I have an intro thread, but I figured I'd start a build thread to be able to track the progress of this car over the next year or two.
I bought my S30 (72 240z) from a good friend I went to college with. He tried to get me to buy the car when we first met, but I never really had the time or the energy to start a massive project. I've been busy with my first project (turbocharged 8thgen Honda Si), as well as a new home which has placed a large parasite on my bank account.
Due to an insurance payout from my daily being totaled, I got into something a little more economical and finally told my friend I'd come by and pick up the Z.
Here she is being picked up and brought home
And here she is parked in her current resting place next to my other project
I just picked the car up as of 4/30/17, and I expect this build to take a few years - being that I plan on taking the car down to bare metal and then rebuilding it with as much modern technology as I can. So far, my build is expected to go as follows:
Suspension, braking, and Undercarriage:
Techno Toy Tuning Coilover system
Techno Toy 5 lug (5x114.3) conversion
Techno Toy LCA, Tension, and lower cross-member upgrade
Techno Toy rear-end conversion (ditches stub shafts for 5 lug hubs)
Wilwood BMC
Brembo conversion of an unknown type (TBD)
Exterior
Front Valance (type TBD)
Fender flares (TBD)
Duckbill Rear Spoiler (TBD)
Custom retrofitted projector headlights (I can retro headlights, so it just depends what's available at the time)
Interior
Modernized Gauge cluster, modernized HVAC controls with AC added (vintage air or similar)
Upgraded head unit and speakers
Bride Racing seats, harness bar, 5 pt. racing harnesses
Reupholstered carpet and headline
Engine/Transmission
I'm a little torn here, so I have two options:
Option 1:
RB26DET
300zx Transmission
300zx rear diff
Option 2:
LSX crate motor
T56 6-speed Transmission
SR230 Rear diff
A lot of this is up in the air and tentative depending on how the build progresses. I'm open to advice/input so feel free to drop a comment if you have experience!
5/3/17
Made my first major stride of progress today. Yanked the L24 motor and 4 speed out!
I plan on having the interior fully stripped by the end of the week as well. My goal is to get it as bare-bones as possible and then determine where/when I can send it to get blasted and primpered
5/11/17
As I was stripping the car, I found what I had hoped I wouldn't. Nice area of rotted metal on the driver side rocker. Luckily I bought the car under the condition that there was no rot, so the previous owner is currently making arrangements to come up and patch the metal for me.
But the good news is, the rest of the car is coming along. Most of the wiring harness is out, and the dash is almost ready to come out!
6/6/17
Realized it's been a while since I updated. Still in tear-down phase. Found a few areas of rust/rot that concern me.. so my plan now is to get the entire car media blasted down to bare metal. From there, I'll have any fab/body work done that's needed, have a roll/harness bar put in, then get a coat of primer put on it so I can bring it back and take my time building it.
Some updated pictures as the car is stripped down to a shell:
I also had the doors blasted by a local guy who wanted the chance to do the fab work on the car. Not only did he charge me WAY too much to get the doors blasted, he lost one of the lock mechanisms..so I'll get to sort that out eventually. Needless to say I've already found a new shop to do the rest of the blasitng on the car. Either way, some rot was found on the doors so they will also be going off to fabrication to get fixed up!