Eli's black forged Piazza

This Forum is here for any members who have any other Isuzus or Opels from around the world (or Australia) that they wish to post up pictures of. EG; bellets, I marks, luvs, rodeos, piazzas, chevettes, kaddets etc… Keep it to one thread per car.. if you get more pics etc, add them to your existing thread, DO NOT start a new one
archangel62
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Eli's black forged Piazza

Post by archangel62 »

Hi everyone,

Basically, between this and the track Gemini, this is why I haven't progressed much on my real projects over the last year and a half. This thread's long overdue!

About two years ago, I saw a Piazza come up for sale on GemiSA, complete and running, for $3500 ono. I didn't have that kind of cash, but remembered thinking it was cool, and wanting it (for a Piazza, not as a donor for my 5 Geminis). Anyway, someone else bought it to rip the engine out and put in their Gemini. It spun a rod bearing on the way home, but he pulled the engine out for his Gemini anyway. A month or so later, I saw it back up for sale, no engine, for about $700. I couldn't let such a nice, shiny, unique Isuzu end up getting crushed! So, not knowing what I was really in for, I bought it.

I knew it'd be a tough task getting a Piazza running again. The over-complexity, the cramped engine bay, the scarce parts (at least, those not useful for Geminis). I even drove to Melbourne for a 4ZC1-T engine, since nothing was available locally. That was a nightmare trip, don't get me started, and the POS Gemini of the time didn't make it all the way home. Alas, I digress.

I've rebuilt the 4ZC1-T with forged pistons (custom JE pistons, around $1200-worth), and ARP head studs. I had everything cleaned, balanced, and bought a head that had already had lots of money spent, from Ethan (hachikansai77 to some of you). I also had the original clutch rebuilt as a heavy duty, 6-puck cushioned button, with organic material. That cost about $550 I think, but the result is very light pedal feel, and (hopefully, going by my track car) very linear drivability with massive clamping force.

Over the last year and a half or so, I've undertaken the monolithic task of reverse-engineering the Piazza; figuring out "what the hell is that", piecing it all together, sourcing and purchasing the bits that were missing, and cleaning/servicing those I had. The plan is to run it stock for the time being, and then upgrade to Megasquirt, a Gemracing turbo manifold, T28bb turbo and a cam, and aim for around 200rwkw, but still have it drive nicely and be fairly original throughout.

I also fitted some Koni Red oil shocks to the front, and will be doing so for the rear when money allows (I had these sitting around). I have a full factory bodykit to fit, when time allows, and will actually wash the thing (and cut and polish imperfections) later on.

Current status: Driven, bedded in. Had some initial issues, a blocked oil line and consequentially a VERY dead IHI turbo (RIP), but it seems to be running nicely now, besides an oil leak from behind the timing cover, which I'll be talking in about ten minutes. The LSD (I'm assuming) is VERY worn, ie, completely open wheels all the time, so that will need attention soon too.

I'll post pics in a separate post.

Eli
My Gemini drift videos: http://www.youtube.com/PandamoniumDrift
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PandamoniumDrift
Current tally: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
archangel62
Long Term Member
Posts: 3667
Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 3:41 am
Location: Adelaide, SA. Cars: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
Contact:

Post by archangel62 »

Okay, here we go, I'm going to try and put these in rough chronological order!

Before I got her, when she was for sale, complete:

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When I'd just got her home, without an engine:

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My Gemini drift videos: http://www.youtube.com/PandamoniumDrift
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PandamoniumDrift
Current tally: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
archangel62
Long Term Member
Posts: 3667
Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 3:41 am
Location: Adelaide, SA. Cars: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
Contact:

Post by archangel62 »

Here's the build pics. They're not quite in the right order, but vaguely followable. As you can see, I test fitted one of Gemracing's manifolds, there's plenty of clearance. Sorry about the lowish resolution (not even worth thumbnails), I've got full res scattered everywhere...

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My Gemini drift videos: http://www.youtube.com/PandamoniumDrift
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PandamoniumDrift
Current tally: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
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Jonno
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Post by Jonno »

Fuc-king-sick

max Jealous.
75 TX Coupe
GemiNats > https://www.facebook.com/GeminiNationals
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#TurboFamily #Geminats #Bucketship
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su59em
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Post by su59em »

GREAT SCOTT!

