Latest addition to the family

Post by **wedgenut** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 6:13 pm

I'm starting to lose count now but i couldn't resist this one as it comes with the number plate and it is extremely tidy and original. 1983 with different wheels for a change! I've done a stock take and this is number four, three on the road and one being worked on for next summer. I can have my own gathering and cruise, maybe just head out on the highway and terrorise the motor homecavalcades with my own convoy.

117Coupe · Post by **117Coupe** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 6:48 pm

Are you going to drive it back from Christchurch?

Paul

Post by **wedgenut** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:42 pm

AH! So you were watching it as well were you? I did think about it, the options were fly down, bus and ferry down or drive down with extra driver but each option got sillier and more expensive. In the end I chose to rail it up, it is surprisingly cheap in comparison and that way I don't run the risk of SOMEONE lurking by the ferry ramp in Wellington waiting to steal the number plates. My first thought of driving had me thinking about stopping off to say hello but getting time off work was a problem also. I still have a work trip on the cards later in the year so i will get in touch when i have the dates. You have to admit it is a tidy one. ( I had a mate in christchurch go and check it out for me) I trust him...sort of!

Rodeobob · Post by **Rodeobob** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 3:08 am

Get the guy or your mate to pull the plates off and stash them in the car. Or better still registered post em.

Thats got the 13" mags on it. So it would have the old brakes. Were they drums??? or are the they same discs as the jap gemini. i remember something about the diff being the borwarner type same as the import and diesel geminis but wider. And its got the torque tube.

Is that all or am i confused??? lol

Bob.

Post by **wedgenut** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 11:57 am

Discs all round as normal, I haven't even looked at the wheels yet but they could be the 13" being 1983. All the piazzas I have seen here either local market or used import all have the torque tube diff. I thought that was standarD for a while on all models until I discovered the YB is different, I wonder why??.

Bugle · Post by **Bugle** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 12:05 pm

Yer those wheels are 13", they've got the smaller rear brakes without the drum handbrake I think..
I think the torque tube is something to do with the grade (XE, XS, XG, etc). Th ones sold here are XE which I think was the only one in Japan with 5-link?
All American 4ZC1/D1 ones seem to have 5-link as well. No idea why they'd do something like that it'd only cost them more to produce the 2 different types.

Post by **wedgenut** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 12:27 pm

The 84 models here have 14" tetris block wheels on NZ new models but also had the cam handbrake and no the drum style. I'm not sure when the changeover was. I have a pair of early 13" Piazza wheels that are different again to those in the picture and I've even seen one that had steelies and funny hubcaps that apparantly are original but I'm not sure about that!

Bugle · Post by **Bugle** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:05 pm

Yeah the Piazza Nero I got my rear garnish off had those 13" steelies with little isuzu hubcaps in the centre bit. Strange I thought nero's came with everything, but this was a G200Z, no power mirrors, no cruise, no lsd, and steel wheels.

Post by **wedgenut** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:12 pm

Obviously the plain vanilla nero then. Ive been looking out for a nero spoiler or two but they are a bit thin on the ground LOL. Like you i thought the nero was the one with all the fruity bits. Over here the JR120 Irmscher had most of the extras as well although they only had the standard spoiler with the factory fitted rust trap.

GeminiCoupe · Post by **GeminiCoupe** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:32 pm

Could possibly be that the donor for the Nero garnish that Bugle has was actually a low spec model retro fitted with the high spec garnish? Who knows, its hard to tell with old cars [especially those thin on ground] as no one knows the history.

About the rear ends. The torque tube rear is the same as the gemini, with the tube and panhard rod becoming the "links". As any Gemini owner will tell you the diff likes to walk from time to time, so the 4 link was in effort to stop this diff walk. Aus YB's got the 4link rear but still suffered from diff walk according to my articles. The 5Link rear was on the late 80's models like the Irmscher and HBL again to cure the rear end walk/location problem.

This is only rough dont use it as gospel as im not as clued up about some bout Piazzas. If thats the case though, wonder where/how to make up the 5th link for the Aus spec diffs....

Nick-

Bugle · Post by **Bugle** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:36 pm

4/5 link is the same thing, I think they refer to the panhard rod as the 5th link?
What's diff "walking"?

117Coupe · Post by **117Coupe** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 3:19 pm

Bugle wrote:Yeah the Piazza Nero I got my rear garnish off had those 13" steelies with little isuzu hubcaps in the centre bit. Strange I thought nero's came with everything, but this was a G200Z, no power mirrors, no cruise, no lsd, and steel wheels.

Early Piazza Nero models ('81-'86) were similar to the Piazza range. Starting from the base model, it was XJ, Bella, XL, XG, and XE. From '86 it was XJ, Bella, XS, Irmscher and XE. From '88 it was HBL and Irmscher only. There were also many limited edition Piazza Nero models.

Paul

GeminiCoupe · Post by **GeminiCoupe** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 3:20 pm

I assumed there was a difference. It makes sence now that you mention it though - 2 x upper, 2 x lower, 1 x panhard = 5 links for the diff to the body.

Diff walk is sideways movement out from under the car under high loads [panhard rod is supposed to stop it], referred to as "rear end location". You probably know it as the following - pitching the Gemini into a bend, slight understeer, then feeling the back squirm while still holding the same line. Thats the diff moving in/out of its location.

Nick-

117Coupe · Post by **117Coupe** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 3:45 pm

Bugle wrote:Yer those wheels are 13", they've got the smaller rear brakes without the drum handbrake I think..
I think the torque tube is something to do with the grade (XE, XS, XG, etc). Th ones sold here are XE which I think was the only one in Japan with 5-link?
All American 4ZC1/D1 ones seem to have 5-link as well. No idea why they'd do something like that it'd only cost them more to produce the 2 different types.

The only JDM model to have the 5 link rear suspension is the Handling by Lotus version which was released in May '88. All US turbo models got the 5 link rear from '85 and upgraded to the HBL from '87.

The US market was initially good for Isuzu with the Impulse selling at 10x the rate of the JDM market. In an effort to keep up the good US sales, Isuzu introduced the 5 link rear to try and improve the poor handling, while the JDM models continued with the 3 link.

Paul

Bugle · Post by **Bugle** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 4:32 pm

Damn even the 88/89 Nero Irmschers have 3 link? Silly bastards!

I notice a bit of sideways movement of the diff in mine, i'm going to put urethane bushes on the panhard rod see if that helps. For absolutely zero movement could try a rose jointed panhard rod.