rp975

This is my current project - putting a VQ30 DET into a 1974 260z. zcar project This engine is from a 1999 Nissan Cedric. To put this engine in I have had to remove the exhaust which runs behind the engine and the turbo to fit the engine behind the x-member. Then I will have to have new exhaust manifolds made bringing the turbo in front of the motor. The plenum had to be removed because it was too far off the back of the engine, so a new one will have to be made towards the front of the engine. I will have to make a new x-member and modify the engine and transmission mounts. These are the dimensions: From the back of the water pipe at the back of the engine to the front of the pulley bolts at the front with the fan off is 580mm. The width without the manifolds and exhaust is 610mm. The height without the plenum is approximately 700mm. I will post more photos as I make progress.

Hey great updates thanks. Cheers Rob

I can't wait either, this should be interesting... cheers Rob

I love it!!!! great comment.....

I used 5005 series aluminium, 2mm thick, I annealed it as best I could by sitting it on my BBQ with it on full whilst using a small propane torch moving over the surface in small areas at a time. I used the BBQ because the sheet would cool down too quickly with just the torch.

Thanks for the comments.

I have just finished my fan shtoud and about to start on my front of radiator sheetmetal. I am considering having two openings, one above and one below the bumper. I have a couple of questions that I would like opinions on. Should the openings have a rounded edge to the inlet like a ram tube does to smooth the airflow out since the inside walls will be tapered from small opening to large? What effect does the bumper have on airflow? Should the back of the bumper have an extended trailing edge, like a wing does to again calm airflow? The other thing is that the openings in my shroud are 2 of 28cm2, should I have two openings at the front that are each the same size as each fan size of 28cm2, therefore having the same size opening front and back? I look forward to your thoughts. Cheers Rob

Sounds good let me know...

quote wanna make another? Hi Nizm0Zed, The wooden die, or buck that I made would only work if you were using the same radiator as me, it is a Gemini radiator which is slightly smaller. I have used this because of where the inlet and outlets are, this suits the VQ motor better. From the pics on your link to your car it looks like you are very capable of doing a project like this shroud. If you like I could talk you through it. Thanks for the comments guys.

Here is the shroud polished and with the fans fitted.

Hi Sweetleaf, Thanks for your comment, the side brackets were made from 6mm plate. I cut the four pieces out with a bandsaw,drilled the holes whilst the pieces were clamped together, then I put bolts through the holes to keep the plates lined up and used a die grinder to trim up the outside edges. It would have been good to have a cnc mill to use for this.

20 ton, the frame of the press is about 800mm wide, a workshop press.

the metal was pressed not beaten, I didn't take any photos of the frame, so I have attached some of the plenum that I pressed from 3mm thick aluminium, you can see that there is a hardwood frame that the metal is pressed into and the fan shroud was done in a similar way using a 20ton press. The motor is a VQ30det into a 1974 260Z.

I thought that I should show you some pics of the fan shroud that I made from 2mm thick aluminium sheet. I started by making a male die out of 7 ply the size of the radiator openning but made a radius on the corners so that the metal would form more easily. Then I cut out templates of the fans and their mounting points and screwed them onto the base. I then had to make a frame that was strong enough to handle the pressure of pressing the metal. I made it from timber that I had lying around, although I should have used hardwood. The timber was 2" x 8" with steel angle brackets making the corner joints as strong as poss. You need to aneal the metal as best you can before pressing, and part way through if need be.

Hi Tony, I put a laser pointer on the front bracket that is in the center of the front valance with the radiator out and used a spacer until it lined up with the center of the crank pulley on the original L6. Then when I positioned the VQ30det in, I also lined up the center of the pulley with the laser, then at the back I had a short section of the new tailshaft on the back of the transmission. Inside this I rigged up the laser in the center pointing towards the diff, and kept moving and checking front and back until I had both lined up. From there I made the mounts, I haven't had my car running yet so I can't vouch for it's accuracy. cheers Rob

Hi Guys, I have searched and have found differing answers to the original S30 wheel offset, some say -15, some say +15 and others say 0 offset. I have a 1974 260Z with dealer fitted slot mags that are 14' x 6" with 0 offset. When I look at the Datsun workshop manual for a US 280Z, it states that the offset is 15, but it doesn't say if it is + or -. Does anyone know what the standard offset is, or can somebody with a standard wheel measure the backspace and width for me please? Cheers Rob

Having viewed this video I can only conclude that these drivers are driving on the correct side of the road as opposed to the right side of the road..... Excellent video, you are becoming the master. Rob

Hi, The red engine mounts belong to NIXCARS, he is from Australia. I think that he is on Classic Z and HybridZ. Robert

Like this, the speakers that are on top of the rear struts, does anyone know where I can buy some of these? Rob

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi guys, I am after some info on where I can buy some speaker enclosures that sit above the rear strut towers on an s30. Has anyone used them, and if so what did you think of them? Cheers Rob

Hi, If you look up my photo gallery you will see some pics of my VQ30det install, I would imagine that the VQ35 is similar? There has been someone with pictures in these forums that has installed a VQ35 in an S30 but they seem to have the motor a fair way forward. I hope that this is of some help for you. Rob