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redzone (coxy) wrote:I'm very keen to rape the s*#t out of my car with an lsd in it!
elky
Gemini Master
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Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:57 pm
Location: sunshine cst QLD

Post by elky »

be carefull with connecting and disconnecting the battery, try to pull off some of the wires on the terminals first, voltage spikes will fry the digital display, and holden never put this in the owners manual

also dont jump start it or another car for the same reason, i fried one due to not knowing this, sometimes you get lucky tho it is really random

very tidy piazza man!
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archangel62
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Location: Adelaide, SA. Cars: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
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Post by archangel62 »

Hahaha thanks guys! And cheers Elky, I wouldn't have known that. As it is the temp and fuel gauges are fairly inconsistent, but I think that was factory.. :lol:

Current to-do list:

- Finish fixing this oil leak
- Re-assemble timing cover area
- Make up a battery bracket, as it's MIA
- Mount boost gauge inside the car and go for a longer drive to test everything
- Fit front Isuzu badge, paint and fit front bodykit
- Once I'm happy with how it's driving, get aircon gassed and purchase/fit Koni Reds for the back
- Get LSD shimmed up nice and tight
- Get lower, tougher springs, so it's not an offroad vehicle!
- Fit front speakers that aren't absolute rubbish
- Fix the two rust patches in the hatch
- Enjoy! Theoretically..
My Gemini drift videos: http://www.youtube.com/PandamoniumDrift
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PandamoniumDrift
Current tally: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
F3ARED
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Post by F3ARED »

Eli, i have the diagram for the LSD at home for these if you want it. Same pricinciple as a borg warner for reshimming. Also got a set of bilstein rear shocks [read, hard as :lol: ] for this.

Set of shocks helps the handling on these majorly, they were prone to nose dive standard and all sorts of nasty s*#t.

I still want one :cry:
Previously GeminiCoupe/GeminiRollingShell/SCAR3D/Jonnoisac#nt

78 TD Gemini Sedan - R.I.P
81 TE Gemini Sedan
ajs991
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Post by ajs991 »

Awesome.

Although now I want one again. Why do you do this to me? :lol:
List of people I hate: You.
F3ARED
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Post by F3ARED »

DW, i did the exact same thing - within 30sec of seeing it i was looking for em LOL
Previously GeminiCoupe/GeminiRollingShell/SCAR3D/Jonnoisac#nt

78 TD Gemini Sedan - R.I.P
81 TE Gemini Sedan
elky
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Post by elky »

i got a black one here..... :wink:

not as noice tho
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F3ARED
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Post by F3ARED »

Elky, quiet please i dont need more encouragement lol
Previously GeminiCoupe/GeminiRollingShell/SCAR3D/Jonnoisac#nt

78 TD Gemini Sedan - R.I.P
81 TE Gemini Sedan
archangel62
Long Term Member
Posts: 3667
Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 3:41 am
Location: Adelaide, SA. Cars: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
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Post by archangel62 »

Hahaha cheers guys, and thanks Nick - I reckon I've got that LSD diagram already but I'll let you know if I don't.

I wasn't intending to buy one.. I saw it for sale, all complete and running, and thought it'd be really cool, but out of my budget. Then, when I saw the shell, I just knew it'd be going to a wreckers if I didn't get it... so I had to save it. It's not as shiny or good as it looks in the pics, but hey, go before show, once it's running how I like it, I'll fix the rust and give it a decent polish!
My Gemini drift videos: http://www.youtube.com/PandamoniumDrift
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PandamoniumDrift
Current tally: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
BLK-TDPANO
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Post by BLK-TDPANO »

archangel62 wrote:but hey, go before show
Thought id never hear this on a Gemini website.

Stoked that I have tho!
archangel62
Long Term Member
Posts: 3667
Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 3:41 am
Location: Adelaide, SA. Cars: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
Contact:

Post by archangel62 »

^ That's it hey!

HELL YES! I "think" I found the oil leak! ahahahahaha

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What's wrong with the oil pump in that picture! I didn't notice, because it was brand new, so I didn't give it a second glance... Plus, I've never had a 4Z before!

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For those playing at home, it doesn't have any front seal on it, AT ALL! Apparently it came without one? I'd assumed it was internal inside the channel the shaft goes through... buuut, no. It just wasn't there! I can't believe it leaked as little as it did.
My Gemini drift videos: http://www.youtube.com/PandamoniumDrift
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PandamoniumDrift
Current tally: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
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