Flag this garage as inappropriateDatsun 240Z "BlueOvalZ"
Ford 289 which is very soon being replaced with a 383 (Not the Chevy, but the Ford 351W stroker version). Home-made headers, AFR 205 heads, and the typical go-fast internals. The engine is solidly mounted (along with transmission) into the chassis making is part of the chassis which greatly increased the chassis rigidity.
Transmission is a WC T-5 pulling to a Datsun R200 differential using Porsche 930 CV jointed half-shafts. Currently, at the rear wheels, the 289 dynos at 299 HP, and 260 lb/ft at 7200 RPM. It has a lot of RPM potential, but now I'm looking for more torque, and hence the reason for installing the 383. Hopefully, it will reach my design of mid 500 HP and torque fiqures at around 6500 RPM. The new heads, and almost 1" more stroke should get me close.
Chassis:
The chassis is still basic Datsun equipment. The front crossmember has been moved forward 1.25" to increase the caster for an improved camber curve. This meant that the T/C rod had to be increased in length as well. The inner bushings have been replaced with spherical rod ends on the front, with fabrication just completed for replacing all eight bushing on the rear suspension with 3/4" spherical bearings. The rear uprights and mustache bar have been replaced with a single 1/4" aluminum plate that mounts the differential, suspension, and swaybar all on one piece. The rear bushings are held independently onto this plate, separated by a turnbuckle, to allow toe adjustment of the rear wheels. Spring rate is 225 F/260 R using coilover set-up and Koni shocks.
Wheels & Tires:
17 X 11 Billet Specialties wheels with 315/35R17 tires an all four corners (DOT set-up).
Body:
Body is a home-made fiberglass creation painted in a GM Tahoe blue w/ Wimbleton white stripes
Interior:
Fabricated out of fiberglass from a once fully gutted race interior.
1971 Datsun 240Z that became a divorce recovery project. After dropping the SBF engine into the car, I found that the high...
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Custom instrument pods
Fiberglass pods were fabricated for each gauge. The pods were created by laying up glass over PVC pipe, removing it, and then bonding plates at both ends of the cylinder. The cylinder was shaped so that the top had an extended lip to shade from windshield sunlight. The the cylinder was bonded onto a saddle that straddles the lower windshield crossbar of the cage.
Custom instrument pods
A cylinder was fabricated for each gauge, and each gauge was mounted so that it pointed toward the drivers head, thus each gauge was mounted at a different angle on the cage tube.
Custom instrument pod cover
After the cylinders (pods) were finished, I fabricated a cover for the pods that that they had the appearance of a single dash assembly.
Speedo and Tach
The center of the dash would house the speedometer and tachometer. Basically the same method was used to create the faceplate for these two gauges.
Pod cover
The pod cover was sprayed with truck bed liner. I experimented with the spray distance to achieve the desired texture (close made the coating wet and smooth, distant made the coating rough and dry).
Dash parts
A facia was needed for the area under the pods, and a surface to mount the speedo/tach faceplate (left long piece in the photo).
Dash parts
The console part were needed as well and this photo shows the center of the dash in front of the shifter. A push-button starter, fan, fuel pump, and ignition switch were added onto the front of this panel.
