markrolston@mac.com Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 (edited) I've been a poster for a few years in the RB section of this site. During that time I built and have been maintaining (breaking and fixing!) my RB26 240Z. http://www.rolston.me/NewSite/Z-car.html But since that car is more or less complete, a few months ago I started a new project to build a car from scratch. It is based on a 240Z body but from there just about everything is custom. This time I'm using a VQ35HR instead of the RB. It'll be interesting to find out which is better when it's all done. The RB is a monster motor but I'm hoping for less weight and more torque with my plan for a built, twin turbo VQ. Anyway, I started a website to track all the progress. I'd love any feedback on the plans. It's been a slow start but exciting to build something so unique. http://www.rolston.me/NewSite/Z-car.html best wishes, mark Edited August 13, 2020 by markrolston@mac.com fixed URL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcheeze36 Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Everything looks great! 240hoke has a solution for your shifter relocation problem. I believe he still has more left: http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=144438 Note: for those of you who upgraded to IE8, you'll get the following error when viewing Mark's page: # Exception: TypeError # Message : 'browserVersion' is undefined Earlier versions of IE will probably be fine, as well as other browsers like Firefox and Safari (I viewed it through Safari) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfreer85 Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 umm wow, wish I had your budget Great looking car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 This will be insane. Can't wait to see more progress. OT: If you don't mind me asking, what did you do with all the original pieces that came with the car? Specifically the wiring harness. My '71 could use one, and there's only a few months during which Zs were built that had the same harness as mine (so I'm told)... I think yours may be within that range. PM me, please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharaohabq Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Awesome! Nice to hear about someone else doing an HR install. I couldn't load your page tho IE7. maybe a Java problem, I dunno. I'll keep trying. Phar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MREDDLE Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I have the same problem with IE7.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharaohabq Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Yeah I had to load up firefox to open your page. I gotta tell ya, I would love to have some of your toys, What are you using to bent those radius curves on the 2x4 rectangluar tubing. that's awesome. It really looks like you gutted the heck out of that 240z. I love your spaceframe idea for the rear suspension, but don't you think you'll end up with a lot of wear on those triangular pieces? (blue) Your cage looks awesome too, I love the very precise bends in the tubes, and moving the frame out should add a little more moticum of protection in an impact. I was thinking you might add a brace along the "firewall" at the bottom of the A pillar since that's a weak point in the Z's. I'm sure you know that already. I've said it 3 times already, awesome. I guess the only other thing I'd like to see are MORE pictures! maybe a little more naration of what you're doing on each step. I know there's no blueprint for this type of build, but lessons learned is always good. Thanks. n keep it up! Phar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markrolston@mac.com Posted July 1, 2009 Author Share Posted July 1, 2009 Yeah I had to load up firefox to open your page. I gotta tell ya, I would love to have some of your toys, What are you using to bent those radius curves on the 2x4 rectangluar tubing. that's awesome. It really looks like you gutted the heck out of that 240z. I love your spaceframe idea for the rear suspension, but don't you think you'll end up with a lot of wear on those triangular pieces? (blue) Your cage looks awesome too, I love the very precise bends in the tubes, and moving the frame out should add a little more moticum of protection in an impact. I was thinking you might add a brace along the "firewall" at the bottom of the A pillar since that's a weak point in the Z's. I'm sure you know that already. I've said it 3 times already, awesome. I guess the only other thing I'd like to see are MORE pictures! maybe a little more naration of what you're doing on each step. I know there's no blueprint for this type of build, but lessons learned is always good. Thanks. n keep it up! Phar THanks.. The bends I ordered from ArtMorrison. YOu can order just about anything for custom frame builds. I just sent bend specs and they made them up for me. Sad thing is I ended up cutting into them recently to make more foot room. The triangle pieces for the cantilever suspension are billet. They will be fine. It's the mounting points that will see the stress. We're being extra careful though. I don't expect a problem. The cage has lots still left to go, including your point about the firewall. I'll have an update on that soon, including the footwell frame changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharaohabq Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Okay, cool, I'll be watching, I'm very interrested in how you go about things... I'll also check out ArtMorrison. How are you planning your engine control, Are you going to use the stock computers or are you thinking you'll go with the haltech? I didn't see the fusebox or IPM., nor ECU/BCM. I would imagine you're going with the Autometer gauges