MG ZS 180 fettle project
Discussion
Well, after 14 or 15 years of reading the pistonheads site (sounds crazy saying it), I have finally joined and this is my first topic/post so bear with me!
When I first start visiting the site, I was a megre squire around the age of 13/14 waay back in the early 2000's even then I was completely consumed with all things fossil fuelled, My Dad always had a cheap project car such as old Minis and Fords an I had always watched and help him set dwell angles an fit Webbers, setting them up on the driveway. This only spurred my love of cars. PistonHeads was a godsend to my long days in classrooms. Anyhow fastforward all these years and a fair few cars an here I am with an MG..
Now I get alot of stick from people locally with the old headgasket jokes and its slow ect ect, I can digg it! If everyone liked the same car the world would be a little boring.
This car for me has been somewhat of a suprise, at 17 I had taken a passenger ride in a friends ZS 120 saloon with the high rise spoiler an thought jesus wept I have been in some cars an this thing handles very very well! And its standard! The only thing it lacked was power.
So late last year while looking for a new car I took the plunge an bought a V6 ZS saloon in X power grey. 64000 miles on the clock for £640.
I think its the best decision I have ever made!
It was a totally standard car an not too far away. I like to fiddle around with cars so as it stands I have fitted a new upper inlet/plenum off a Rover 825 (This replaces the plastic one fitted to cut costs) Its now on a twin 48mm throttle bodie instead of the standard single 56.
Some controllers have been made by someone on the forum that operates the variable intake system so I can adjust when they open and close.
Cat an precat out with single mid box exhaust, all made by me. Have a inner wing mounted airfilter thats hardpiped.
I never have people in the back an always seem to be transporting alot of car parts an tools so theres no interior in the rear. I preffer this anyway, Should the need arise for mass people transport I can use other cars.
I service the car every 3000 miles give or take a couple of hundred miles an shes reasonably good to me! On 81000 now.
Problems have been, both rear brakes sticking. Front brake sticking. Power steering pump whine/leak. Gearbox seals.
Thats it come to think of it.
Currently building an engine to put in come the next few weeks. I have ported the exhaust ports on this out to 39mm an the exhaust manifold flanges have been ported to 40mm, but both flange an port are contoured to match up perfectly.
Suprisingly the inlet ports are fine for this application, limiting factor been lower inlet manifold bore. Inlet manifold and inlet ports are 38mm and match up nicely.
Will be fitting some ZT 190 cams and advancing the timing a little.
Have mocked up and started making some longer equal length exhaust manifolds that remove the horid collector as standard an if my maths is right should bring the power band down to around 5500 peak. The standard mani lengths work out at a peak power of around 7600, way over the 6750 limit. Spare flywheel is getting sent off to be lightened.
Brakes will be getting an upgrade soon an some Accord Type R recaros will be going in.
Have made some bonnet risers due to static heat soak when engine is off an car is stood. Makes it very flat when coming back to drive it!
Few other bits and pieces to do bit generally couldnt be any happier! Already goes well without this new engine in, handles like I cant believe, stepped the tyre size up from 205/45/17 to 215/40/17 an has made a world of difference.
I shall attach some photos in the follwing posts as I figure out how to do it an explain a little more as I go along.
When I first start visiting the site, I was a megre squire around the age of 13/14 waay back in the early 2000's even then I was completely consumed with all things fossil fuelled, My Dad always had a cheap project car such as old Minis and Fords an I had always watched and help him set dwell angles an fit Webbers, setting them up on the driveway. This only spurred my love of cars. PistonHeads was a godsend to my long days in classrooms. Anyhow fastforward all these years and a fair few cars an here I am with an MG..
Now I get alot of stick from people locally with the old headgasket jokes and its slow ect ect, I can digg it! If everyone liked the same car the world would be a little boring.
This car for me has been somewhat of a suprise, at 17 I had taken a passenger ride in a friends ZS 120 saloon with the high rise spoiler an thought jesus wept I have been in some cars an this thing handles very very well! And its standard! The only thing it lacked was power.
