260DET

The last step before she comes home I hope. Z is now with a car software bloke who will tune the transmission controller to facilitate shifts that suit all circumstances although the final tweaking will be done by moi using a laptop out at Morgan Park. Which should be fun Such tuning will include full throttle upshifts hehe. This tuning business can get really complicated eg bloke says on full throttle upshifts he will get the transmission controller to talk with the Haltech ECU to tell it to momentarily retard ignition timing during the shift to avoid any engine detonation at that time. Z was loaded onto the trailer under it's own power, loading with an auto is certainly more civilised than with a jumpy clutch so that's a plus already. V8 sounds brilliant, this thing is going to scare the c**p out me, looking forward to that

It's not going to be anything too serious, I'd just like to experience some door to door racing while the brain is still working OK. The aim would be something weighing about 1100kg with 500+hp at the flywheel and a sequentially shifted four speed auto, that will not break any records but should be a lot of fun to drive. Could such a car be log booked for more than one class if eligible? Eg 2A and 3D. I understand your thinking Matt for what you are doing, sounds like you will end up with quite a competitive machine. That 280Z of yours Jason was a good buy for sure but there are bugger all cars like that around for sale at what I think is a reasonable price. With what I propose $20k will get something basic, spend more for big brakes, fully adjustable suspension, race wheels..................

My present thoughts are to leave the 280ZX as is for sprints and build another car for racing. Now have a big shed and am getting a hoist so decent facilities for a build are finally available, besides I just like making stuff and spending money

Yeh I read that Dave, to me what is not clear is if the engine has to belong to the car originally . Your bold bit seems to imply that but there are no words something like 'the engine must be of the same type as originally fitted to the car'. Jason, I don't take the easy, sensible way

Choices seem to between 2B Marque Sports Cars and 3D Sports Sedans, the 2WD floorpan variant. 2B - It seems to be accepted that the original spec engine is required although I could not see anything in the rules that said that. There is mention of what can be done to an engine which is sort of worded as if an original spec engine was being talked about but that's it. 3D - What sort of mudguard reshaping is allowed is confusing, they talk about 'flares' which brings to mind the usual bolt on extension which follows the wheel well opening. But then there is other wording which indicates that the original shape should be followed which makes more sense to me but that doesn't make it right. Then there is para 4.3 which covers the transmission. Automatics are not specifically banned but there are various rules about the type of shifting mechanism allowed and so on which may possibly apply to using a sequentially shifted auto. Once again the rule seems to be directed at manual transmissions without specifically saying so. If anyone wants to comment, yes I know about the 'if it's not specifically allowed then it's banned' rule but the problem is to interpret what is exactly allowed when something is specifically subject to a rule.

http://www.morganparkraceway.com.au/clients.htm This should be brilliant, was going to enter if the Z was available but am going overseas on the 19th so best just spectate. That's if there is going to be some Z action

Nice work Gordo, you look too relaxed though

Into the 60's for Richard Jnr, nice work

,79 is the best year, no targa tops.

Get it cleaned and rustproofed before storing? Being from the UK it could have rust/salt hidden away.

9 September, a group of Z cars will be doing some laps, so make it a family day (free admission) or maybe chat with a view of doing some motorsport yourself? Someone may like to put some pics up in due course, times will be available on Natsoft.

G nose will look great once it's painted, in my experience the size of the air intake will be plenty big enough because the real problem is getting the air out not in. To check this just unlatch the bonnet and find a safe place to drive the car because engine bay air pressure will push the back of the bonnet up at quite low speeds.The solution I found was to deobstruct the stock turbo bonnet vents.

Suppose that they have to go where the sales are but naming it a Z is a bit much, surely that name could be kept for Nissan's next sports car, whenever that will be.

The intent of the rules is confusing because on the one hand certain changes are specifically prohibited while on the other there is the catch all you mention. The general specs of each car are also set out so obviously they have to be adhered to. All the possible changes I've mentioned would be legal IMHO if they are done a certain way eg more caster by bending the struts, droop limitation by adjusting the strut internals but installing a dedicated external droop limiter would be illegal. So it's not so much as what is done but how it's done. Morgan Park is not that far away from you is it, there is racing there this weekend. I can hear them now

Getting too technical am I Droop limiters would be on my 'to check out' list too.

Great story and thanks for telling. If you wouldn't mind, what is the name of the old bloke and son?

Camber is specifically limited but caster isn't, it's not necessary to cheat when the rules allow certain mods by default. Weld the back of the front axle/strut together, spacers between the front wheel bearings and so on.

C'mon Jason, it won't be a "bog stock plain old Zed" at all, there are plenty of mods allowed by the Sc rules which I assume Mike will take full advantage of.

Man, with that colour you are already half way there, nice The thing I learnt when building a car on the run was to either go with you have or else buy the best. Getting second best was a waste of money because eventually it would be replaced by the best.

Dave Gainer has a set of these Enkei Compe wheels http://enkei.com/product-category/wheels/classic/on his Peking adventure Z, look really period plus they are a nice open design which should help brake cooling. You need to open a build thread on your Sc Mike.

'Stan Adler's $50,000 Porsche engine', there is an example of why Sc may not be very popular, who wan't to build a specialised race car simply to be Porsche fodder? Hi Mike

Nice work Mike, half a second behind Stan Adler, no wonder he wanted to make sure that you had no tyre advantage

Like your posts, can look at them and read the paper as well. That's value

Maybe more caster still? Ever considered running mediums on the fronts and softs on the rears Gordo? Mine wears the smaller fronts more so that's what I'm thinking of doing.

Something like a SR20 will give you a better than stock weight balance and help you reach your overall weight target too. I used to have a FJ20ET engined 260 which was about 50/50 but the FJ is a bit heavy and parts are getting hard to find so the SR would be my choice, to suit your criteria.