BRE Licensed Tribute 240z in NZ

[NZeder]

Well were to begin.

 

This is my mate Ricky's 240z. It is a low-ish build 1971 240z (under 1000). It was imported into NZ from Australia (not sure of the year but it was early in the 70's - I will find out if people are interested).

 

Before I moved to Aussie Ricky was into 300zxtt having owned a few and rebuild more than a few VG30 engine (some with big HP too). But when I returned to NZ in 2003 he had purchased a 240z (good man )

 

Still painted the factory 918 orange Ricky started to do some time trails with the car. This lead to a full cage getting installed around 2005.

 

Over the next few years some of the parts I purchased for my project car ended up on this race car and other parts that came off ended up in my collection - I am sure many on here know the story and that works out

 

First the suspension was done, Koni Yellows (adjustable for both compression and rebound), custom pillow ball tops adjustable for camber and caster, and the good old tricks around the bushes ie offset in places and old school TC mods of just a ball socket setup - all build using 260z sectioned and lower struts that are 55mm, this also replaced the 240z stub axles with 260z stub axles. Engine at this point was a stock F54/N42 combo (as fitted to the car when purchased) with twin SU's and a header. The SU's wereBRE  rebuild with Z Therapy jets (I think) for better performance. All mild stuff really.

 

As Ricky got faster and faster changes started to happen. Off with the drums and on with Modern-motorsport 240SX/300ZX(Z31) rear disc conversion (Rickly later replaced my brackets only for me to sell them on as I was going a different path....why who know I guess I wanted to spend more $$ on brakes WTF I will never learn). Then later off with the Toy 4x4 and 300zx rotors on the front.

 

I ordered us some JSK hats and got some US Brake F88i. So Ricky installed the F88i and the 12.2" rotors along with a 1" patrol MC all was good for a while (well after the upgrade to 16" rims as his 15" SSR Mesh would not clear the calipers and rotors on the front) until the rears were not up to the task.

 

Oops getting a head of my self. More power was required so with some more wheeling and dealing with other local zed guys some new engine bits were acquired. Having found out that the LD28 crank was not a LD28 but a L28 crank that had been lighted, balanced etc I was now the owner of this item and that is another story for another day. Anyway with a now correct LD28 in hand, a N42 block and N42 head the engine was built. This time the SU's were replaced with some 3 x Mikuni 44 PHH and a new header/exhaust system built.

 

Ok back to the brakes and suspension. Ok with speed comes more improvements to the brakes and suspension as new limits are found. More spring changes replacing the 12" progressive units with some 8" and keeper a more suitable setup was found. Front arms were then rose jointed. Rear brakes were replaced with Z32 300zx rotors and calipers and the Modern-motorsport brackets altered to mount the 300zx twin pot calipers (cut the S13/14 ears off and redrill for the 300zx twin pots worked perfectly. A hydraulic hand brake was also added at this time. U-J half shafts were replaced with 300zx Z31 Turbo CV Shafts with stock 260z flanges modified with a new mounting plate welded on them. After some binding issues appeared the long side axles had its shaft replaced with the short and a new custom shaft was made for the short side.

 

So many changes I just can't recall when they happened.

 

Anyway about 18months ago at the first race meeting for the season a Porsche driver decided even though there was no gap and he did not have the line hit Ricky and off into the armco he when damaging the front of the car. Then bouncing back off the armco a BMW hit the passengers door and rear quarter thus pushing the back end into the armco he just came from.

 

So now with a 240z with only the roof and drivers door the only items without damage the car was rebuilt. During this time of the road a number of other changes happened.

 

The rear of the car and the shell was fixed while new fibre glass panels were purchased including, guards, bonnet, hatch. The new front guards are not stock as they have moved the whole wheel arch further forward so more caster could be added. So new TC rods sourced (we purchased some of the TTT units but they would just not give the required caster changes - looking for more than +6 and at fully length they were not much more than standard sizing ) so Brain from zccjdm.com was contacted about the units he once made (and they are available again - I guess others asked also)

 

Other changes included, removal of the brake booster and a dual MC added. Rear arms were rose joined (well my original 260z arms were and these installed in place of the stock 240z arms).

