280ZXT as a Targa car?

[260DET]

Seeing that there is supposed to be a new class for 80's model cars coming, I was thinking that a tin top 2+2 may be a reasonable weapon. Not for me unfortunately but perhaps someone? Anyway, I think that the L28 turbo would produce more power than the Z31's VG30ET but am not sure about relaibility. Is the L28 capable of say 400whp with a nice power spread?

 

S130 would be a bit lighter than the Z31. Not sure how the long wheel base chassis would perform, stability should be good though and properly worked suspension would work well, just ask BMW. There are no cheap competitive targa cars but $50-60K all up, depending on the engine? Be nice to see some variety with a serious contender other than the S30

[luvemfast]

What are the new class rules for 80's cars?

Crushed velour interior only class? Lol

Would have been interesting with Peters old L28T in my car 

[peter mc]

A 3.2 L turbo  will make 400hp at 10psi p90 head ported gt40 turbo 20psi and it will make 600 engine  no problem on pump fue,but  it wont come cheep

[dat2kman]

S130 2 seater, L28 T, with the allowed mods dependant on which class, and dependant on which event organiser is running and the rules they adopt, would be a better option, power to weight, than an S30, simply due to better power, but downside is extra weight.

 

Looking at the mods allowed, and what can be removed etc.

 

A Group Sc S30 Z in tarmac rally is permitted the brake upgrades, it would be classed as Standard/unmodified.

 

It would be up against those delightful German cars that MUST show superiority though!

[260DET]

Yeh a bit more weight compared with the S30 but that is a pretty common trend from the 60's on with all cars, stiffer chassis than the S30 helps balance that. Not sure if the two seater would be more suitable, shorter wheelbase would be better on the slower corners I guess.

 

Engine would have to stay at 2.8 Peter.

[Scando]

What year was the 280ZXT first built?  You can do a lot more if it was built in 1981 or before from memory and it would fit in as a classic car.  2 seater would definitely be the way to go to keep the weight down and you can do a lot of other things such as fibreglass panels if it is 1981 or before.  Stroking is fine, turbo intercooler, etc are open.

 

Computer is the hard part, the engine management must be of the period.  There are ways around this though.  I'm sure Jason knows some tricks 

[DatPilot]

The L28et factory turbo ECU is a 8bit ROM version of the ECCS.

 

You can get a R31(RB30e) ECU or even better a Z32 or VG powered Navara ECU and load the L28et data onto that. (Nisstune)

Then tweak to suit (the Z32 ECU can use the higher resolution hot-wire AFM)

I had a play about in the garage a few years back, got my L24e running on an RB30 ECU, distributor trickery is needed though (custom shaft adaptor)

Also played with a RB30e and tur'bro'd it with ebay tawainese stuff for fun. Held 210kW at the rear wheels for 3 years, blew about as many gearboxes too! (torque was insane, breaking traction in 3rd in a straight line in the dry....)

[PZG302]

The only way to know for sure which particular model would suit is to geta copy of the rules and go through them with a fine tooth comb wearing your Frank gardner Terry Towelling hat.

 

In terms of chassis stiffness between the older and newer chassis, seam welding and some discreet bracing that complies with the rules sorts that out. Just make sure you read them properly so you don't get caught out building a tower to tower through the firewall cage and then when you turn up at scrutineering be told that the cage doesn't comply to the eligibility rules for the class.

 

Depending on whatthe eligibility criteria are for the targa categories a 280ZXT may not even be eligible to run due to not being sold here, or may have to be built from a US shell and be LHD.

[d3c0y]

You can import a 2 seater 280ZX pretty easily from Japan then you would still be RHD.

[260DET]

Turbo version available in the US in 1981, don't know if a Targa car would have to be LHD, Jason's US 280Z replica is RHD. Compared with other 80's model cars weight should not really be a particular problem, the body and rear suspension would be a bit heavier compared with the S30 but that is about it. Brakes may be a concern, particularly on the front. Wheels?

 

So, is anyone going to seriously look at it? C'mon, turbo power for the win

[dat2kman]

From the little i know, brakes are free, but there are limitations on rim sizing.

There could be some form of intake restrictor, not sure, there used to be.

As far as LHD v RHD i have the apprpriate documentation, letters and approvals to allow the use of a  car from a LHD country to be "converted" to RHD. All issued by CAMS.

Ie, you do not bother, you just start with a RHD 2 seater shell!

