the colour Cosmo purple off the VY sounds good, as does a custom mix of black with a purple pearl.

Nick-

[GeminiCoupe]

My cousin finally returned my camera so ive got some better quality shots/updates.

Engine





External





Progress



So far im starting by ripping the interior out and replacing the f*cked carpet with some good stuff. While the seats are out theyll be steam cleaned, and returned. Wires for the amp, AUX cables etc will be run and setup while everythings out. Ill be making a gearknob at TAFE on the lathe out of ally, should look ok...after that only the steering wheel needs replacing. Now, just to replace the f*cked window mechanism on the passenger door...

<start rant>

My mate Zoran came past today and had a look at the Piazza, his the bloke who built and owned an 11sec Gemini running a 4ZC1. Basically, he took one look at the engine and said ive got alot of goodies you can use...T03 and manifold, GTR injectors, AU Throttle body, cooler, etc etc...grrr. I will be getting this stuff off him but not for the Piazza.

A few interesting things did however come out. Im getting the paint for free once he finds it [i owe him a beer ] and his hooking me up with a 3" mandrel bend exhaust at a VERY good price. Mmmm, i can smell that 15second pass...

<end rant>

I did find something usefull for other forum members though. Apparently GTR RB26DETT injectors, around 440cc, fit straight into the standard Piazza fuel rail. A mate that has these injectors on his VL had a look at the Piazza and said it does look very similar...ill find out when i buy the injectors off him. Also, RB26DETT spark plugs apparently fit too...useless info? Yeah probably.

Oh, and one more thing. His single turbocharging his VT SS LS1, manifolding is 90% complete. Oh god. Now you can see why im influnced/get carried away so easily. Bit hard not to when the people you know are complete nutcases.

Nick-

[Bugle]

hehe someones removed your turbo heat shield! Had to make one for mine because it didn't come with one.

I'm pretty sure RB26 uses O-ring injectors. Piazza has hose tails.
Have you found somewhere you can get moulded carpets for the Piazza?

[GeminiCoupe]

hehe someones removed your turbo heat shield! Had to make one for mine because it didn't come with one

That someone would be me lol Gave in to peer pressure....i cant see the turbooo where is it? Itll go back on once i sand blast and polish it. Little shit like this i dont mind doing because it costs me $0 and the car aint going anywhere in a hurry.

My mate had the RB26's in his Gemi so im pretty sure theres a way to get them going, ill have to find out for sure.

As for the carpet, ive got the carpet from a wreck in my boot just needs a good clean. You can get custom carpets made up - my uncle owns a carpet joint and he said its done by steam and heat moulding the carpet to the floor. Cost is around $400-500 i think. Interior is one thing im happy to not scrimp on - the car feels so much fresher when your driving it.

Nick-

[Bugle]

Yeah its a good idea to have it there coz of the cooler piping situation!

Too bad we've gotta get new carpets custom made.

[GeminiCoupe]

Bit of an update on 'Sophie'...[incase your wondering i didnt name 'Her', my girlfriend did...]

Had to go bare metal on the bonnet because of the crows feet, im getting flashbacks of finding bog like i did in my first Gemini...



Quarter panel blocked back...



The aim is to have the quarter panel and the bonnet in high fill by sunday, possibly the drivers door and front bumper too although they still have abit of prep to go.

If all goes well i should have some more update shots this weekend...

Nick-

[GeminiCoupe]

Some more progress...

Ready to rock...



Masking up was the easy part, had all the fun [ :sarcasm: ] trying to spray the damn quarter. My spray gun was playing up, i suspect it was partly blocked. No amount of thinners would clean the cunt out, so end result more work for me. Instead of the highfill going on nice and smooth its gone on rough as fuck and i have to waste more time getting it flat. Great.



Tomorow is a new day...getting that quarter flat and smooth, and getting that bonnet to bare metal.

Nick-

[Rodeobob]

You might want to try upgrading to a better spray gun.

I would have just fixed the hatch and got it regoed. Paint it later when the whizz bang rebuilt for 30psi motor and front mount go in. lol.


Bob

[GeminiCoupe]

Yeah, im thinking it could be time to upgrade to a decent gravity-fed gun, instead of the supershit $20 gun i have. At this rate ill be sitting here forever trying to sand the highfill flat...

As for the paint. Everyone was saying just get it on the road, but im a picky bastardso it had to be atleast half decent. An engine rebuild actually IS on the cards - not for a few years though. Once the geminis on the road the 4ZC1 will score a freshen up with ACL rings/bearings/pistons etc, mild head rebuild [abit of port cleanup, new springs, larger valves], VLT injectors and a T28 or VF22 Turbo. Ill actually convert this car into proper EFI using either the Delco or an aftermarket ECU. Aim would be to get it into the 13's, that would make a nice daily alongside the 11second Gemini.



Nick-

[Rodeobob]

Yeah, im thinking it could be time to upgrade to a decent gravity-fed gun, instead of the supershit $20 gun i have. At this rate ill be sitting here forever trying to sand the highfill flat...

Nick-

Nah just get a half decent suction gun same as you got. But one with a bit of adjustment in it. You can get em for under $100.