Guest 73Turbo240z Posted October 19, 2004 Share Posted October 19, 2004 Alright, ON3GO sent me this way, i'm new to datsun, not new to cars though, i ran hondas for a number of years, mainly h22 swapped CD7's and other accord based variants... some all motor, some gassed, yadda yadda yadda... finally i got sick of FWD... went RWD... thought i was gonna get out of the game, so i picked up a volvo 740... yea... didn't get out of the game... started ******* with it, and now that things a bigger rumor mill than my accords ever were. Recently however i acquired somthing very special too me... my fathers 73' Datsun 240z, a car which hasn't been started, driven, etc... since before he died, when i was 2... i'm now 21... so you can do the math on just what all that means with almost 2 decades of sitting under it's belt. The car was dry docked, all fluids pulled prior to storage, and it was kept dry and covered, the paint is original brown from the 73' year i suppose, needs a respray, but its still in better condition than my volvos, and thats a 92'. This car isn't just a "toy" or piddly bullshit project, the car was turned over to me by my aunt, of which it was left to her in the will when he died. It means alot to my family, it means alot to me that they are allowing me to restore it as opposed to sending it to wherever else they could, i'm taking this very seriously, and i aim to do things to the best of my abilitys. As a result i will be picking the collective brain of this board so that i may learn from those who've done things before. My goals with this car are not outragous... it is currently an L block dual SU carbed motor. I want to put in a 83' turbo motor that i've found, between mikes knowledge and parts sourcing ability, and my own mechanicle nature, that is my aim, and i want ya'lls advice on what components are best to get from A to B in this project. I'm going to list the criteria i want the car to meet, since this car could end up being mine when i'm done, or it may revert back to my aunt, i'm restoring it with the premiss that it must be reliable to where she could drive it, a women who knows relatively little about cars, but it must also perform so that if it ends up in my hands i can use the car for what it's heritage was about. It must: - Be EFI and turbo'd (hence the 83' turbo motor i've found) - Handle well (looking for suggestions for bolt on streetable suspension upgrades, keep the 2 driver type variable in mind) - Look Good (asthetics are opinionated i understand, but i'd like to hear some views on asthetics that are tasteful, pictures wouldn't hurt) - Be reliable (i realize that 100% is impossible, but if there are habitual failure issues for these cars, tell me now so i can combat the situation now as opposed to later) - Stop Promptly... the brakes on this car have long since gone to shit, so upgrages are in order, factory parts would be nice, brembo's are baller, but not when your on a budget, so if the datsun/nissan parts bin has a readily swappable upgrade, i'm listening, bigger OE calipers on aftermarket rotors, that kinda thing... SS braided lines, replaced hardlines, master cylinder, full flush... i'm pretty much accepting that i will have to fully redo the brake system. - Be comfortable... i need to know if retrofit AC systems exist, do i have to upgrade the existing system to todays R134, what options are there? I don't care about AC, but if it ends up being hers, she will, so i have to plan for it. - Be original... No crazy paintjobs, no gregariously giant wings, etc... i want a clean presentation, accenting the cars natural body lines, this car is a classic, an beggining of import sports cars, i want to preserve it's lines the best i can, cause it's what makes a Z... the beautiful car it is... the only real hard set idea i have for asthetics as of right now is that ideally in the end i want to paint it 2003' Nissan Sunset Le' Manns Orange... other then that, i'm listening to suggestions, this car only has one side view mirror that could be normal, or it could be missing, i haven't looked closed enough to tell yet, so i'm listening for options there too.. So, 1st and foremost... its gotta get running, so a majority of the answers i'd like to pertain to what will i need to take a carbed 73' 240 and put the EFI turbo 83' motor into the car? feel free to comment elsewhere though... I look forward to being a contributing member to this forum, i have a feeling i'm going to be around it for a LONNGGGG time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ON3GO Posted October 19, 2004 Share Posted October 19, 2004 well even though i talk to you all the time and see ya too, ill list a few things. brakes.. i learned from these guys on this forum that if im gonna add any kind of power to a Z you need to upgrade the brakes.. i did so on the green Z, not so much on the blue lol. but