New Project - no Fj content!

[Flynt]

If you put enough rubber on it to hook that torque up and make a habit of hard launches I suspect dif's will be short lived.

245-17 Michelin Pilot Sport 2, 225-17 on the front.  Has a 3.7:1 limited slip from a later datsun turbo...  Also R200 vs stock R180 model Diff and the former can take 1000Hp reportedly in limited slip setups.  It is like a fucking go kart!  One of my buddies calls it surgical and another tried his best to lock the brakes (custom 4 wheel Stoptech setup made by Rob Fuller of Z Car Garage in San Jose) over a 20 mile surface street trip...  about broke my neck, but the brakes are ungodly powerful and well balanced.  

That z is fully sound dead with Dynamat, rides really nice on coilovers with Tokiko Illumina adjustable struts (1 on street, 3 in canyon, 5 on track), has a nice tune with only a little warmup ritual that takes 2-3 minutes, looks and feels like a modern sports car.  It is also light and fast, just a bit more civilized.

The '69 will be back to raw z for me after having my last one 20 years ago ('73 I sold to our buddy Dan from the WCR incident) only for a brief time when I bought it in 1994.  The mod bug bit me on that one and it ended up with a road race 2.4l from Rebello Racing with triple Webers on it.  They're fine cars even stock and the early ones like this new one had no emission controls at all...  and 243Hp!!  I gotta believe this thing is going to be fun...

Frank

[Flynt]

Frank, how much do the 240Z's weigh?

The '72 weighs in at about 2450...  The '69 should be 2175 or so...  I'm not adding much weight beyond stock, except for maybe 15lb of additional insulation.  I got this stuff called "Damplifier" and it is a pretty cool product.  very light and very effective. 

Frank

BTW - data says the '69 will be slower, but still <10#/Hp which is when cars start to get fun some say...

2450/280 = 8.75#/Hp

2175/243 = 8.95#/Hp

[ribbert]

The TR8 engine was the 3.5L Rover engine. 
It was purchased from GM where it had been known as the 215 cu.in. all-aluminum V8 that was used in the "compact" Olds and Buicks of about 1960. (I had a 1961 Olds 'F85' with this engine)
Pretty light engine (in its time) but not as compact as the Ford V8 of 260/289/305 cu.in sizes.

Arnie

I remember those engines. Bad problems with overheating and warped heads as my neighbors did twice under warranty.  Dave

I love the history of this engine but I'm probably the only one, so, briefly, the warped heads were the least of their problems, they dropped cylinder liners!
After British Leyland (Rover) started making them, they fitted them to everything, Rovers, Land Rovers, MGB V8's TR8's, Morgans, P76's, TVR's and many more I can't remember off hand.
At peak production 1500 engines a week were rolling off the production lines. By the mid 90's tolerances had nearly doubled and this resulted in a whole swag of issues, most notably the dropped sleeves. The liners were a shrink fit in the block and were no longer a tight enough fit. A single overheating episode could dislodge one, or even without overheating. Most of the issues occurred at relatively low mileage.
Rover, as an act of good faith, were supplying new blocks worldwide for a $1000 to those suffering this problem beyond the warranty period, trouble was, the blocks were coming off the same production line that produced the duds in the first place. The cost of installing a new block was enormous but justified by the cars still high market value.
The best fix was machining a rebate into the block and fitting top hat liners but of course now, the cars are not worth enough to warrant any of these repairs.

I have owned a number of these engines over the years, from one of my favourite cars, a Rover PB5 coupe to my current daily driver, a Land Rover Discovery. The thinking seems to be that if one survives to high mileage without incident, and you don't let it get hot, it will probably last until something else gives out. Even so, I listen for that rattle every time I start it up.

Noel

[Mark Olson]

Frank, how much do the 240Z's weigh?

The '72 weighs in at about 2450...  The '69 should be 2175 or so...  I'm not adding much weight beyond stock, except for maybe 15lb of additional insulation.  I got this stuff called "Damplifier" and it is a pretty cool product.  very light and very effective. 

Frank

BTW - data says the '69 will be slower, but still <10#/Hp which is when cars start to get fun some say...

2450/280 = 8.75#/Hp

2175/243 = 8.95#/Hp

Oh boy Frank , that is gonna be a fun ride.

Power to weight ratio is what it is all about, and the reason I suggested a aluminum v-8 . I had some fun with the buick 215 (tr-8) back in the day when I worked in the machine shop and used to fix the sleeves as Noel has pointed out.
Also the early Cadillac 4.1 was fun to overbore and sleeve and make a high powered light v-8.

Sounds like you have it well in hand with what you have already. I look forward to more pics and reports of this awesome project. 

P.S. Give a shout out to Dan , Is he all healed up and ready for the next WCR? It was a Treat to meet another FJ'er with a side of crazy.

[Burns]

mighty stiff pumpkin ya got there, Pilgrim.  Sound like you have it sorted out for a fantastic automobile experience. Sweet.

[Flynt]

Next update...  I've been nibbling away at it and am almost ready to add an engine.  First will be the brake booster and mc, then bleed brakes and get her fully rolling chassis qualified with brakes and all.  Then comes engine and putting interior together.  She's on her wheels and getting a little more complete every day.







Frank

[FJmonkey]

Looking really good Frank, keep it coming!!! Seeing the build is good stuff...

[CanDman]

Awesome work there Gandolf !!!! Thought I would keep the "Z" fire burning....mine is finally off to the body shop.....Zoe has been on the burner too long.....but alas....I see the light at the end of this tunnel.....











