skully Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 I figured it was about time to start my thread on my 240Z that I've been building for a few years.... To start the background on the Z; I found it on ZCar.com in central Florida however it did live half it's life in Texas. Pictures looked pretty decent for a 72 and mostly unmolested. It had recent paint, classic hubcaps and upgraded 280Z block; 5spd and R200 diff transplant. After reviewing the pics and video, I made up my mind to commit to this one. The 175/70-14 donuts were so bad; they almost looked like original tires but what the hell, she was going to be a track car- right? I contacted the owner and found a flight on Jet Blue to Orlando for $99. I flew down on Saturday morning and my old boss picked me up at the Orlando airport and we drove over to check it out. Everything was as expected, nothing to make me fly back to Charlotte today. I did cut some of the fuel line and re-tighten some of the clamps just in case. Paid the guy and drove off to Charlotte. Car ran great up to Columbia where I stopped to see family and take a break from the drive. The biggest problem was the exhaust leak but with both windows down, wasn't too bad ~ Hit the house about midnight that night but she ran great and no issues.I drove her for about a year before the planning stages began. My last 240Z I built was 12:1 high compression L28 that I built back in 93 with forged pistons, floating pins; cam and all the fixins... L28's are pretty good but have limits and are still iron blocks. Looking at other alternatives; I started looking at RB swaps. The biggest issue I found was going to get parts for them, but wasn't a huge issue considering our global transportation system and JDM suppliers on the west coast. You can get a RB engine and wiring harness pretty decent price but then you want to get bigger turbo (s) and all the fixins...Some say the RB26 has too much power and RB25 is better...both can put out gobs of power and take your paycheck just as easy as making that power. There's some good suppliers of RB swaps these days too like McKinney. Then I started looking at VQ swaps like A Hoke. I like the idea of staying in the family but it wasn't that important- Weight and power were the main requirements. There were some VQ swaps out there that look pretty good but then I started looking at the power and decided no VQ35. Hmmm, what about VQ37? still pretty new and prices were still pretty high for a VQ37 with tranny and harness. I started to think about the old american love of sticking a V8 in a small foreign car like Carol Shelby. Why not? The SCARAB was our answer to this question. But the early generation small block engines were heavy and not what I was looking for in a car to track. After seeing Dave Palarmo's LS1 240Z at the 2008 ZCON @ mid-ohio I thought that was a nice setup. Doing some research on it; the LS engine is a few pounds different than the L28. Buying a LS1/T-56 combo was easy to come by but many of them have oil issues (lack of owner responsibilities in changing the oil) and ragged out / tranny issues with hard shifting over 80K+ miles on most of the combo's. Started looking at the various LS engines and options. The F-Body SS Camaro's and Firechickens were around and running car would cost about 4-6K depending on the condition. Better the condition the better the care I thought...THen started looking at wrecked GTO's for LS2 engines with lower miles. About the same in price. I put the word out and found an LS6 at the right price. A fellow track junkie and known around the circles; I was pleased to find this beast with about 4800 miles on it and already had a hot cam installed.So off to the rodeo I went. I started to strip down the Z and for the past three years- due to three crazy kids, wife and job...I'm "almost done!" kind of...at this point I'm just ready to get her started and shake out a few things- mainly what is left to do: Run brake lines (MC to wheels all aorund) Finish fuel lines (today?!?) Dash decision - Aluminum or stock (going twords aluminum to just do it...) wire it up Radiator Exhaust Battery wires THE LIST[Drivetrain] LS6 Engine - Fuel Injected with cable throttle body. T-56 Magnum- Enough to hold 600 HP. - Stock will not work (for long) Q45 / CV shafts. Driveshaft shop Aluminum driveshaft DXD dual friction clutch Interior Roll bar Auto-Meter guages Start switch Battery relocation / lighter battery Exterior ZG flares BRE spoiler [Chassis] Bad Dog Racing full frame rails New floor pans Stripped and painted underpan Stripped and painted front clip [Fuel] Fuel cell - 16 gal Summit circle track Russell Fittings Bosch 44 fuel pump Speedway LS conversion regulator For now- stock fuel rail [suspension] TTT rear lower control arms Coilovers - Koni Shocks Quick steering couplers / bump steer spacers TTT T/C rods TTT Lower Control Arms [brakes] AZC Wilwood on all 4 corners (6/4). Heavy Duty Rotors SS Lines all around Wilwood 