My ZS

[Mitus]

I am pleased to announce I am now a fully qualified member of the forum as I now have a ZS!
Some pics:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/andyp1985/ZS/P1030478.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/andyp1985/ZS/P1030479.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/andyp1985/ZS/P1030481.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/andyp1985/ZS/P1030482.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/andyp1985/ZS/P1030483.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/andyp1985/ZS/P1030484.jpg

Ignition Blue (as I'm sure you can tell!) 06 plate 1.6 with 30k. And of course the 180 body package.

My dad collected it for me and I've not seen it for myself yet but by all accounts it was a good buy at £3200.

Might as well let you in on the plans for it. The green 400 in one of the pics is a 420gsi which I'll be using as a donor for engine mounts/drive shafts etc to transfer my fully forged T16 Turbo engine into the ZS. When the engine is mapped it should be good for 300+ bhp. Brakes will also be upgraded but hopefully going one step further than the V6 setup. The GSi also has cruise control which I will transfer and electric rear windows but no air-con, so that will be lost on the ZS. Only uses horsepower anyway :p

I'll update this as I go, I think I have everything I need and hoping it should be pretty straightforward.

Yep, think that covers everything, your thoughts please....

[Craig]

Very nice mate! I cant wait to see your plans unfold

[Maxxed_Ross]

I'm sure you could have got a 180 for that sort of money, but it does look like a nice one!

see who ever had the front bumper off last did the same as me and broke the side clip

[stamford]

Congrats mate :D Nice model and interesting plans.

[Mitus]

Thanks all :)

Getting a 180 wouldn't really have been worthwhile as I'd be paying the higher tax on it then, this way I stay in the 1.6/1.8 emissions band. A diesel would have been too much work to convert.

The front bumper grounded on the trailer when it was loaded, nothing broke, but the bracket on the wing is bent. Bumper will be coming off anyway to fit the intercooler so should be able to bend the bracket back where it should be.

I'm also told the wheels are all a bit kerbed so a refurb in white is a strong possibility! Talking of wheels, where might get a locking wheel nut key? Searched high and low and it isn't in the car, could halt progress if I can't get the wheels off!

[arwilson80]

Looks good... :) Wonder what it will move like when the T16 is in there. ;)

[vinny1979]

nice car dude. My other car as ive prob mentioned is a Rover BRM turbo, running about 250bhp with custom chargecooler and a few other fancy bits*. Thats the beauty of the mg rover group of cars, they " can " look pretty stock but go like stink , the brm looks factory bar the alloys but under the orange snout lurks something very fast lol. good luck!

* currrently off the road lol

[wilko66]

nice one buddy, cant wait to see the plans unfold:w00t:

[dvid]

Looks nice, love the colour... A fellow 06 owner too ;)

[Gazza]

Love the colour mate:wolverine:

[afcbadam]

so on you other thread, when i guessed a t16 turbo conversion i was right :yes:

it should be a very fun build and amazing when done.

[ian zs180]

Looks nice should be damn quick once you do all the mods your doing

[RudeDogg1]

saw 1 like that in south molton today but with a debadged rear and im sure it had the rover sheild badges near the back windows

[Supercharged_Z]

nice project

nice shell cant wait to see it done

[markyzs180]

Nice car and nice colour (biased I know)

Should be awsome with the T16 in it whooosh....

[Mitus]

Yes Adam you were right, no reward I'm afraid though!

Glad to see positive responses, was a bit worried some might consider this conversion as ruining an otherwise un-molested late ZS.

I just thought the T16 ZR conversion has been done to death (although a great package once done) so wanted something a bit different.

[Glen290]

Nice looking motor, all the best ZS are hatches !!!

[vinny1979]

Nice looking motor, all the best ZS are hatches !!!

;)

[Nor]

Car looks great :thumbup:

[ZS Phil]

Excellent plans, how are you getting on with it? I am weighing up the pros and cons of a 1.8t conversion or a t16 conversion.

[afcbadam]

not another thinking or the 1.8T k series. crap engine. t16 it!

[ZS Phil]

not another thinking or the 1.8T k series. crap engine. t16 it!

lol Ive read your comments on other threads, not exactly a fan of the K turbo!

[Mitus]

Car is back on the road as of today. Engine has been in for a while now but had other things to sort out. Didn't go too badly, mechanically it was a piece of cake with the 420 here as a donor. Wiring was the worst bit but not too bad, just had to sacrifice the K-Series engine loom for the grey multiplug.

Intercooler isn't plumbed in yet as I'm waiting on some ally tubing to be bent but it sits in the bumper nicely. Am just running actuator pressure for now (10psi). Also having trouble with the clutch hydraulics, looking at upgrading to the Sheddist kit as I have an uprated clutch which is heavy to operate at the best of times let alone with the wonderful plastic cylinders!

Anyway, it's in and running which is the main thing:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/andyp1985/ZS/P1040009.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/andyp1985/ZS/P1040010.jpg
I/C fitment (modified pulsar jobby):
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/andyp1985/ZS/P1040011.jpg
Exhaust system made today, 2.5" bore right through and 4" tailpipe:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/andyp1985/ZS/P1040014.jpg
White wheels FTW:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/andyp1985/ZS/P1040013.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e104/andyp1985/ZS/P1040012.jpg

And my god does it shift! Been rolling around in a NASP 820 Sterling so obvioulsy the ZS was going to feel faster. Touch the throttle and it goes:w00t:

Booked in at Emerald on 2nd June for proper mapping, just need to change the fuel pump before then.

[vinny1979]

nice. you dont fancy a chargecooler do you? I have one on the brm turbo , but I want rid! One-off custom made jobbie.

[Mitus]

Cheers. Doubt I'd have room for a chargecooler once the proper I/C pipes are in. Pulsar I/C is supposedly good for 350+bhp so should serve my needs nicley.

[vinny1979]

cool, thought id ask!! im still undecided what im doing with the brm turbo lol. keep thinking about putting it back to stock with the vvc jobbie in as its a very clean car and picking up another zs to fettle with for track use. i have enquired about the £650 zs 180 btw!

[ZS Phil]

looking great! I am interested in doing this myself but what is the best way do it? I have no donor car or engine so if I bought a coupe for example for the engine, what parts would I need from a 420? Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

[Gazza]

Looking very nice mate

[Mitus]

looking great! I am interested in doing this myself but what is the best way do it? I have no donor car or engine so if I bought a coupe for example for the engine, what parts would I need from a 420? Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

A coupe will be of no use to you! For the engine, the best place to start is the 620ti as it runs the aluminium sump like the 420, this is needed for the lower engine steady at the back.

From the 420:
Cambelt side engine mount
Gearbox side engine mount
Bottom (sump mounted) steady bar
Gear linkage
Coolant pipes
PAS system/pipes (fits to the ZS rack ok)
Driveshafts
Throttle cable
Clutch slave cylinder & bracket

Off the top of my head. If you've got the room and funds it really is easier to have the complete 420 not only for parts, but also for reference when you forget how something fits!

[ZS Phil]

That is very helpful, thank you! I knew the 400 ran a different sump to the coupe but never considered a 620ti for an engine. Are you using the 400 gearbox or a 600ti box? Mechanically it sounds "do-able", the only thing worrying me at the moment is the wiring but guys like AA autosport should be able to sort that if I got into a pickle.

[Maxxed_Ross]

that is very impressive, but get that filter moved into the wing where there's lots of nice cold air