I have decided upon a new name for ProjectCRX:  the Madness Shop Manual.  It fits the goals and ideals for the site well, and I’ll be updating all necessary pages during the week.  Keep your eyes open for updates!

My projects are multiplying like bunny rabbits. I now have 4 project cars at my house, one of which is getting no attention at all. We have two Datsun Fairlady 240z’s, a Datsun Fairlady 260z, and a 1989 Honda CRX. All are legal, all are titled, but only one runs. Here’s a quick recap:

Red 240z:

This is my 540z project, with a ‘57 283 Chevy v8 in a ‘73 Datsun Fairlady 240z. I’ve been solving many of the other problems with it, one at a time. This is considered the ‘daily driver’ of the house, and has treated me pretty well thus far.

I still have a bunch of work to do:

• Rivet down the bouncing gas tank
• New Tires
• New rear springs
• Proper ignition wiring (it has a fuse box now, at least!)
• Proper Alternator wiring
• New Steering wheel

Orange 240z:

This is a new member of the family (arrived yesterday via a truly awesome guy from Napa) and looks to be in great condition, considering it’s missing an engine. This will be getting the 351w Ford v8 in the coming month(s).

For now, it’s the non-functional inspiration of the house. We like the way it looks very much. Note the expression on the new owner’s face (we generally refer to that as ‘love’).

You can also see the motorcycles and the Green Monster in this shot.

(Mostly) Green 260z:

This required a little body work, and still has the stock engine in it. It was going to be the recipient of the 351w Ford v8 but taking the old motor out wasn’t looking fun, and the Orange one came along at just the right time. This is going to become our ‘parts’ car, then sold off (either to become a SOLO racer, a new project for someone, or a restore car (we still have most of the original parts, like the carbs and carb rebuild kits, not to mention the engine).

If anybody’s interested in purchasing this, we’re in the Vallejo area and are very negotiable on price.

89 CRX DX:

This is the biggest, most ambitious project we’ve got. Converting a FWD car over to RWD and putting a 13b into it. Right now it sits, halfway gutted, on the street. Once the Datsun-Ford is done and running, the CRX will be pulled into the garage for its heart transplant. Until then, it lurks in the shadows, watching and biding its time.

I’ve been loving the 240z I bought (540z), but there are definite downsides to buying somebody else’s project. For one, the wiring is an absolute mess. I’m either buying a Painless wiring kit or rewiring the car completely in the near future.

Also, I was told that it had a 327ci Chevy v8. As it turns out, it’s a 1958 283ci v8 block but that doesn’t necessarily mean the seller was lying or wrong. A 350ci crank in a 283ci block produces 327ci of displacement (if my math serves me correctly). However, the stamp on the door and the stamp on the engine both suggest a 283 block, so I’m resolved to the fact that I have one of the smaller Chevy v8s. It’s making a clacking/rattling noise, which I need to hunt down. It could be a loose valve cover or exhaust manifold, or it could be something more serious (like a bent valve or piston slap). Hopefully I’ll know in the near future. If you think you can help, feel free to check out this video:

However, there’s an Edelbrock Performer intake manifold and an Edelbrock 1408 carburetor on top of it, along with the side-dump exhaust. I promise this doesn’t feel like a measly little engine. I’m planning to order new tires today and have them mounted over the weekend, then it’s time to start digging into suspension, fixing the gas tank (and finding out what car it came out of), and rewiring the whole damned car. Wish me luck, and expect updates soon!

Hans Reiser recently went on trial (in Oakland, where I work, coincidentally) and apparantly converted his ‘88 CRX into a driving futon, where he had been living. It’s actually an interesting project, but I think I’m okay with having not seen it before.