Project: SteeZee - 1973 Datsun 240Z LQ9 V8 Build

Hey guys, already had a build thread for this, changed many things so I thought I’d make a new one w/ everything from the old thread all cleaned up.

My entire direction for this build changed within 3 days. Friday night an idea came upon me, and I researched. Saturday night I went and took a look at a disassembled car and put a deposit down. Sunday night, much thanks to a few guys helping me out huge (David, Ben and John), I picked up said disassembled car and brought it to my shop. I picked up an entire 1973 240Z, in parts, for a extremely good price.







Don’t mind the surface rust on the frame rail - they’re 100x more solid than any S13 rail I’ve seen lol.

Looks half decent with some Blitz Type 03’s…



Spent some money on these that probably shouldve been spent on the Datsun lol. Oh well. Green XJ daily - then S13 daily - now red WJ daily - need new pics with lift and other mods.

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff286/Aaj2k5/5300_239402820051_509695051_8419700_4328523_n.jpg


Due to various reasons, left my shop in Tavistock (~2000 sqft) and crammed everything into my garage (~200 sq ft) FML. Space is a little tight. Working @ Rona part time has its benefits i.e. 1.25" thick melamine workbench for ~$5. I’ll miss the shop mascot though.




Figured it was time for a legit rotisserie -

Stripped all paint off the car, as well as up to 3/8" thick of bondo off the roof and rear quarters even though the metal on the roof was perfect, and it looked as though they tried to reshape the contours of the rear for no particular reason. Used stripper, sandblaster as well as blowtorch and scraper. Primered it, and will get little spot touch ups when time comes for paint.



I’m set for fuel and efan.


5 bolt had to be removed from R34 GTR knuckle so I can use the Z32 big spline 5 lug. It appears as though the GTR knuckle is an aluminum version of the S14 which would eliminate the issue of coilovers for you guys that upgrade to Z32 uprights and need to switch bottom mounts.

Step 1: 3 Jackstands and a BFH.

Step 2: Booya.

Z32 Big Spline 5 Lug, S14 Front spindles, FLCA. Bushing on the FLCA had to be ground down 1/16" to fit the S30 Subframe…



A little bit of the dirty work. The name of the paint stripper is true… As are the warning symbols :expressionless: Second pic shows one coat of stripper left on for 10 minutes which was wiped off and then a coat of easy off to degrease. Works wonders.


Started to measure & design my build in Solidworks. Have the 5 lug, Q45 output shafts, Brake rotors, as well as starting on engine.


Picked up a new cowl piece - thx JP.

Did up the floors which fit perfect as I am lifting the floors 1 3/4" to 2", as they sit below the rockers, and would scrape like nobody’s business. I need to fab up my own GTR subframe mount and will probably make my own floor rails as the ZEDD findings ones are just bent 18ga sheet. After major components are fabbed up, I will take the car on rotisserie to nearest Line-X and spray the entire bottom - stiffens the hell out of it, sound deadens, as well as the obvious rust proofing bonus…

My new friend.

After grinding:

After primer;

Cleaned up and painted the Z32 5 lug and BNR34 knuckles.

Beforish:

After a couple hours:

Started cutting off all those annoying clip things.

Also, subframe is sandblasted just needs to get picked up and slapped on, so I can start on S13 coilover conversion on S14 arms…

My wallet hates me.

A buddy hooked me up with a E36 M3 Dash, centre console, glovebox, trim etc… Will need a tiny bit of trimming obviously, but is almost the same curve and width as S30. E46 M3 Cluster looks alot nicer, so i’ll probably end up going for it.

Started hacking the E36 dash with a dremel + sawblade.

Soo the only reason I was using the M3 E36 dash was because a stock one cost a fortune in good shape. Until I met a guy who lives a few streets over from me and he hooked me up.

'72 240Z Dash - professionally restored
Heater center vent
Centre Console
BNIB dash side vents
Glove box
Dash to windshield trim
Tail light finisher pieces

Enough speak, more pics.



Also started fitting the S14 suspension

And fabbed up some arms to hold the front on rotisserie.

Soo I got an email from the guy that I bought my dash from about a hood for sale out in Brantford. I headed out there after work and met Chris and Rob - couple of bro’s that have a pair of Datsun Z cars - one of them RB swapped. Cool dudes - sold me this hood for $50 :open_mouth:

Then I got to work on the front half of the rotisserie - s’all done. The rear half will be done up on Tuesday.

Soo Tim is pretty good at photochop and made this for me.

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/6003/wats071.jpg

I’m a fan. This will happen + spoiler + black window trim - headlight covers.

Joe came over last night and we talked about expensive things…

  1. 4-6 point cage, X bar tied into the rear R34 Subframe mount, 2 to strut towers, harness bars across. Tucked to cnt-hairs width from the roof and sides.
  2. R34 rear subframe mount.
  3. Fender brace that runs along the dogleg and around tucked to upper rad support and back around the other side (Beginnings of a tube front end).

