1973 240Z Build Thread RB25DET

A forum for owners of S30 and S130 Datsun Z's... 240Z, 260Z, 280Z and 280ZX!
BeastZ32
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2013 1:29 am
Car: 1990 Nissan 300zx NA
1973 Datsun 240Z

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So last Thursday, I was visiting the local scrap yards in my Z32. I've always wanted an S30, but I need another Z like I need another hole in the head. Especially since I started college last fall. However, I couldn't believe it when I saw this. It's literally Wangan Midnight all over again.

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This 240Z had just come in and I quickly struck a deal with the owner. . Why it was here, I honestly have no idea, nor do I care. I think life threw me a bone on this one. It had a rough 350 sbc in it when I found it, but the yard owner agreed he'd knock some off the price if he removed it. He removed it yesterday and delivered it this morning. It's a 1973 240Z and I believe the original color was red; however, there's hardly anything that is original left. I'll let the pictures do most of the explaining.

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I couldn't believe it when I saw the G-nose poking out from behind the stack of cars. Granted, this one's going to need some work, but it's still my favorite part about the car. I'll be ordering the glass headlight covers for it shortly. For the most part, the car is rust free. The frame rails, battery tray, floor pans and the majority of the body looks to be in phenomenal condition. Unfortunately, they shaved the door handles (D'oh). They shaved the filler door and relocated it behind the license plate which is pretty cool. The hood is also fiberglass and definitely needs hinges. The paint is a poop brown charcoal metallic and doesn't suit the car at all. It'll be getting a fresh coat of Safari Gold or Jet Black; I haven't decided just yet. It'll also be getting flares, an IMSA spoiler, the jdm air dam for the G-nose and fender mounted mirrors. The car below is my inspiration. The real tricky part is going to be finding the Panasport G7-C8s....

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As for the interior, it's a madhouse. Someone has added Dyna-mat throughout the entire car. It's been reupholstered, but some of it's going to have to be redone. It's also going to be getting a cage. It has a nice dash cap on the dash board and Dakota digital gauges. They made this custom center console which is well done, but in my opinion hideous. There's all kinds of switches, led's and toggles throughout the cabin and i'm getting a headache just thinking about it all. The hatch is powered by an electric motor on each side and the battery is mounted in the trunk as well.... I've got a line on a parts car, and from the looks of it, I'm going to need it.

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The suspension and brakes are all aftermarket. Up front, it has the popular Toyota S12+8 vented calipers with the 84-85 Z31 discs?. In the rear, it has 240sx calipers. It's got orange aftermarket springs on the struts.I believe it also has ST. sway bars.

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The engine bay is nice and spacious! Spacious enough for a VG30DETT? Oh yeah! I've got a VG30DETT on a stand that I was building for the Z32, but the plans have changed. The trans tunnel has been modified and I believe the turbo's should clear the steering linkage. Its got Z1 GT525 turbo's, Nismo 740 w/300* rails, AMS manifolds, Selin dual pop, 2.5" piping etc etc... I should be looking at close to 450-500rwhp on 93oct when it's all said and done (which should be plenty). I'm going to mock the motor up in the car this week so I can begin work on the mounts

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Luckily, to help put that power down I found this. Looks like an 87-89 Z31T R200 to me!

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Overall, I think i've got an excellent start at building a helluva 240. I've got a lot of research to do and have much to learn. Should be nice to change it up some from the Z32 monotony. I'm going to keep a thread here and HybridZ and update them as I go along.
Last edited by BeastZ32 on Wed Sep 11, 2013 11:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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evildky
Posts: 14713
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2004 9:23 pm
Car: 71 240ZT, 87 300ZXN/A-T, 06 350Z GT, Tundra TRD RW
Location: Louisville, KY
Contact:

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You bought a used G nose and they gave you the car for free. Congrats on the deal, good chassis are getting harder to come by. I'm no fan of the vg30dett but it fits in the s30 bay batter than it does in the z32. The mounts are very close. The angle is t quite right but if you slot the holes in the crossmember it fits, I never tested the shaft but iirc it should fit. Keep us posted.

BeastZ32
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2013 1:29 am
Car: 1990 Nissan 300zx NA
1973 Datsun 240Z

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Change of plans. Picked this bad boy up today for literally nothing as well. So if you could change the thread title to Rb25det, that'd be great. Thanks Evil.

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CollinBoz
Posts: 38
Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2013 2:41 pm
Car: 1973 240z 4speed
1996 300zx Comm Ed (220/300)
2012 370z Nismo

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Its Collin from Zdayz, just found your build thread and this car is much better looking than I would have thought from hearing it. I will still gladly take that RB off your hands if you decide to go another route! :dblthumb:

BeastZ32
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2013 1:29 am
Car: 1990 Nissan 300zx NA
1973 Datsun 240Z

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:wavey:

I had the Z31 towed back home and what a nightmare that turned out to be. All is good now, however. It came with a bunch of new goodies like a Koyo radiator, FMIC, JGY Chromoly flywheel, Competition Stage 4 clutch, OBX exhaust manifold and a brand new steel driveshaft to mate the Rb trans to the Z31 rear end.

I got the motor pulled from its shell today and now it's in the garage :dblthumb: I'm going to strip the bay down and begin prepping it for the motor when I get back next week from vacation.

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gmac708
Posts: 1913
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:59 pm
Car: :o)
1970 240Z
1972 510

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Wow
This is going to fun to watch
Gord

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glacier985
Posts: 390
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 4:30 pm
Car: 72 240z
90 240sx
11 WRX Wagon
16 Rogue
Location: Central Ohio

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$650!!! What a deal, that price makes me feel like I paid about 3k to much for my z.

BeastZ32
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2013 1:29 am
Car: 1990 Nissan 300zx NA
1973 Datsun 240Z

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gmac708 wrote:Wow
This is going to fun to watch
Gord
I finally got to see your car at Zdayz this year. It's absolutely stunning man, great job. I was hoping to catch you and talk about it some, but I was only there on Saturday. Maybe next year :dblthumb:

Not a lot of progress going on. I'm trying to finish my TT Z32 build, so its taken priority.

diyautoftw
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2015 2:47 pm

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That is one of the most beautiful Z I've seen!!! Love the fender flares!! Great job!

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AZhitman
Administrator
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Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:04 am
Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 S13, 92 SE-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
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diyautoftw wrote:That is one of the most beautiful Z I've seen!!! Love the fender flares!! Great job!
It doesn't have flares, Slick.

Take your spam elsewhere. :slap:


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