datmoo Posted May 12, 2018 Share Posted May 12, 2018 Hey team! I'm the proud owner of shell HS30-00127 and when I say shell I mean what's in pic is all I've got. No engine or trans either. It's pretty straight and rust free but someone has hacked at a few areas like the transmission tunnel but nothing that can't be fixed. I've been into Datsuns and JDM in general since flicking through Hot4s mags with my mates as a young bloke. It was always the 1600s that caught my eye so after driving a Mk1 two door Escort for a while (still got that one) and a '79 Chrysler Sigma wagon I found my first 1600 which I still have (as a shell at the moment). I have another parts 1600 and then my pride and joy an SR20DET 1600. I also have an M35 Stagea VQ25DET family hauler. I had a Z31 Turbo which I stripped for the 5 stud hubs but this is really my first Z. I have my wife to thank for finding this one (and letting me buy it) after she overheard a conversation between two work colleagues about "some Datsun shell in a shed somewhere". Hoping from this club to get lots of ideas, advice, opinions and parts! I've got a few ideas going around in my head at the moment which don't involve an L series (don't kick me out already). If I had the matching engine, or could even find out what the original engine number was, I'd probably keep it L series. Instead, because I love orange and satin black I'm thinking a Fairlady Z432R "tribute", RB25/30 with triple carbs but I'm sure I'll change my mind along the way. Cheers! George, cracker, gav240z and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators gav240z Posted May 12, 2018 Administrators Share Posted May 12, 2018 Welcome, we chatted on Facebook. Good to see another early car will be saved.Always good to hear how these cars are unearthed.Finding body panels is getting harder these days. If you need help let me know? I've been importing stuff (fairly piece meal at this stage) from the US. Front half is easier than rear half, but even 2+2s are rare these days and not being parted put the same anymore.Any idea what engine swap it had previously? Or where all the parts went?I recommend sticking with L-series, can be a lot of fun with Triples. But to each their own.Also 905 red factory cars is quite rare. 918 orange is actually 1 of the most common colours they were made in. datmoo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cozza Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 (edited) Hi datmoo Welcome to the forum. I like your concept of a 432 tribute with triples an rb25/30 Also like your 1600 it looks very clean and I’m sure we would all appreciate some more pics of it. I’ve also got a 1600 in a slow build beside my 240z but missing a hako to fill the stable. ? hopefully I’ll get one 1 day. Good luck with finding the parts you need and the build. Looking forward to following your progress Mick Edited May 13, 2018 by Cozza datmoo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatoKid Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 I like where this is headed.....RB25/30 with triple carbs was one of my early options datmoo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators PB260Z Posted May 13, 2018 Moderators Share Posted May 13, 2018 Hi Welcome to the forum. Don’t be worried about getting kicked out for going a non L series route, plenty of folk have done that before. The mix of RB and tripples is a little different, but that is a good thing. It is your car - build it your way. In regard to looking for “lots of ideas, advice, opinions and parts” you should get all of the above, especially opinions Cheers PB andyk_79 and datmoo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GongZ Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 You may be interested in this car if you haven't already seen it - http://www.speedhunters.com/2012/05/old-meets-new-rocky-autos-rb30-powered-fairlady-z/ datmoo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datmoo Posted May 13, 2018 Author Share Posted May 13, 2018 You may be interested in this car if you haven't already seen it - http://www.speedhunters.com/2012/05/old-meets-new-rocky-autos-rb30-powered-fairlady-z/ Yup, I'd seen that before. Super clean and that exhaust manifold! Found these triple Mikunis, just a lazy $5000+ : https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Triple-Nismo-Mikuni-44phh-intake-manifold-Datsun-240Z-260Z-280Z-L24-L28/282955500193?hash=item41e1764aa1:g:rKMAAOSwlMRa79Ky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datmoo Posted May 13, 2018 Author Share Posted May 13, 2018 Started stripping and cleaning her over the weekend. Hope the 1600 doesn't start feeling neglected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datmoo Posted May 13, 2018 Author Share Posted May 13, 2018 I did get a couple of extras thrown in. Vintage AC unit and spotties. Here's the bad pics. I'm glad I got my hands on it. This is some dodgy crap! A couple of interesting finds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators gav240z Posted May 13, 2018 Administrators Share Posted May 13, 2018 It's actually not a bad shell apart from the hack jobs on it. Solid rear 1/4 panels and rear valance section + roof and front doesn't look like it's had a hit. The bulk head where the gearbox goes is probably going to be the biggest issue if originality in that area is important. 260DET 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datmoo Posted May 17, 2018 Author Share Posted May 17, 2018 Removed the remaining sound deadening to get a good look at what I'm working with. Chucked on an old set of 15" steelies to see how they'd look. Also scored myself an RB30 block for $40. Now I just need the head, gearbox, carbies and everything else! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
