Drax240z

I was the one that mentioned this on zcar.com... There is an article in Sport Compact Car magazine on this very topic, (last months issue) its suggested reading! They say that the household/hardware foam isn't sufficient because it cures in air... and there are places it may end up where it blocks itself in so that it can't cure, since it can't get air. I'd suggest doing a little more research before running out and buying household foam and squirting it into the crevaces of your car... I'm sure it would be a bitch to get it out if there was some kind of problem... ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

The rear brace looks like a decent setup to me, providing you want to lose the space back there. You might also want to consider a 4-pt roll bar as an alternative. I'd be willing to put the linked strut tower braces in my car... and I'm kinda picky! So there is my opinion. ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Don't forget Steve Graber's Velo Rossa! ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

A little info from the other side of the fence. A friend of mine uses FWD wheels and spacers, and he has for years. He autocrosses, and drives the car really hard in general... and after quite a while (~3 years I think) he has had no noticeable increase in wear on any components. Granted, this is not on a V8 zcar... But the theory is still the same. ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Nice nice, the quest ofr lightness continues. This is the kind of stuff I love. Spencz, have you any plans to use lexan or other light weight "glass" in your car? You could save a hundred pounds there I'd guess, maybe more... Its kinda pricy though. IIRC, Jim Biondo used lexan on his car didn't he? Or am I thinking of another car? ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Less weight... GOOD!! I think the popularity of the 6-spd isn't so much the extra gear, but the numerically low overdrive for cruising... If you could get a 5spd with a suitable O.D. 5th, I can't imagine it being worse in any way to a T-56. ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Header wrap would work... You could also make a thin heat shield between the cell and exhaust. Gold foil would work the best but... ah... a little pricy maybe. Also, you should be able to find some aluminum backed fibreglass insulation easily, put the foil side towards the heat source... I would think 2" is more than enough room there with the proper insulation. Didn't you have a bunch of insulation for doing your fuel lines while you were looking forthis problem before? Wouldn't that work? ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Hmm, link didn't seem to work for me... I'd love an all aluminum block for my car, I'd say if you have the cash, push for it! ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Yeah Mike, I've allready come to the same conclusion actually, regarding the strut towers. They are pretty damn good overall, but there is a thin lin eof rust about 3" long at the bottom of each, which is where I expect most of that flex is coming from. I plan on welding/painting everything necessary in my engine bay once I pull this engine to put in my new one... ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Welcome aboard. Welcome also to the world of possibilities! How much hp are you looking for? 200? 300? 400? 500? More? Do you want forced induction of some type? Well that at least would narrow it down a little. About the best advice I can offer you is use the internet for anything you want to do with your car! There is a ton of info out here on these Z cars, and the best way to do something right the firs time, and to save some money (and frustration) is to learn as much about it before you do it. Good Luck! ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

