Aloha or Sayonara?

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Well, after years of off and on building, storage, issues and restoration the Z is shipped and on it way to Japan.

After finally getting it running and hoping for a 520 HP motor (with Stage I camshafts), I can't wait to dyno it and see what kind of numbers a novice, owner built LT5 can do.

Here are some photos at its first night out to a local cruise night on the Windward side of the island.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/DSC03310-1.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/DSC03312.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/DSC03311-1.jpg


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/DSC03314.jpg

So here is a photo on its second night out at the 15th largest shopping mall in America (Ala Moana Shopping Center). I took the wife in her second ride in the Z (full of complaints for the ride and sound) to meet the family at Romano's Macaroni Grill. I was very hesitant to leave the car parked for a few hours at the mall, but the location was a good spot where people would always be walking around so there were no issues.


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/002-1.jpg

So that was basically it and I did not get to take the photos I wanted to with my limited time left on the island. Then it get shipped on my next post.

Craig

[HAWAIIZR-1]

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/DSC_3820.jpg

Getting ready to head to the dock..........

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/020-1-1.jpg

Arrival at the Vehicle Processing Center, Sand Island.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/021-1-1.jpg

Z parked and waiting for processing.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/019-1-1.jpg

The view as seen by most............

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/022-1.jpg

Entering past the guard shack into the secured area for inspection.

I forgot my camera with all the excitement so I did not take any photos and I'm glad the wife was taking these. I had a super cool Hawaiian inspector and we talked about cars and his Harley with all the powder coating work, etc. He did not even mark anything on the inspection sheet and just said, "Brah, you know your car betta dan me so what you think just show me". I had it made and so if there is anything on the receiving end that I'm good to go because he made it appear I had a 2010 model with not even a nick, but heck I have a bunch all over the Z. Here is one of the times being local helps a lot.

The nice thing is my unit that I am going to is handling the offloading and of the vessel and that is what my unit does so I'm good on the receiving end. I am told it will be in a container so it makes me feel a little better. No tears..........

The down side is I might regret the Stage I camshafts as I spoke with Marc H today and they don't do so well with emissions and Japan is very strict so he will do his best to tune me a chip for the testing.

Well, see you folks on the other end and I'll post some photos with the Yokohama Bay at sunrise or sunset later.

Aloha,

Craig

[Hammer]

Well I'd have to say your hard work payed of very nicely. The Z looks spectacular from all angles. You will be the "talk of the town" in Japan I'm sure.

When you get over there and get settled, please plan on posting more pics of your build. I know you took the car apart and cleaned and detailed everything.

Let us drool with you over the detailing.

Talk with you soon Craig.

[tomtom72]

:jawdrop::worship: Holy smokes! Craig that Z is just beautiful! :thumbsup:

Good luck over in Japan with the new job! Have fun with the car and be safe!

:cheers:
Tom









someday when your back to the USA and settled I need to take detailing lessons from you.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Well I'd have to say your hard work payed of very nicely. The Z looks spectacular from all angles. You will be the "talk of the town" in Japan I'm sure.

When you get over there and get settled, please plan on posting more pics of your build. I know you took the car apart and cleaned and detailed everything.

Let us drool with you over the detailing.

Talk with you soon Craig.

Thanks for the comments John, it helps to make it all worthwhile. I just couldn't get myself to store it for 5 years after all the hard work. It is going to cost a lot to get it registered there (around $3K to $4K at least) and it sounds crazy, but only folks like us would understand. I'll definitely take better photos and post more details.

:cheers:

[HAWAIIZR-1]

:jawdrop::worship: Holy smokes! Craig that Z is just beautiful! :thumbsup:

Good luck over in Japan with the new job! Have fun with the car and be safe!

:cheers:
Tom


someday when your back to the USA and settled I need to take detailing lessons from you.

Thanks Tom, I think it is probably nicer in photos than in person. Thanks for the wishes and it is exciting even though I am beat with everything we have to do to leave in the next week and a half. I'm not sure where I will go after this tour in Japan as a civilian, but I do have return rights to my job here in Hawaii. I do want to try moving to the upper 48 so we'll see what comes up then.

By the way, the detailing lesson you want are from none other than Keith (softest diapers in the world) or Rick (Custom King of Zs).