So late last year while looking for a new car I took the plunge an bought a V6 ZS saloon in X power grey. 64000 miles on the clock for £640.
I think its the best decision I have ever made!
It was a totally standard car an not too far away. I like to fiddle around with cars so as it stands I have fitted a new upper inlet/plenum off a Rover 825 (This replaces the plastic one fitted to cut costs) Its now on a twin 48mm throttle bodie instead of the standard single 56.
Some controllers have been made by someone on the forum that operates the variable intake system so I can adjust when they open and close.
Cat an precat out with single mid box exhaust, all made by me. Have a inner wing mounted airfilter thats hardpiped.
I never have people in the back an always seem to be transporting alot of car parts an tools so theres no interior in the rear. I preffer this anyway, Should the need arise for mass people transport I can use other cars.
I service the car every 3000 miles give or take a couple of hundred miles an shes reasonably good to me! On 81000 now.
Problems have been, both rear brakes sticking. Front brake sticking. Power steering pump whine/leak. Gearbox seals.
Thats it come to think of it.
Currently building an engine to put in come the next few weeks. I have ported the exhaust ports on this out to 39mm an the exhaust manifold flanges have been ported to 40mm, but both flange an port are contoured to match up perfectly.
Suprisingly the inlet ports are fine for this application, limiting factor been lower inlet manifold bore. Inlet manifold and inlet ports are 38mm and match up nicely.
Will be fitting some ZT 190 cams and advancing the timing a little.
Have mocked up and started making some longer equal length exhaust manifolds that remove the horid collector as standard an if my maths is right should bring the power band down to around 5500 peak. The standard mani lengths work out at a peak power of around 7600, way over the 6750 limit. Spare flywheel is getting sent off to be lightened.
Brakes will be getting an upgrade soon an some Accord Type R recaros will be going in.
Have made some bonnet risers due to static heat soak when engine is off an car is stood. Makes it very flat when coming back to drive it!
Few other bits and pieces to do bit generally couldnt be any happier! Already goes well without this new engine in, handles like I cant believe, stepped the tyre size up from 205/45/17 to 215/40/17 an has made a world of difference.
I shall attach some photos in the follwing posts as I figure out how to do it an explain a little more as I go along.
I will get a few more pictures of things tomorrow .
Such an underestimated car even as standard!
I cant see me selling it any time soon.
Toying with the idea of making some ITBs for it and changing the gearing. Saving for a LSD too an they dont come cheap! Its not like it isnt quick enough, It is, I just like the challenge of building things!
Keeping ontop of bodywork an chassis work also, dont want to be dealing with a rust bucket in 10 years time!
Such an underestimated car even as standard!
I cant see me selling it any time soon.
Toying with the idea of making some ITBs for it and changing the gearing. Saving for a LSD too an they dont come cheap! Its not like it isnt quick enough, It is, I just like the challenge of building things!
Keeping ontop of bodywork an chassis work also, dont want to be dealing with a rust bucket in 10 years time!
Well after a couple of days of fault finding regarding some heisitation shes back. Still got half a tank of strongly mixed redex injector cleaner to run through then refill with 99ron and a new fuel filter, reset ECU and im away.
I know its going to be better than before as all sensors have been changed an I have sorted a few things out Even with the bad fuel/redex mix its pulling better than before.
Still waiting on the Ypipe so I can finish the exhaust manifolds im making. Few other bits an pieces to finish on the new engine before that goes in. Its going alright touch wood!
I will attach some pics later/tomorrow.
I know its going to be better than before as all sensors have been changed an I have sorted a few things out Even with the bad fuel/redex mix its pulling better than before.
Still waiting on the Ypipe so I can finish the exhaust manifolds im making. Few other bits an pieces to finish on the new engine before that goes in. Its going alright touch wood!
I will attach some pics later/tomorrow.
Looks nice! Here was mine:
Would like to see what difference the throttle bodies make. Good choice on the recaros. I had them in the accord type r and they were very comfortable indeed!
You got the car for a cracking price. That being said I only paid £7k for mine when it was 10 months old with 4k on the clock.
