Light weight, Japan-style 240Z

[BenZed]

Ausplasfab.com.au $160

[BenZed]

Another small update, I've just carpeted the interior. The carpet is all unbacked grey stuff like you see on speaker boxes. It weighs almost nothing and you can stretch it easily so it's great for curved surfaces like the wheel arches. I made up new rear panels on either side behind the towers from 3mm MDF, plus a new panel over the tail lights from 6mm MDF. Everywhere else the carpet is glued directly to the painted steel floor. All of the bits that are still visible in white will be painted satin black this week. I don't plan to re-fit the original console, so I carpeted the depression in the tunnel where the choke lever used to sit. This makes a handy place to store bits and pieces. You may notice I also had the door trims retrimmed in black vinyl with dark grey center sections.
I'm still waiting on some custom-made induction rams for my injection before I can fit everything, but that should be my next post.

[V8Datto]

Hey m8, you posted a weight of 935kg, is that with you sitting in the car?
I would have thought it was lighter that that?

[BenZed]

That's without me in the car and almost no fuel. It is tough to take more than 100kg out of any car, especially when it's light to start with.

[V8Datto]

Crap!, I'm building a car at the moment and was hoping for somewhere around the 950kg mark but looks like I won't get anywhere near that now.

Funny isn't it, I have a 4 door Datsun with a V8, that weighs 1050kg's (no driver, 1/2 tank fuel) and I could easily take out another 55kg's at least. more if I replaced the bonnet and boot lids.

Does anyone know how much the standard L series engine weighs in the Z's?

[BenZed]

L-series engines are very heavy. An early 240Z L24 is 141kg and later engines only got heavier.
The lightest L-powered 240Z I have seen was a drag car in Japan with all of the lightweight mods on my car, plus holes cut in all the internal metal panels, no trim of any kind, plastic seats, aluminium fuel tank and titanium exhaust. It weighed 880kg and ran high 10s with a 350hp L31.

[chris240]

hey Ben, any chance you could take a very close up pic of the gear knob ? Im missing the H pattern on my gearknob & I thought I might make my own precise replica on AutoCad and then print to a sticker..
better still do you want to sell yours !! 

[BenZed]

Just got my extractors ceramic-coated, ready to go back on with the injection. If anyone is interested in getting some coating done this high-temperature black coating cost $400. You can get the polished aluminium finish (slightly lower temp rating) for $320.   
PM me if you want a quote on other parts (the coaters are next door to my company).

[BenZed]

Just delivered the car to my tuner to get the computer wired up and tuned. I had the aluminium ram tubes you see here custom made to fit inside the filters. Actually there's more space than I thought, so I might get bigger filters later. Need to give it a bit of a clean too 

[ZD44TT]

Nice work man..........fark I can see myself getting into alot of trouble if I start thinking engine conversions looking at yours.........hahahhaha.

[George]

You've done well to get it under a tonne. Would love to see it in the flesh one day. Do you see yourself driving this on the streets?

[BenZed]

I already do drive it on the street 
I built it mainly for weekend stress relief and tarmac rallies (Duttons etc.)
It was fun even with Hitachis, can't wait to drive it fully tuned.

[ZD44TT]

let us know when it's back on the road man......would love to have a look. I'll bring my own napkin.

[luvemfast]

Where did you get the injection setup from?
You stated from Japan. Who did you deal with and how did you go with postage?

Thanks, Simon.

[BenZed]

Where did you get the injection setup from?
You stated from Japan. Who did you deal with and how did you go with postage?

Thanks, Simon.

I had a friend in Japan take care of it for me. I can supply the kits brand new, look for my post in the classifieds section.