go to http://www.modern-motorsports.com for brakes that are idle for somebody on a budget and to some that arent. the 240sx rear brake disc upgrade does wonders, and its not to bad on prices. Juan (JSK) did do brake packages, well sorta. he sold Hats and mounts and then you shop around and buy what rotors and calipers u wanted that would fit his parts.. i have this type of packages on the green Z. I dont think Juan is doing any more brakes for a Z but his website is http://www.jskinnovations.com arizonazcar.com is also another for suspension and brakes, but i like Ross's (modern motorsports) parts better, and plus he helps you big time if your in need. he is a great guy. http://www.zcarparts.com MSA is a one stop place to buy parts, from exterior to interior, to stock, to not. some people dont like them, some love them. i dont mind them lol. classicdatsun.com is another, he pretty much makes the body parts for MSA. Vince (Vintage-Tech Z) on this forum makes and will be making TONS of parts for our Z's. He is the one making all the carbon fiber parts for my cars, and he is a great guy to work with.. if you want custom parts you talk to him! but he is always busy so if you need to ask him something let me know and ill get ya answer direct from him, were buds.. RIGHT VINCE!! lol Alex Costa (Zcarsmakemyheadhurt) on this forum sells and makes any thing you want related to a Turbo L motor, he is the one building the green Z's motor... he has the hook up on Full custom Standalone systems that are pretty much plug and play (some models) for our Z's. he is also a great guy. James (240Z Turbo) is another that makes custom parts for our L motors and also RB motors, as well as other things, contact him if you want something that will work great and look great. he also sells turbos and etc, just like alex costa. wheels, well theres always custom ones, as wheel as ebaymotors.com and junkyards.. let me know when you wanna hit a few up. theres also panasport.com, http://www.wheelchoice.com, and others. i know im forgetting alot of people and sites, but theres abunch of info out there for us. zparts.com is another one. let me know if you ever wanna come over and ill just show ya tons and tons of links i have for our cars. also let me know when you need help on your car. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 73Turbo240z Posted October 19, 2004 Share Posted October 19, 2004 well even though i talk to you all the time and see ya too' date=' ill list a few things. brakes.. i learned from these guys on this forum that if im gonna add any kind of power to a Z you need to upgrade the brakes.. i did so on the green Z, not so much on the blue lol. but go to http://www.modern-motorsports.com for brakes that are idle for somebody on a budget and to some that arent. the 240sx rear brake disc upgrade does wonders, and its not to bad on prices. Juan (JSK) did do brake packages, well sorta. he sold Hats and mounts and then you shop around and buy what rotors and calipers u wanted that would fit his parts.. i have this type of packages on the green Z. I dont think Juan is doing any more brakes for a Z but his website is http://www.jskinnovations.com arizonazcar.com is also another for suspension and brakes, but i like Ross's (modern motorsports) parts better, and plus he helps you big time if your in need. he is a great guy. http://www.zcarparts.com MSA is a one stop place to buy parts, from exterior to interior, to stock, to not. some people dont like them, some love them. i dont mind them lol. classicdatsun.com is another, he pretty much makes the body parts for MSA. Vince (Vintage-Tech Z) on this forum makes and will be making TONS of parts for our Z's. He is the one making all the carbon fiber parts for my cars, and he is a great guy to work with.. if you want custom parts you talk to him! but he is always busy so if you need to ask him something let me know and ill get ya answer direct from him, were buds.. RIGHT VINCE!! lol Alex Costa (Zcarsmakemyheadhurt) on this forum sells and makes any thing you want related to a Turbo L motor, he is the one building the green Z's motor... he has the hook up on Full custom Standalone systems that are pretty much plug and play (some models) for our Z's. he is also a great guy. James (240Z Turbo) is another that makes custom parts for our L motors and also RB motors, as well as other things, contact him if you want something that will work great and look great. he also sells turbos and etc, just like alex costa. wheels, well theres always custom ones, as wheel as ebaymotors.com and junkyards.. let me know when you wanna hit a few up. theres also panasport.com, http://www.wheelchoice.com, and others. i know im forgetting alot of people and sites, but theres abunch of info out there for us. zparts.com is another one. let me know if you ever wanna come over and ill just show ya tons