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1977 Datsun 280Z - Race prepped chassis, no engine


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I am contemplating selling the Datsun to free up some space and funds for other racing projects.

 

Built the car from a half-project street car into full-prepped race car primarily for ChampCar.   Fully stripped car down, installed cage, suspension, drivetrain.  No longer has an engine in it, as I ran out of those...   Raced it a few times (Road America, sort-of NCM and Gingerman), making it into impound just off the podium on one occasion (nearly 2nd place at Gingerman, but we were the cause of the end of race red flag with an engine that decided it wanted to show the world its internals).

 

One of THE BEST sounding cars on track at Road America with that L28 straight six singing through the headers.   Potential to be quick with stock power or very quick with a swap of some sort.  Light, roomy cage built to provide excellent protection and maximize benefits for chassis stiffness.

 

LOTS of points to play with (VPI 150)

 

Fun to drive, no bad habits with the suspension setup.  Good power out of the stock EFI motor with headers on it.  Had a couple of bad luck used "good running" engines (that were not), mis-diagnosed alternator failure that cooked on engine and then a full rebuild that fell apart due to sub-par con-rod bolts the shop assured me would be OK.  I'm out of complete engine, hence why it doesn't have one in it, and stalled with finding another stock / figuring out a motor swap.

 

98% clean '77 chassis (some not-great rust repair on back panel, rear fenders had been bondo repaired at some point in its life)

Cage done by Schaut Speed Motorsports

18 gal aluminum case fuel safe cell

NRG wheel/with removable hub adapter

tach, other gauges

Ground Control coil-overs, FR camber plates, RR slotted, tokico dampers

stock sways

Some poly bushings for suspension

RR brakes swapped to discs - braided lines, mostly new hard-lines

LSD from S130 turbo car (stock open spare)

5-spd trans (plus spare)

Lots of new parts when first built

Stock EFI in the car with new ignition/electronics

Couple sets of 15x8 wheels with usable tires (for practice or holding the car up, few years old so not best to use for a race)

extra brake pads

Plethora of extra parts

Turbo bits and pieces (came with the car)

MSA front fascia

Plywood front splitter

simple rear spoiler

 

 

As it sits, sans engine, points are at 265.  TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE. For an awesome handling light weight car.

VPI - 150

coil-overs - +40

front camber - +20

rear camber - slotted, free

Brakes - within 2x, free

Front fascia - airdam, +10 pts

Splitter - +10 pts

RR aero - +10pts

Diff - +25

 

This leaves a whole BUNCH of points left over for doing a swap.  Or cylinder head, headers, intake shenanigans. Aero could be improved.  Suspension/brakes further updated.   

 

 

You could basically pick the car up, install a seat / fire system / engine, conduct some basic maintenance and go have fun.  

 

 

Car can be sold as is or with an engine re-installed and made race ready depending on how the buyer wants it.

That being said, I have not come up with a desired price yet.  Reasonable offers accepted.

Available to view in Commerce MI

 

 

11863465_10155973841115230_6603253041748

 

 

Edited by NigelStu
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  • Technical Advisory Committee
On 10/31/2018 at 9:41 AM, 55mini said:

Jeff maybe you could get it with the special block with extra airflow???? 

This one?

12654113_1145988645414371_28142702228743

 

It'll be extra.  That is my garage 10 pack beer holder....

 

 

Some interesting potential swaps I have contemplated that would make this thing a rocket ship.

Nissan VG/VQ (with or without valve covers)

Nissan VK

NIssan QR (Altima/Sentra SE-R 2.5 4 cylinder - all aluminum!)

Honda J-series V6

BMW M50/52

Mazda 1.8 VVT (140-150 WHP on a mustang dyno possible within 500 pts)

Chevy V6

 

 

 

Edited by NigelStu
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1 hour ago, NigelStu said:

This one?

12654113_1145988645414371_28142702228743

 

It'll be extra.  That is my garage 10 pack beer holder....

 

 

Some interesting potential swaps I have contemplated that would make this thing a rocket ship.

Nissan VG/VQ (with or without valve covers)

Nissan VK

NIssan TR (Altima/Sentra SE-R 2.5 4 cylinder - all aluminum!)

Honda J-series V6

BMW M50/52

Mazda 1.8 VVT (140-150 WHP on a mustang dyno possible within 500 pts)

Chevy V6

 

 

 

I would never want to deprive you of your beer holder.  

 

You left out Ecotech from a Solstice or sky.  About 180hp  

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L28 NA with state of the art  modern twin scroll turbo and modern engine management. I thought about building an 82 or 83, you would end up with a ridiculously fast car and 22 gallons to play with. Even after you added the points for the turbo and charge air cooler you would have enough points left to basically build custom racing suspension at all 4 corners, and add full aero. The body shape with the long sloping hood, flat front with a splitter, the air coming off of the sloping rear hatch would combine with the flow coming from your diffuser then a little CFD would let you place your wing to energize both of those flows.

 

The biggest downside is the cost and availability of cars and parts. And showing up and being told not to bring that car back no matter if it fits the letter of the rules……….

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I would put in a stock/junkyard L28 with megasquirt, very mild cam and headers. With a low lift cam you don't have to fiddle with the drive drain or worry about piston to valve clearance. Might be able to run with carbs or stock EFI if you want to fiddle with that crap.

It's a nice sweet spot in terms of money, points and time. The NA engine is very similar to the turbo version, so cooling and internals are up to the task for turbo duty.

 

Should give you about 160hp to the wheels (dotted line, solid is with modifed intake):

post-274-0-38199700-1443033139.jpg

 

Details here, http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/123487-compare-your-dyno-sheets-here/

 

(not my engine).

 

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  • 1 month later...
  • Technical Advisory Committee
3 minutes ago, wvumtnbkr said:

I vote Chevy v6.  Preferably 3500.  Mender can help with details.  I can tell you how it runs in champcar in a red configuration.

 

Engines can be had for $200 or less and make 200 hp.

 

That sounds hard to beat. 

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  • Technical Advisory Committee
1 hour ago, Jeff G 78 said:

I wish I had the cash and space.  I'd love to build a second Z.

Jeff G - good to hear from you. How is your Z doing? Motor fixed now? Will you be racing in 2019?

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40 minutes ago, mcoppola said:

Jeff G - good to hear from you. How is your Z doing? Motor fixed now? Will you be racing in 2019?

Hey Mike, I am about to put the engine back together after tearing it apart and having the machine shop check everything out.  All in all, it wasn't too bad.  We do plan to race in 2019.  We plan to run the 24 at Nelson Ledges and we are trying to get Z teams from all over the country there with us.  We have at least five Z teams that say they will run that race.  

 

Hopefully all goes well and we are ready for testing in the spring.

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21 hours ago, wvumtnbkr said:

I vote Chevy v6.  Preferably 3500.  Mender can help with details.  I can tell you how it runs in champcar in a red configuration.

 

Engines can be had for $200 or less and make 200 hp.

For a stock engine, these sound amazing with the right exhaust. 

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4 hours ago, wvumtnbkr said:

I agree!  When free revving or under load in the car, it sounds great!  Outside of the car it just is too quiet and sounds like a ...........   minivan....

Which is a really good thing at Laguna. :) Yeah, my drivers and I like it too!

 

Here's a clip, start at 15:00:

 

Edited by mender
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