 

While the car was getting repaired a few hours of research was done by both Ricky and I, many existing contact were used or new ones found - all adding to the "what was used in period?" armed with this and the local racing rule book a path for the car was looking likely. Ricky having been involved in a number of DR30/R31 back in the day at the Wellington street races and Bathurst decided that now his 240z is way beyond a road car that it should look the part. So contact was made with BRE in the US a few phone calls plus emails later negotiations complete - Ricky 240z was going to get his 240z painted in BRE colours and livery.

 

So here is the before pics and after pics. And I am pleased to say that the car has just completed it first race day at the new Hampton Downs race track here in NZ - new car new track and rain = slow was the name of the game way too many cars fulling of the track as drivers learn the new circuit.

 

Anyway here are pics number 46 was gone in the class Ricky races in so 48 was chosen as this was also a number used by BRE from time to time.

[NZeder]

More Pic - and before you ask - yes the rims will get replaced with more period looking items when $$ permit. The current rims were acquired as the others were damaged in the armco incident.

[NZeder]

More - also BRE did like and approve of the new front clip

[stevo_gj]

Awesome! 

 

That lip is massive! Does he plan to do anything else with the airbox on the carbys? Paint looks great.

[C.A.R.]

Awesome!

Is there a mould for that front bar?

[NZeder]

Awesome!

Is there a mould for that front bar?

Sure is, like wise the front guards with the built-in sugar scoops. There are a few versions.

 

1. Standard wheel

2. Standard wheel arch but the wheel well moved forward some 50mm (I think it is 50)

3. Small flare arch and wheel well moved forward the same distance.

 

He as a few other moulds too ie bonnet.

[gav240z]

Now that's something worth putting on the front page .

[PZG302]

Would love to replace my MKII front spoiler with that one......WHere do I sign up to get one sent to Brisvegas??

[sexual_sushi]

Looks like you've got a new spoiler to add to your thread Steve

 

Very cool, thanks for sharing Nzeder

[NZeder]

With regard to the front spoiler - it is made in 2 pieces the lower section is the bit in Red (with the white edge and BRE in the centre) and this can be removed ie for more clearance on a road car etc.

 

You will notice there is not place for the factory indicators/park lights. The head lights Ricky has installed have a park light built in so that is one covered. He is still waiting for some new curved LED indicators to arrive. These will be installed on the sugar scoops just behind the light covers. Once this is done the car will be off to pass the WOF and it will be road legal again

[stevo_gj]

Is he selling copies of this spoiler? If so PM me his details and I'll add it to the thread.

[zzzzed]

i like the style of the front spoiler, but i think it makes the car look unbalanced because  it is so low i think to rectify this it needs side skirts to bring the sides of the car down to the same level at the front

I realise this is a race car so it realy isnt relevant so just inore my opinion 

[PZG302]

Being a two piece makes it even better for me.... Run it complete at the track and take the bottom section off at hillclimbs where it can be a pain in the pits, just like Noosa where the front spoiler got hammered getting to the marshalling area as it was only about 10mm too low for the access road.

 

If a copy can be made and sent to Brisbane I would be very interested if the cost is reasonable, for my pocket up to double the cost of a MKII spoiler that I have now.

[acdc-5]

I also need one of those front bars

[NZeder]

Thought I would post some links to video's Ricky has recorded at the last few meetings.

 

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=240zricky&aq=f

 

Enjoy

Cheers

Mike

[bluerat]

Howdy Mike,

 

Is that the under 3 litre LD cranked motor you sometimes talk about?

 

Cheers,

 

Hodgo

[NZeder]

Howdy Mike,

 

Is that the under 3 litre LD cranked motor you sometimes talk about?

 

Cheers,

 

Hodgo

Yes it is