260DET Posted May 17, 2018 Share Posted May 17, 2018 Hack jobs for sure, done with an axe too. But yeh, it otherwise looks like a sound project car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datmoo Posted May 22, 2018 Author Share Posted May 22, 2018 Starting to straighten out a few areas whilst I source parts. I'll be holding on to the stock brakes if I ever go back to original but I'll be putting on R31 rears which I had on my 1600 and also some S12W callipers I picked up for $60 (no idea why they are pink). gav240z 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatoKid Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Pink calipers FTW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datmoo Posted May 23, 2018 Author Share Posted May 23, 2018 Pink calipers FTW! Yep, I thought the same when I saw them. The Guy said his missus told him to do it. Under the thumb me thinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datmoo Posted May 23, 2018 Author Share Posted May 23, 2018 I don't have guards yet but at least I now have mounting holes. All four were snapped. Didn't take long to strip what was left on the shell. Not much to work with. Crossmember already had the mounts removed when I got it so I'm going to play around with some 510 mounts (because I had them). Should be able to find something in this lot. Probably going to run a 3.9 R200 LSD. Here's the setup in my 1600, 3.7 long nose R200, S15 helical centre, stub axles and inner cvs, Z31 turbo 5 stud axles, companion flanges and outer cvs with custom half shafts. Picking up some RB25DE stuff tomorrow (head, gearbox, pistons etc) and an RD28 sump so I'll be starting to fit all that up soon. I've also got a pair of hub spacers on the way to run Z31 rotors with the Hilux callipers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datmoo Posted May 24, 2018 Author Share Posted May 24, 2018 I've got the four valves per cylinder and two cams. Now for the three carbs.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datmoo Posted May 31, 2018 Author Share Posted May 31, 2018 I had a crane mounted engine stand that I have now modified and put castors on to free up a bit of room. Got the RB30 block on there to start having a play. RB25DE piston on the left vs RB30 piston. The brake and clutch puzzle coming together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datmoo Posted June 3, 2018 Author Share Posted June 3, 2018 So this shell project has gathered a bit of momentum: Also picked up an RD28 Patrol sump so I'll start test fitting for mounts etc. RB25, RB30, RD28: 260DET 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregTas Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 You've done well getting all the body parts. I went RB25. I got bare block and bolted it to an empty gearbox case and sat it in the engine bay and moved it around until I was happy with the position and then made the mounts to fit. A bit of work, but you can sit the engine exactly where you want it. datmoo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators gav240z Posted June 3, 2018 Administrators Share Posted June 3, 2018 Where the heck did you get all those parts from? Are they from the car originally? Given they are all red.. I have been looking for a solid bonnet for ages! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datmoo Posted June 3, 2018 Author Share Posted June 3, 2018 Where the heck did you get all those parts from? Are they from the car originally? Given they are all red.. I have been looking for a solid bonnet for ages! It was a bit like the shell, right place at the right time. I've had a few of those over the years with Datsun stuff. All these parts came from the one guy who had no connection to my shell but would be pretty cool if some of these parts were off mine. The bonnet and guards are just red primer but there are a few parts that came off a red car. gav240z 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datmoo Posted June 10, 2018 Author Share Posted June 10, 2018 Knocked up a bit of a movable shelf to get the Z parts a bit more organised and off the floor and moved one of my 1600 shells out for a bit more room. I think my daughter is liking the Z more than the 1600s. Going to make a couple of aluminium removable panels to cover the hacking. I'll be keeping the luggage strap mounting holes and drilling through the aluminium to attach the strap mounts. I might end up hiding 6x9s under the panels. I'll probably do nutserts with stainless button heads. GregTas, 260DET, RAP260 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators gav240z Posted June 10, 2018 Administrators Share Posted June 10, 2018 I'm digging the man cave. Always liked and wanted a 510 myself. I would dimple dye the rear floor area and weld it in myself. It's 1 of those early car defining features I like. Although I think the storage bins are a cool idea and good use of the space, something I see carried forward to later modern cars like my Rx7. But the dimple dyes look cool. datmoo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregTas Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 Great looking shed. datmoo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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