I do miss mine. Had lots of issues with the VIS in the induction system though and needed a new induction plenum at 16k miles.
Would like to see what difference the throttle bodies make. Good choice on the recaros. I had them in the accord type r and they were very comfortable indeed!
You got the car for a cracking price. That being said I only paid £7k for mine when it was 10 months old with 4k on the clock.
I do miss mine. Had lots of issues with the VIS in the induction system though and needed a new induction plenum at 16k miles.
manmaths said:
Would like to see what difference the throttle bodies make. Good choice on the recaros. I had them in the accord type r and they were very comfortable indeed!
You got the car for a cracking price. That being said I only paid £7k for mine when it was 10 months old with 4k on the clock.
I do miss mine. Had lots of issues with the VIS in the induction system though and needed a new induction plenum at 16k miles.
I have modified the throttle bodies also by taking some steps off the butterfly valves, Doesn't coast as well now as just wants to be on with the slightest throttle input but I dont mind that. The VIS system on mine is much less complicated. Comprises of 2 stepper motors, One controls an intake valve to help with low end torque an the "power" valve is more like the balance on the plastic manifolds. Controlled by some adjustable controllers to move the power around.You got the car for a cracking price. That being said I only paid £7k for mine when it was 10 months old with 4k on the clock.
I do miss mine. Had lots of issues with the VIS in the induction system though and needed a new induction plenum at 16k miles.
I do like the Accord type R's. Anything 90's/mid 2000's BTCC. S'why I like the Z haha.
A friend nearby has an ATR an it goes well enough, Nice rounded daily Q car if you ask me!
Getting a little further with the exhausts manifolds. Won't get chance to do anything tomorrow as it Pride of Longbridge.
Sunday I'll try an get over to my friends workshop to use his welder. Should be finished and on by mid next week.
Will first fit using the standard primarys, So I have a better idea if my secondarys and collector have actually made a difference.
After that I will fit the primarys I have filed the welds out off an see if that helps a little.
After that will maybe try an join each bank with an X pipe and see how that works too.
Here's a couple of pics from today of the rough layout I have now.
Sunday I'll try an get over to my friends workshop to use his welder. Should be finished and on by mid next week.
Will first fit using the standard primarys, So I have a better idea if my secondarys and collector have actually made a difference.
After that I will fit the primarys I have filed the welds out off an see if that helps a little.
After that will maybe try an join each bank with an X pipe and see how that works too.
Here's a couple of pics from today of the rough layout I have now.
Secondarys are made and on in there first incarnation. Will order more pipe and remake a neater in a few months.
Equal length, ended up been 36".
Gave up trying to make it all fit inbetween the sump and bellhousing so collector is under gearbox to aid clearance. Have ordered some heat shield for the bottom of the gearbox to fit this weekend just to be safe. Need to refill with 99RON, reset ecu and go for a run. I'v been for a drive in it an low end power is better, Mid feels better as well. Haven't properly tested top end as need to change fuel and give it abit, maybe im just been paranoid. The gunky looking stuff is 2 part epoxy that I always cover welds with to stop them rusting. Then goven a coat of redoxide to try an protect the piping. I wont win any welding medals but there strong and gas tight.
Equal length, ended up been 36".
Gave up trying to make it all fit inbetween the sump and bellhousing so collector is under gearbox to aid clearance. Have ordered some heat shield for the bottom of the gearbox to fit this weekend just to be safe. Need to refill with 99RON, reset ecu and go for a run. I'v been for a drive in it an low end power is better, Mid feels better as well. Haven't properly tested top end as need to change fuel and give it abit, maybe im just been paranoid. The gunky looking stuff is 2 part epoxy that I always cover welds with to stop them rusting. Then goven a coat of redoxide to try an protect the piping. I wont win any welding medals but there strong and gas tight.
Why, oh why, do I think these just look so good. OP, love the stance, colour, wheels and design. So good to see something different, and yours looks a very nice example. Will return to the UK for a couple of months next year, so will be on the look out for one. More pis please, Inc interior. Safe and enjoyable motoring, looks a good one.
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