RHD 280ZX w/ AWD RB26 swap and more - Z-Fever

[z-fever]

I own Z-Fever and have been building Nissan cars for 23 years now (2011). I used to work on this car when the Original owner brought it back from Japan. I always told him I wanted to buy it. One day his wife sold it to some guy because he was going through a divorce. As luck would have it, the guy called me looking for an alternator. He couldn't find one and was fed up with it. He had only owned it for 2 weeks and hadn't even titled it yet. He kept asking the parts stores for an alternator for an 81 Fairlady Z. Of course, the genius' at the parts store couldn't look it up because the books don't use the name "Fairlady". He was all too happy to sell me the car for $500.
I stuck a 280ZX alternator in it and 1 hr after getting the car towed in, I was driving it home.

I promptly began working on a dream project of mine. Here is the build:




Here is the stock suspention:


We removed the struts:



Then I pulled a set of front spindles from an S13 240SX and pulled the 4-lug hubs off and replaced them with new 5-lug hubs:




Then I pulled off the stock steering knuckles and ball joints and installed new OEM ball joints:



Then I installed a set of Tein Basic coilovers for an S13 240SX:



I had to open up the top mounting area of the strut to make room for the coilover camber plates:



Then I installed a stock set of Z32 300ZX twin turbo 30mm calipers along with 13" Brembo rotors from an 03 350Z and some custom caliper adapter brackets that space the caliper out further. I also added some custom stainless steel braided brake lines. This is the result:




Now I started working on the rear brakes and suspension:
This is the stock brake caliper and driveshaft:




We removed the factory calipers, rotors, axles, and differential:







I also removed the factory 4-lug stub axles:

Then I removed the stock backing plate:


Then I acquired a set of 5-lug stub axles from one of my many parts cars (a 1987 Z31 300ZX):



You can see the difference between the stub axle spacer on the left from the Z32 and the one on the right from the S130 280ZX:




Then we worked on the brakes. I machined my own mounting brackets for the Z32 calipers and using Z32 x-drilled rotors and custom stainless braided brake lines:





Then I started on the rear suspension. I again chose the Tein S13 coilovers. The only real difference is the upper mount inside the chassis. The stock mount uses a 3 wide bolt pattern. Whereas the S13 uses a 2 bolt pattern. I simply used one bolt hole and drilled one bolt hole to mount the strut to the chassis:


The lower mount is the same:

Here is the finished product:



So this is where we are now. I have mounted a Skyline GTR differential by making custom mounts and axles. I will add pics of that tomorrow.
I also have my RB26 fully built already. I am making this car AWD as well as it already being RHD.

Here is a pic of my engine:




I hope you like the build. I will post more pics soon.
call us if you nee anything or have questions.
Doug
813-877-7600

[orangeNblue]

very nice!! That engine is gorgeous. I really like that you're going with an old school car to build. Don't really see a lot of build threads with a 280z, which is odd since I think that car, in my opinion looks awesome! Anyways look forward to seeing more

[evildky]

it's nice to see an S130 build thread, they tend to get passed over in favor of older or newer models

if you plan to make it awd then I'm guessing you intend to swap to r32 or similar front spindles then the break adapters would just have to come back off, just wondering why you didn't just swap the knuckle instead of modifying the old one only to replace it later

[z32pilot62]

if you plan to make it awd then I'm guessing you intend to swap to r32 or similar front spindles then the break adapters would just have to come back off, just wondering why you didn't just swap the knuckle instead of modifying the old one only to replace it later

Had the same thing goin through my head as i read through it as well. Looks good otherwise, keep it up

[z-fever]

pretty simple really! We didn't originally plan to go AWD. However, I already had the R32 front components as well as 5 or 6 AWD gearboxes layin around. It was an easy decision to make.
Also, I thought about deleting the front brake part of the build post but wanted to show people an easy brake upgrade for future reference.
When I get to the front swap I will add the necessary changes.

[sharjt]

I know I don't post much, but I lurk daily. So, for love of God, update PLEASE!!!!

This build is AWESOME!!!

[300ZXttZMAN]

I know I don't post much, but I lurk daily. So, for love of God, update PLEASE!!!!

This build is AWESOME!!!

[Paultnguyen]

I own Z-Fever and have been building Nissan cars for 23 years now (2011). I used to work on this car when the Original owner brought it back from Japan. I always told him I wanted to buy it. One day his wife sold it to some guy because he was going through a divorce. As luck would have it, the guy called me looking for an alternator. He couldn't find one and was fed up with it. He had only owned it for 2 weeks and hadn't even titled it yet. He kept asking the parts stores for an alternator for an 81 Fairlady Z. Of course, the genius' at the parts store couldn't look it up because the books don't use the name "Fairlady". He was all too happy to sell me the car for $500.
I stuck a 280ZX alternator in it and 1 hr after getting the car towed in, I was driving it home.

I promptly began working on a dream project of mine. Here is the build:




Here is the stock suspention:


We removed the struts:



Then I pulled a set of front spindles from an S13 240SX and pulled the 4-lug hubs off and replaced them with new 5-lug hubs:




Then I pulled off the stock steering knuckles and ball joints and installed new OEM ball joints:



Then I installed a set of Tein Basic coilovers for an S13 240SX:



I had to open up the top mounting area of the strut to make room for the coilover camber plates:



Then I installed a stock set of Z32 300ZX twin turbo 30mm calipers along with 13" Brembo rotors from an 03 350Z and some custom caliper adapter brackets that space the caliper out further. I also added some custom stainless steel braided brake lines. This is the result:




Now I started working on the rear brakes and suspension:
This is the stock brake caliper and driveshaft:




We removed the factory calipers, rotors, axles, and differential:







I also removed the factory 4-lug stub axles:

Then I removed the stock backing plate:


Then I acquired a set of 5-lug stub axles from one of my many parts cars (a 1987 Z31 300ZX):



You can see the difference between the stub axle spacer on the left from the Z32 and the one on the right from the S130 280ZX:




Then we worked on the brakes. I machined my own mounting brackets for the Z32 calipers and using Z32 x-drilled rotors and custom stainless braided brake lines:





Then I started on the rear suspension. I again chose the Tein S13 coilovers. The only real difference is the upper mount inside the chassis. The stock mount uses a 3 wide bolt pattern. Whereas the S13 uses a 2 bolt pattern. I simply used one bolt hole and drilled one bolt hole to mount the strut to the chassis:


The lower mount is the same:

Here is the finished product:



So this is where we are now. I have mounted a Skyline GTR differential by making custom mounts and axles. I will add pics of that tomorrow.
I also have my RB26 fully built already. I am making this car AWD as well as it already being RHD.

Here is a pic of my engine:




I hope you like the build. I will post more pics soon.
call us if you nee anything or have questions.
Doug
813-877-7600