Aloha,

Craog

[WB9MCW]

Have a nice trip across the big pond to the other side of the world.

We will look forward to the pix from Japan.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Have a nice trip across the big pond to the other side of the world.

We will look forward to the pix from Japan.

Mahalo Big B. I'll be sure to post pixs and keep in touch.

Aloha,

Craig

[ZZZZZR1]

craig,


congrats and hopefully you will take another trip to the DC area in the next year!!!! Thanks for looking at that car for me and it's a consideration if he gets those items fixed.

Keep in touch and please keep us updated!!!!

:cheers:

David

[HAWAIIZR-1]

craig,


congrats and hopefully you will take another trip to the DC area in the next year!!!! Thanks for looking at that car for me and it's a consideration if he gets those items fixed.

Keep in touch and please keep us updated!!!!

:cheers:

David

Thanks. I hope you can work out the deal and I will be around 1 more week with more time after I get rid the household shipment tomorrow. If all goes well with the competition I mentioned, I will be in Richmond, VA mid May so I'll let you know since that is not too far away.

Craig

[XfireZ51]

Craig,

So as Inunderstand it from another thread, u used SGC Stage 1 cams with GVD heads? I'll be interested in your dyno nbers as I also installed GVD heads but with Pete's Intake while retaining stock exhaust. Which headers will you be using in Japan or is it stock manifolds?

[Eric24]

Craig,

Car looks awesome and just in time for retirement. Just got back a few weeks ago and might be dropping my papers soon as well. Congrats on the car.

Eric :saluting:

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Craig,

So as Inunderstand it from another thread, u used SGC Stage 1 cams with GVD heads? I'll be interested in your dyno nbers as I also installed GVD heads but with Pete's Intake while retaining stock exhaust. Which headers will you be using in Japan or is it stock manifolds?

Hey Dom,

Yes, that is true about the SGC Stage 1 (both intake and exhaust) and GVD heads. I have SW headers and B&B triflos, but have shipped some bullet cats that I have to add on there. I'm anxious to see what kind of numbers myself once I get it broken in......yeah, it sucks to be shipping the vehicle with the entire drivetrain new and not broken in. I hope it does not get abused intransit. I'm sure there are some good performance shops in Yokohama being the second largest city in Japan and if not Tokyo area is nearby. I'll post the numbers once I get a chance.

I went against a couple of recommendations about using Stage I cams in a 350 motor, but I love the way it runs and sounds so far........it was plenty strong for me the few bursts I gave it and it was stronger than the 368 Jeal Z I drove last week on a test drive. I spoke with Aaron Scott himself about how, why and when he developed the Stage 1s and decided to go with it. :handshak:

Craig

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Craig,

Car looks awesome and just in time for retirement. Just got back a few weeks ago and might be dropping my papers soon as well. Congrats on the car.

Eric :saluting:

Eric,

Thanks and glad to hear you are back and safe. We really appreciate your service and commitment to our great country. I can't wait to shake some windows in downtown Yokohama........that is if they will let me make it legal to drive over there. Retirement is great, but I do miss being a soldier too.

:Eagle:

Craig

[RICKYRJ1]

Craig, you make all of us proud with your hard work and determination. You have a bad azz Z that evem Godzilla (GTR) will respect when you get to the other side. Thanks to Al Gore, we'll keep in touch, I always enjoy bouncing ideas off of you. :handshak:

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Craig, you make all of us proud with your hard work and determination. You have a bad azz Z that evem Godzilla (GTR) will respect when you get to the other side. Thanks to Al Gore, we'll keep in touch, I always enjoy bouncing ideas off of you. :handshak:

Thanks Rick. I'm sure the rice burners will be calling me out all the time; there are some fast cars over there so I'm glad I did all the performance mods. Now I just gotta get some big brakes like you so I can stop the beast. I'm sure I'll come across so good ideas to share with my custom mod Z brother. You know they have carbon fiber hoods, roofs, and hatches for our cars. I'll have to look into that suspension brace for the front too.

How do you like these, can't underestimate our Z brothers over there?:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/shock.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/electroniccontroller.jpg




http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/controller.jpg

I want to toss out my FX3s............................