since stock 350z stuff is a pain. What are you going to run as a diff? I know, sorry, lots of questions. Phar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markrolston@mac.com Posted July 2, 2009 Author Share Posted July 2, 2009 Okay, cool, I'll be watching, I'm very interrested in how you go about things... I'll also check out ArtMorrison. How are you planning your engine control, Are you going to use the stock computers or are you thinking you'll go with the haltech? I didn't see the fusebox or IPM., nor ECU/BCM. I would imagine you're going with the Autometer gauges since stock 350z stuff is a pain. What are you going to run as a diff? I know, sorry, lots of questions. Phar good questions. I don't yet know what ECU. Justin Nenni here in Austin is who I use to tune cars so I'll be looking to him for his suggestions. After all, he'll be doing the tuning. It might be a piggyback setup since I do have the stock ECU. Again, no idea yet. I have perhaps a year before that's a problem to solve. As for the diff I'm using a ford 8.8". "what???" you say? yup. Since the rear end is completely custom we chose the Ford 8.8 for cheap, light, strong, and easy to find tons of options for. And yes, I'll use a custom Autometer gauge setup. I bought a fiberglass dash reproduction that I plan to try and cover with leather or remake in carbon fiber to hold all the gauges. I want the interior to be race ready but comfortable. Other misc stuff like pedals, fusebox, switches, etc. will likely be parts from the donor Z or summit racing catalog stuff. btw- I start the motor teardown in a few weeks and will start to accumulate parts to build it up as a ~4L turbo motor. But overall, things are going slow since this kind of work is expensive to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markrolston@mac.com Posted July 2, 2009 Author Share Posted July 2, 2009 here's a small update we made to the frame. The rails we're limiting the footwell space. So we had to cut them up. so sad. Those bends were so nice. oh well, not the last time that'll happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MREDDLE Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 ok I have one request is there anything 'we/you' can do so that we/I can view your site? Or maybe posting more pictures here? BTW super great work on both cars. I really think that a VQ40DE block with VQ35HR heads and higher compressionwould be a great combo. Maybe some porting and a knife edged crank and your in BUSINESS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff81 Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Get Firefox, its free and more stable than IE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharaohabq Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 (edited) ok I have one request is there anything 'we/you' can do so that we/I can view your site? Or maybe posting more pictures here? BTW super great work on both cars. I really think that a VQ40DE block with VQ35HR heads and higher compressionwould be a great combo. Maybe some porting and a knife edged crank and your in BUSINESS. Try these links, they seem to work. it looks like it's the front end on his site that's muffed for IE. http://web.mac.com/markrolston/NewSite/New_Z_Blog/Entries/2008/5/15_The_Plan.html http://web.mac.com/markrolston/NewSite/New_Z_Blog/Entries/2008/5/24_The_Car.html http://web.mac.com/markrolston/NewSite/New_Z_Blog/Entries/2008/7/26_Stripped.html http://web.mac.com/markrolston/NewSite/New_Z_Blog/Entries/2008/9/20_Rear_Suspension.html http://web.mac.com/markrolston/NewSite/New_Z_Blog/Entries/2008/9/27_Front_Suspension.html http://web.mac.com/markrolston/NewSite/New_Z_Blog/Entries/2008/10/26_Front_Suspension_Started.html http://web.mac.com/markrolston/NewSite/New_Z_Blog/Entries/2008/12/20_Rear_Suspension_Started.html http://web.mac.com/markrolston/NewSite/New_Z_Blog/Entries/2009/1/15_Front_Body_Mold_Finished.html http://web.mac.com/markrolston/NewSite/New_Z_Blog/Entries/2009/3/2_Frame_work_has_started.html http://web.mac.com/markrolston/NewSite/New_Z_Blog/Entries/2009/6/1_We_have_an_motor!.html http://web.mac.com/markrolston/NewSite/New_Z_Blog/Entries/2009/6/5_Custom_Wheel_Design.html http://web.mac.com/markrolston/NewSite/New_Z_Blog/Entries/2009/6/14_Frame_Progress.html Edited July 2, 2009 by Pharaohabq more links Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocks Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 For the ecu tune use uprev they are in austin. I have thier software on my 350z. It makes the stock ecu a stand alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcheeze36 Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I really think that a VQ40DE block with VQ35HR heads and higher compressionwould be a great combo. Maybe some porting and a knife edged crank and your in BUSINESS. The VQ40, VQ35HR, and VQ37HR use the same block Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators RTz Posted July 2, 2009 Administrators Share Posted July 2, 2009 Absolutely crazy... but in a good way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff81 Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 The custom (actually custom) wheels look great. What size are you planning on doing them, 18 inch? Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markrolston@mac.com Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 The custom (actually custom) wheels look great. What size are you planning on doing them, 18 inch? Jeff Thanks. They will be 18x11" all around. I hope to get them made end of summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95 maxima se Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 sweet project, do you live in austin texas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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