 

They were sold in japanese market, the turbo variant was an "upgrade" there were sufficient produced to meet homologation purposes. Model run on rules can apply

For tarmac events you do not need to have international FIA Homologation documents.

 

When we built up the dirt rally 260Z in mid 80's (championship winning car!) we had to produce the FIA papers, and as the car was PRC class, it had to comply, but were not allowed the "Group 4" option mods.

 

Other anomaly, i and others have found, some tarmac events tend to be not so strict on elegibility, ie Targa High Country in first years of running, compared to Targa Tas, very strict!

It seem a bit vague.

Pzg the issue of through front firewall tower mount cage is easy to overcome, ie inside cabin the cage finishes with bolt on flanges at firewall, in engine bay, continue with bolt on flanges mated to firewall, then continue to strut towers, then onto front end chassis rails, with triangulation were finite analysis dictates, allowing for bits of engine, of course!M

Btw the zx came with rack and pinion, non power assist, so that  helps reduce complexity and weights and power drain!

[bluerat]

Good move DET, You could buid a weapon. Dont worry about the computer.....they dont look in the glovebox, get my hint and if the engine stops running when you disconect the original computer all is sweet! That is all they check, but I wouldn't hook up the traction control etc. Like I've said before if your not in the top 5 they don't really care, a Tasmanian MGB ran a supercharger this year...no one looked sideways at it! OK OK it was a MGB Who would looks sideways at it, LOL.

 

Most events are CAMS now, so one set of rules. You can go 17% over in engine size, rim size is 2+2 inches, brakes are free. If you run it as S3, fibreglass panels and Perspex windows are allowed, and I think turbo's are free.

 

I'm not sure about intercooling..this might be the hick-up in your plan. But in reality, a genuine 300 flywheel HP would be very competitive as you only have 8 inches if rear rubber, a flexable, punchy and strong engine is the key with complient suspension, ie soak's up the small bumps and does'nt throw you off line.

 

Is the cage logbooked in your car? pull the ironing board off the back of it, pop in a real motor and your ready to rock'n'roll. PM me for pacenotes...simple.

 

Hodgo

 

 

[peter mc]

Heehehe one of our stroker 350hp motors would be lods of fun  17% over is 3.2 something so it would be 88mm bore and 88 bore and would still make 350hp with lodes of torque 

[260DET]

Me do it? I wish

[dat2kman]

What about when???, the CAMS Historic Commission, approve the introduction of sports cars from year 1976 to say 1984, Group Sd

Same thing with Historic Touring cars, Group Nd, from 1973 to say 1980

 

We better start stockpiling ZX's !!!

[260DET]

So, noone with some play money interested, preferably someone who is a Racing Car Driver

[dat2kman]

Listen RG,,,,, if Goeff Godwin can do it,,,,,,,!

 

I think your chassis is a bit too modded to revert back to a standard category.

In the good 'ole Yooessay, they ran them in IMSA in Prod Stock, as well as Modded,

The modded were just over the top, but in Prod form, in class, they did quite well, mind you the Hunmobiles were also in Prod form, not like the fat wheel boys here?

 

What gets me, in Targa rules, Kevin Weeks et al, can shoehorn 993 model running gear into a 1976 model bodyshell, and it is called Classic ( modified) but so is Jon Siddens and Matt Cardinale's cars, this really equates to us fitting r32 GTR full mechanicals, sans front wheel drive, into our shells, oh, but wait, you cant do that.

 

Dave Robbo has a 2 seater, he was umming and aahing about it. But he has too many things on the go, and, a bit like me, the day to day workload just gets in the way!

 

If i could offload one or two items, i'd think about it, besides my blue 280 with tarmac brake freedoms, would be pretty good to go, and it is bog stock unmodded!

[d3c0y]

Well just do it then Jason, i'm sure you have more than one set of fancy brakes lying around that shed of yours. No more excuses! 

[dat2kman]

Well just do it then Jason, i'm sure you have more than one set of fancy brakes lying around that shed of yours. No more excuses! 

Ah, too many toys, but loosing my capabilities , is an issue!

I have this dinky little 120Y that could possibly be taking a trip to Bega, early June, for the combined 2012 round of the NSW/Vic/ACT Rally Championship, but first i am doing the Historic race meet at Warwick in a couple of weeks.

 

See, too much to do already, without throwing in the potential of running the Australian Targa Champs.

Still need to come up with a brake package, a Terratrip, and some nylon skid plating for the underside, or,  ,,,,,,,

just fit much stiffer springs to the Y, ,it is rally ready!