1" MC 280Z Booster Pics attached... Thanks to Matt Isbel and Mike Kelly for inspiration as well as the countless hours on HYBRIDZ allowing me to second guess everything and upgrade upgrade upgrade... This is my first real track car so I'm sure I've screwed up somewhere- feel free to tell me -much of this has been a great learning experience from restoring cars since I was a kid helping my Dad to what I've built to date. So far I'm really happy and wish I could be ready for ZDAYZ but looks like that's out this year- Hope to get her to CMP this summer... Right now, I'd like feedback on the fuel setup - how much fuel starvation will I have and do I need to sump it? Any concerns with my setup like heat soak or fuel starvation issues I can avoid? Thanks in advance for the feedback Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naptown Dave Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 Great looking build! I've only cruised around my neighborhood so I have limited experience but the only time I've heard my pump cavitate is when I only had a couple gallons of fuel in the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slow78z Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 Wow that is some clean work. All the mechanicals realy stand out in that white engine bay. Love the strut tower bracing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 I'm sold. Next project wi be in white. Love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skully Posted April 28, 2014 Author Share Posted April 28, 2014 thanks! My first Z was an 82 280ZX Coupe- White with red - This is my 10th - another Z white w/red - I figured since I gutted the interrior - I'd keep the red alive in places for the look. Turned out pretty nice so far i think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastTnZ Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Looks awesome! Congrats on the progress! Your tank is already sumped and mine starves when going downhill with less than like a 1/4 tank. I have foam in mine if it matters. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280zjake Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 (edited) oops Edited April 29, 2014 by 280zjake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280zjake Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 i think i contacted you about a set of tires/wheels you had listed on craigslist ?? I will be at the cars and coffee show this Saturday weather permitting in my LS6 280Z if you want to come look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280zjake Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 (edited) I dont think my smartphone is very smart sometimes Edited April 29, 2014 by 280zjake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey303LSZ Posted April 29, 2014 Share Posted April 29, 2014 I was working on my fuel system tonight. Looks like the inlet side of my c5 filter is reversed from yours. Hum... Looks like I need to verify which routing is correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skully Posted April 29, 2014 Author Share Posted April 29, 2014 Hey 280Zjake- I should be there- park over by the one shelter- that's where the Carolina Z Club parks (I am the CZC Treasurer) - We talked about those long tubes right? We will have to chat-- Mikey303- I had to check a few places on the routing of the C5 filter. http://www.speedinc.com/ls1-ls2-lsx-conversion-fuel-filter-w-regulator-6-an.html Finished routing my fuel lines last night- all hooked up. Now to disassemble and pump some cleaner through and reassemble. (tomorrow...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skully Posted April 29, 2014 Author Share Posted April 29, 2014 Cr@p- looks like I reversed my inlet/ return - check this one out- it's better http://www.hotwireauto.com/?page=support Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280zjake Posted April 29, 2014 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Yes we talked about the longtubes. They are on my car so you can get an idea how they fit and look. What time dinyoh guys get there?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skully Posted April 29, 2014 Author Share Posted April 29, 2014 We get there between 8am (hard core) and 10 (lazy) - I try to get up there by 9 and hang out for a few hours - we have a great turn out of Z's. old, new - GT-R's G35/7 ... usually about 15-25 show up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey303LSZ Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Thanks for the link! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domzs Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Very nice swap . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skully Posted May 7, 2014 Author Share Posted May 7, 2014 Radiator ordered. Need to get back to work on her and order tubing for the CAI and oil cooler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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