My SWB TT Z32...

[BenTaylor]

Personally I don't like most of the pickup conversions as you end up with long doors and a short bed which ruins the proportions. It can look ok on a converted 4-door or estate...

I'm sure I've seen a flat boot conversion with a small vertical window before.

[Stuart]

I think if you want a pick-up you should just buy one mate (if you haven't already ) Converting things like this is always a whole lot more complicated than planned.

[Gonzo12c]

I'd be quite interested in seeing this done on a shorty as it's purely for track reasons and not to look cool or roam about the streets in. I'm aiming to get my slickie under a tonne so that's around 454kg I need to shift and with plans for engine transplant and everything lightened I may reach that target we will see.

Loosing the boot and rear quarters would be a good idea as long as the aero can be achieved and still have structural integrity. The rear quarters I would pop out and possibly just cover straight over with FRP.

Track Zeds running with no rear bumper either just aero fins to help the airflow.

[jap.slapper]

I've been pondering over this a bit more today and I don't think it would work on a SWB zed. I think a LWB would work but the two are quite different layouts when you look closer.

Other ideas that I've had regarding FRP doors, windows and roof are absolutely doable and will be going ahead.

I've been eyeing up Defender 110's recently as our Disco 3, albeit a nice wagon, isn't as robust electronically as I'd hoped.

The only way I can describe it is that it's a bit like Audley Harrison....in as much as it looks like it should be a double hard cnut but actually it has been proven to have a bit of a glass jaw.

Don't get me wrong they are very capable wagons 99% of the time but the designer of the electrics was clearly smoking the Gandalf pipe when he submitted his final draft.

When a blown rear light bulb can cause the air suspension to stop working you know something has been designed wrong. Easy fixes (just a 60 amp fuse in fact) but still a pain in the hoop.

I've got some new updates on the zed but haven't got round to taking the pics yet. So in a nutshell, no truck/ute conversion but it does now have bigger injectors (850's) and a gucci 300 degree fuel rail.

[jap.slapper]

I'd be quite interested in seeing this done on a shorty as it's purely for track reasons and not to look cool or roam about the streets in. I'm aiming to get my slickie under a tonne so that's around 454kg I need to shift and with plans for engine transplant and everything lightened I may reach that target we will see.

Loosing the boot and rear quarters would be a good idea as long as the aero can be achieved and still have structural integrity. The rear quarters I would pop out and possibly just cover straight over with FRP.

Track Zeds running with no rear bumper either just aero fins to help the airflow.

I think the biggest problem with the conversion is the weight lost is looking likely to be counteracted by the extra re-enforcing and bracing required to fit the new cover and back wall. I looked at Hexham Scotty's build thread on DW and there was quite a bit of extra bracing needed.

If you reckon the rear hatch/glass weighs in at only 80kg on a SWB then you're probably looking at putting it straight back in when replacing it with the cover/wall and bracing.

On a LWB I think you could justify doing it as a drift truck (like Scotty's) and would have space for spare rims and tyres etc. however having looked at the close proximity of the rear wheel wells and actual distance from B pillars to rear lights, I think gains would be minimal (if any).

It just seems to me that the zed in any guise is just a lardy arse with little scope for reducing weight.


Next time you're over here mate we should sit down and brain storm.

[jap.slapper]

I'm going to look to see if I can pull up any more spec on some of these zeds. Interestingly enough (or so I thought anyway) the guy running the same z1 GT675RS turbo's that I have just fitted, actually managed a 9.4 second quarter mile @ 26psi (with a 150 shot of nitrous)

So there is potential there

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... 8kVMahfzAQ


I presume full slicks would give some advantage over road tyres?

[BenTaylor]

The only justification for a wanky pickup conversion is the look at me factor...

Waste of time IMO

[jap.slapper]

The only justification for a wanky pickup conversion is the look at me factor...

Waste of time IMO

I don't know, I think the old El Camino and Holden/Maloo are basically pickup conversions from the factory and they've proven to be pretty useful and relatively successful over the years













I'm sure people would stare but no more than they would have done had a tidy FD burbled by or a yank V8, Delorean or basically something other than the norm.

I agree that a shit conversion would be pointless but something like Scotty's old R33 would be pretty cool

[pablo]

Whats your plan for FRP doors. Canthese just be bought or are you having some made?

[Stuart]

Any plans to sort/improve the weight distribution? Z32s, from memory, are already pretty nose heavy so won't the tailgate etc coming out make this worse?

Roadgoing Utes like the Maloo are very, very cool. Racing Utes like the Nascar engined stuff are epic. What type are you going for; something in the middle?