and tons of links i have for our cars. also let me know when you need help on your car. mike[/quote'] cool thanks mike, once i hear back from teddy about what this 83' motor has done to it i'll have to take out out to dinner one night and we can talk about whats there, and what needs to be... standalone, carbon fiber, etc... all sounds good... also sounds pricey and i haven't the foggiest clue what i'm gonna tie in yet! one thing i have decided though, i'm starting to like those turn signals, i saw another members z here w/ them, but no front or rear chrome bumpers, and it looked pretty damn nice, so perhaps i will go with them... would give me more room for the intercooler anyhow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 73Turbo240z Posted October 19, 2004 Share Posted October 19, 2004 shit, teddy sold the motor this weekend aparently, this sucks cause i'd talked to him about it sat night at the meet and told him i had the cash, i just wanted to know what all was there and see it 1st... fuckkkk... now i have to find another turbo motor... this is gonna slow things down. *edit* this censorship system is retarded... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted October 19, 2004 Share Posted October 19, 2004 I think you need to take a step back for a moment and really evaluate what you have. You've got a great opportunity to make something special but you've got a lot of crap work to do before you even think about mods. Spend a couple months going over the car completely and check every nut, bolt, washer, mount, stamping, cable, grommet, wire, panel, gear, shaft, bushing, bracket, etc. Inspect and clean the stuff that never gets inspected and cleaned now while you have a chance. Despite the car being on jackstands for decades, its still a 32 year old vehicle. And, IMHO, the order of priority for anything you do to the car should be: 1. Safety 2. Reliability 3. Repeatability 4. Speed and cosmetics What that means is, if you've got $100 and you can buy a $100 part that increases safety, buy that first. Once you've spent all your money on the safety items, then you can start spending money on reliability stuff. And on down the list. Just some advice from an old racer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted October 19, 2004 Share Posted October 19, 2004 *edit* this censorship system is retarded... Maybe try saying what you need to without using profanity. It is unnecessary. Many of the members here have their wives and kids reading over their shoulders, and foul language is not what they want them to see..... If you feel it "retarded", no-one is forcing you to post..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ON3GO Posted October 19, 2004 Share Posted October 19, 2004 Tim be nice man, no need to be some-what mean. he and i post daily on a forum where you can type what words you want. plus he wasnt saying anything really all that bad anyways. Also John C not that i dont agree with ya, but his car he is building is more in lines of what Jersey's Z is like. i dont want to make it seem like im not all for safety, i am, but Jersey has a fast and reliable Z that didnt cost alot at all, and thats what this car is going to be like. i do agree that he needs to check everything out and see what shape there in. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted October 19, 2004 Share Posted October 19, 2004 Mike, I understand that he is your buddy, but you have been here long enough to understand where my comments came from. There are more than enough 'stickys' and 'announcements' that have been around for a while to remind us of some of the prior 'issues' My intent was not to be mean..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris-280ZX Posted October 19, 2004 Share Posted October 19, 2004 Jeez Tim....you're mean j/k I'm with John C on this one though. Sure you want it to be fast, etc, etc, etc. But taking the time do it right is more than worth it. Bodywork, suspension, then brakes is how I went, but it was a somewhat backwards approach. Now the final step is fast Good luck on whatever you decide. Maybe even post some pics of this Z thats been sitting forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quicker240 Posted October 19, 2004 Share Posted October 19, 2004 I go along with the Idea of looking the car over really well first also.Sounds like you have a very solid platform to work with.That being said,Step 2 needs to be setting up a budget and an order of operations,including a timeframe that fits your life.You can spend a fortune paying someone else to do it all,or spend some time learning from experienced people and utilize the connections on parts and advise you will find here.The assets of Hybrid Z can be your best friend if you use them wisely.I highly recommend you attend a couple of Z events before you do to much else.Some really smart