I added my home made front strut tower brace to my car last night. Its a nice piece, TIG welded 316 Stainless steel. Drove the car and... WOW!!!!!! Unbelievable difference. It seems that almost all the creaks and groans coming from anywhere in the car have dissapeared... and the car feels rock solid entering turns, and smooth... What a blast! I'd definately recommend one to anyone pondering it. This is my only form of chassis stiffening at this point, so some might not have the results I did... (I'm still running the L24) ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Did anyone else happen to flip through or buy the Popular Hotrodding "Engine Masters" magazine vol. 3 no. 1? They have quite a nice article on rotary valve design. What a sweet design it is... For those of you that haven't heard of them, rotary valves are simply that. Instead of a reciprocating valve assembly, consisting of ~100 moving parts, there is 2 moving parts. A "cam" with spherical lobes that have been CNC machined through the sphere to allow intake and exhaust gasses to pass through the cam in certain orientation. (got all that?) What this means is that the simple rotation of the cams (1 int, 1 exh) is all that is required to open and close the combustion chamber!! In a study, Coates Engineering (the inventor) Bolted on their rotary valve heads to a 5.0L Ford engine out of a lincoln. This engine stock was 260hp, 249ft-lbs at 5500rpm. By replacing ONLY the heads with the Coates heads, this engine pumped out 475hp and 454ft-lbs at the same 5500rpm!!! Plus the engine having lost the majority of its moving parts can rev upwards of 10,000rpm with a stock bottom end. How? Well I'd guess that the "cam profile" of the Coates valves are a performance "grind". But these rotary valves allowed the intake valve to go from closed to completely open in 2 degrees of crankshaft rotation, compared to the stock valve train... get this, 34 degrees to go from fully closed to open. The down side is the cost for this setup is around $15,000... And it hasn't really been proven as far as duribility goes. Some of you more adventurous types might want to check it out! ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Actually I think both the JTR and Nissan used a 3/4" offset. ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Great idea! Just for your own personal knowledge, what you are planning is called a "targa" top. Lots of porches, ferraris, some MarkII supra's etc had them. Can't really halp you much with anythign else, except to say check with sunroof places. You might find someone that has done that to another car before if you are lucky. ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Yeah sounds like you did well. Maybe not a steal on the 240z, still decent, but $375 for a running 280zx isn't bad at all. You certainly would pay more for an L28/R200/5spd if you bought them seperately. Put the 280zx drivetrain in the 240 and you'll be happy with the results I am sure! ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Well Mike, kinda a kick in the teeth to have all this work amount to something so simple isn't it? I really hope it solves your problems... I've been getting frustrated just hearing about all the frustration you've been going through! ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Yeah its been done a time or two... Not a lot. A guy I know up here is in the process of doing it. His name is Dan Giroux, you can try emailing him at: datsun240z@home.com He also sells nissan and other parts for the Z car, and is an ex-nissan tech... Good prices on parts. ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Hey Spence, thought about running an SDS or similar on your setup? Just because its not turbo so supercharged (yet!) doesn't mean it won't do anything... They claim a decent power increase over any stock system... ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

I'd say talk him down to about $400 or keep looking. Surface rust is bad... m'kay? Seriously, I'd be really really damn sure that it is only surface rust... For comparison I payed $1000 for my 73 240z not running... it had: New paint, new tie rod ends, new exhaust, new toyo tires, MSA airdam, rear spoiler, new floorboards... It was missing some stuff (bumpers, carpet, door seals) but fairly complete. I may or may not have gotten a great deal, but there is some comparison for you. I'd say keep looking! ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html [This message has been edited by Drax240z (edited May 15, 2000).]

Scott, definately do not orderthe kit from JTR. You are right, being in canada its going to come in at around $700... IIRC you have access to a few machine places, you can definately make everything from the kit for less than $700can. I'd guess (total guess) about $150 canadian. Thought about running on propane??? ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

I took my 1982 P90 head into the machine shop today. Right now all I've asked him to do for my propane/turbo setup is stellite valve seats, a .010" planing, and a 5-way valve job. Considering this is a turbo car, is there anything else I should have done now to the head? ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

The good part for me is that my comparison will be against an L24 that is in rough shape. So the turbo motor should be a nice bump up... Plus there is always upping the boost to overcome any shortfalls... ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

To answer your question, yes, yes you are. I understand about wanting something origional. I am in the same boat really. I hate run of the mill, boring cars. Well a Z car could never be boring... but... In all the posts that I've seen and heard from you, I really liked the AWD option. Yes, you are going to gain some weight and drivetrain loss. The Skyline is about 3500lbs I think... yuk. But you have the technology to build a sub 2300lb, 500hp, AWD terror. Plus you can still use the 383 and feel origional. There has to be a suitable AWD system out there. Stay away from american engineering on this one! Check out the BMW 325ix, all Subaru has to offer, Mitsubishi, Audi, Porsche... with all these people making AWD units there has to be one out there that will suit your needs. Just imagine actually being able to control this 500hp monster... ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Ack, Scott! You're thinking about removing that work of art you have under your hood? Or is the fuel economy thing getting to you? You are one of the last people I thought I'd see V8'ing... ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html

Thats a good point actually, I didn't think of that at all. ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html