....off to the shop to complete the body work and paint......then it's just the inside and some engine parts to swap......hopefully she'll be done by Late May.....can't wait....

Good stuff Frank.....when are you looking at finishing?
Kev

[Flynt]

when are you looking at finishing?

Depends on what finished actually means, but assembled/running/driving should be mid-summer latest.  Some things I'm doing will need to be redone with correct '69 stuff if I can find it one day.  The heater control panel as an example...  I'll either need to do a re-fabrication of my heavily tattered part or find a better core and start from there, but the early version that came in my car is recognizably different in a couple of very small ways (like size of lettering molded into the part).  I've got a NOS later version that will look perfect to all but the expert, but it will nag at me until I get it right.

I'm picking away at details with a steady pace now and hope to install the engine before the WCR... 

Frank

PS - that's one wild looking 300ZX you're creating there Sweets.  What is the inspiration?  Mechanical details?  Color(s)?

[CanDman]

when are you looking at finishing?

Depends on what finished actually means, but assembled/running/driving should be mid-summer latest.  Some things I'm doing will need to be redone with correct '69 stuff if I can find it one day.  The heater control panel as an example...  I'll either need to do a re-fabrication of my heavily tattered part or find a better core and start from there, but the early version that came in my car is recognizably different in a couple of very small ways (like size of lettering molded into the part).  I've got a NOS later version that will look perfect to all but the expert, but it will nag at me until I get it right.

I'm picking away at details with a steady pace now and hope to install the engine before the WCR... 

Frank

PS - that's one wild looking 300ZX you're creating there Sweets.  What is the inspiration?  Mechanical details?  Color(s)?

I like what you're doing Frankie !!! we have to hook up when everything is finished.....maybe next summer I will trailer Zoe and CanD out your way for a short stay.....we could go "Out for a Rip" lol....
  My inspiration.....hmmmm......welll my first car was the 86 300zx tubo back in 86.....idiot that I am....I walked into the Nissan showroom....saw the beauty....dropped my jaw and drove out with it some 30 days later.

   


Anyway, I had it for 3  years and then sold it in 89. The next year while I was up north in a small town north of Toronto, I came upon the newly released 300zx Z32 twin turbo and went into convulsions !!  ...... but at 55 grand new, it was way out of reach. Nine years later I found a 93 on sale for a great price and picked it up ( on my Birthday-I'm so good to myself.. !! ) and have had it since. From the day I first saw the TT, I loved everything about it except the rear wheel well....I thought that they left the rear too straight (no curve like it has at the front) so I thought if I ever bought one, the first thing I would do was widen the rear....well I searched around for years until I found the wide kit designed for that car, through a company out in England (The "Z" Centre - you may have heard of them). I got the history behind the kit.....quite a story....anyways....as I poked around more, I found more things that fell into my vision for the Car......I have been at this thing for 3 years and will finally get her done this summer.....fingers crossed. I am itching to drive her again.....miss pulling up to the golf course with her and pulling out my clubs (it's a moment for me when I can look up to the sky and smile up at the man and say...wow....life is good !!! ).
   Projects like this, I believe are good for the soul......tests a man on so many levels.... well........ I am about to upgrade the turbos, down pipes, Haltech Pro plug in, bigger injector 800 cc...and a few other goodies...... the colour will be 70% (glass) black and 30% (glass) red ........should be pretty cool when finished......I have already started some minor donny brooks on facebook because of her uniqueness......my motto has always been.....why do something that has already been done before........lol.......out of the box thinking can frighten those who live in a cage..... well carry on fellow FJ / "Z" brother...... Shadowfax.....away 
Kev   

[Firehawk068]

Kevin,
You should paint her like the 300-ZX IMSA GTO/GT-1 cars, driven by Steve Millen, Johnny O'Connell, and Jeremy Dale from back in the day.

I watched these cars race at Watkins Glen.
The early ones were a Twin-Turbo V6













Some time around 1995, Nissan switched them to a Naturally Aspirated V8 for 1 season.

I always loved these cars, and enjoyed watching them compete.

[CanDman]

Kevin,
You should paint her like the 300-ZX IMSA GTO/GT-1 cars, driven by Steve Millen, Johnny O'Connell, and Jeremy Dale from back in the day.

I watched these cars race at Watkins Glen.
The early ones were a Twin-Turbo V6













Some time around 1995, Nissan switched them to a Naturally Aspirated V8 for 1 season.

I always loved these cars, and enjoyed watching them compete.

Thx Firehawk.....ya back then, that car won it all !!! this 300zx tt was rated top ten sports cars ever built back in 92.....I love it......if I had a billion dollars in the account I would still own one and drive it everywhere !!!! lol ....
Kev

[Flynt]

Seeing the build is good stuff...

OK...  I've been a slacker and am fully a year off what I hoped would be the completion date.  But I have made progress and am in the home stretch now...

Engine is in and nearly completed



Interior is insulated and ready for vinyl...  I have it already, just waiting in the box.  Getting help from my oldest since she's anxiously awaiting a ride...





Glass is in front, rear, and rear quarters...  side windows are next



It is actually looking like a car now.  All the interior stuff like dash, center console, heater control panel, etc are assembled and ready once the vinyl is in place.  Won't be done by WCR, but I expect it will be done by July 4th...  finally!

Frank

[FJmonkey]

Looking awesome Frank, you have the Midas touch.

[Pat Conlon]

Twin SU's, I remember those.....

Last year I was digging thru my fluid's closet and came across a can of dash pot oil....from my early MGA/MGB days.

I had to laugh, recalling all the work I put into those cars. Makes me really appreciate my Miata.