people have done cool things to Z cars.You just have to choose which ideas work best for you.Best of luck with your project,be careful though,Z cars are HIGHLY addictive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 73Turbo240z Posted October 20, 2004 Share Posted October 20, 2004 i don't swear like a sailor, so if that's how it came off i apologize, i just felt the sub words made me look like somthing out of a bad 1940s detective movie... hence why i said it's retarded... my list for the car, the order of repair as it were, is this... 1. Brakes... it's gotta stop before it can go... and this system has sat long enough that it will probally need a 100% overhaul... so time for disc converisions for the rear, bigger stopping gear up front, braided lines, new master cylinder, all new/rebuilt calipers... etc... 2. Suspension... now that it can stop, it must turn... the bushings are long since dry rotted, so polyurathane all around it is... might as well address the OEM springs and shocks while i'm there... perhaps some "mild" sways... gotta keep it streetable... 3. Now that it can stop and turn, it would help if it could go... only after points 1 and 2 were met will point 3, the engine, be addressed... no v8's, no SRs/RBs, it will be an L block, and it will be on boost... now i just have to figure out what parts i need... while the motors out the engine bay will be sanded down and sprayed flat black. 4. Now that it stops, go's, and turns, it would be nice if it could do it comfortably... so interior restoration/updating heads point 4... reapaulstered or flat out replaced seats, new carpet, perhaps new door panels, want to try and take the interior black... 5. Now she's almost a nice car... time to address the exterior... the big mail box killing chrome front and rears has got to go... jurys still out on what i'll do bodywise... i know i'm going to update it to dual side mirrors, can't decide if i'll stay retro or go modern though... during this exterior phase i'm removing all the trim and sending the car out for paint.... jambs, sills, etc... a good paintjob... once it's finished being painted, it'll come home for a new windshield, and all new weatherstripping... at this point she'll be a nice driveable car... and depending what all happened during phase 4, it may be time for more mods... the window for my project isn't really known... i'm on no time table but my own, and my wallets... so it could take awhile... but i'm prepared for that, do it once, do it right... thats how i look at it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 73Turbo240z Posted October 20, 2004 Share Posted October 20, 2004 Should have a sig now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted October 20, 2004 Share Posted October 20, 2004 Please shrink it down a tad..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zcarsmakemyheadhurt Posted October 20, 2004 Share Posted October 20, 2004 I'll tell you what, the only reason I made it threw the Honda bla,bla,bla is becuase you mentioned Mike, so I figured it would be a interesting story. Its also good to see you have respect for the family air loom. I think I would start with a car like this on a minimal budget most of us have is inspection. Replinish the brake fluid and go threw a complete bleeding of all four corners. I would probably do so with the car on stands and right after take off the brake drum to check for leaking wheel cylinders. Do the shake down of the suspension components up front and do get ready to buy a bushing kit from Energy. Maybe you will get lucky and the car will stop solid and not have the shakes, but look at the rack bushings they offten turn to.....I don't want to get chastized for saying bad words, lets go with "crap". Then pick up a stock junk yard turbo motor that still has the factory pop off valve and not bin boosted. Select a standalone EFI system and get parts to install in that Datsun. Even if the car had stock injectors and turbo you will get your feet wet with turbocharging a L28 and the upgrades will come. The other thing you should maybe tackle right off the start is fuel supply. The fuel tank in that car has a high pick up for fuel and no baffels to keep fuel from sloshing in the tank creating air pockets in the fuel line. Your gonna have a problem with this at one time or another. The way I like to address this problem is with a fuel sump. I am having some made with true -12 out lets and a retention mesh that keeps fuel in the sump area, at the same time as you install this you can have the fuel tank gone threw for a fresh clean supply. I am pushing Bosch pumps now that make up to 700HP and for the money you cant go wrong ($220.00). Anyway, I'm gonna be watching your post and progress with that jem, good luck. Alex C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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