PIG ROAST!!

Finally got off my ass and finished the rotisserie.

Rear welds are fairly solid.

Need to bolt the arms to the T-bar before I try spinning it lol.

Bolted er up.

Spun er right round.

Primered er up.

Including my freshly blasted subframe…

Most productive hour of my day :smiley:

Had a few hours to work on the Z (I need a good name for her)…

Started with one of these…

Drilled a crapload of holes…


Cleaned the bish.


Primed a bit


Also, bought one of these to complete my modernized suspension - JDM S14 swaybar 27mm w/ JDM S14 TC brackets. Also doubles as a rad mount and I can now order S14 sizes with install ease… Not bad for $45 lol.

Might work on er again tonight and see how far I gets :smiley:

Sorry for the delay boys…

My co-op term ended so I took the gf to Santa Maria, Cuba to celebrate. Things got silly and we had drinking team tshirts made up for the group lol.

http://www.allbestbeaches.com/images/CayoSantaMaria.jpg

Did a bit more cleaning up on the underside the day I got back.


Started on the passenger side.


Made plans to have some guys come over and get both floors done on Monday night. Monday morning on the way to work going about 80 clicks down a street, this happened. I had to countersteer and the jeep was on about a 20 degree angle while going straight down the road. Scary shit.


Insurance doesn’t cover mechanical failures. Ghey. Tuesday morning picked this up from my buddy JP for a good deal - should be a fairly sick daily.


2002 Sentra SE-R Spec V
6 speed, LSD, bunch of new shit.
Ksport Kontrol pro coilovers. Height and preload adjustable, and 32 way dampening adjustable, with camber plates with pillow ball mounts.
Jim Wolf balance shaft removal kit
Stillen Intake
XS-Power header
BC cams
Rota slipstream wheels, with 225/45/16 kdws on the back (90% tread) and 215/45/16 rt 615’s on the front
Nismo lower tie bar
Kenwood deck with Ipod
OEM nissan roof racks with back rack, and snowboard attachments
Magnaflow catback exhaust
Vibrant flat black muffler

Exams are almost done so I got antsy… ZEDD Findings Floorpans took soo much work to fit, I was mildly ticked.

Mocked up Sentra front coilover, S14 arm + spindle - Time to order some HSD S13 coilovers and make some camber plates.

Cleaned up drivers side front well tonight - 3 more nights of working like this and the car will be entirely primed :smiley:

Got to cuttin and cleanin last night, got some fittin and weldin tonight.

Car is going to Adam’s place Thursday night to start work on the frame rails, R34 subframe mount, camber plates and possibly a cage, so I got the entire car primed. Floors are only tacked in as they are coming back out to weld in the rear subframe mounts.

Woohoo - best update so far :smiley: She’s in Barrie for the next while getting shit done.

Been super excited to get the Z back from Adam so I thought I’d try my hand at Photochop.

Never used any sort of image editing software and this was done on free Paint.net program so it’s by no means good but it’s a decent idea what I’m going for…

Also, how the car was in October for comparison…

Food for thought…

Thanks to my buddy Matt for laser-cutting these at work :smiley:

Build drastically changed direction HERE. I have been planning a KA24DET swap for couple years now, almost ready to start purchasing everything and my buddy Matt drops a bomb on me and gives me a LM7 (5.3L GM V8 ). Start getting ideas about building a boosted 5.3, got in a horny and bought a LQ9 (High Output 6.0L GM V8 ) from a local guy.

I’ve had my share of fun in turbo 4 bangers, but never dipped into the pushrods. Researched extensively and decided I had to pull the plug on the KA and go for it. Cost / power, reliability, torque curve, sound was way too hard to turn down. Also, the LQ9 setup NA form WILL be lighter than a full KA-T setup.

Went for the iron block LQ9 instead of LS2 for future boosting options, upfront cost and for rebuild safety mesh (unlike sleeved LS alum blocks, & only weighs 76 lbs more).

New Plan for motorset:

  • GM LQ9 V8 (stock ~345hp, 380tq)
  • LS2 Intake Manifold
  • LS2 Cam (Very possible upgrade to Texas Speed 233/239)
  • LS2 Valvesprings
  • LS6 Oil Pump
  • LS2 timing chain
  • LS7 Lifters
  • Meziere Electric WP
  • Full gasket / bearing / ring rebuild
  • GTO Pan (OR man up and go LS7 dry sump pan).
  • ARP Con Rod Bolts / Head Studs
  • Custom Longtubes
  • Custom Motormounts
  • Alt relocation – Custom mount w/ tensioner, P/S delete, E-WP.
  • Magnum T56 6 Speed (More $$ than everything else together :()

Pumped to see how it’s coming along in Barrie!

PARTS LIST
ENGINE/TRANSMISSION

  • GM LQ9 V8 out of 2006 Escalade
  • Z33 VQ 6-Speed Transmission
  • All accessories, wiring harness, PCM
  • LS2 GTO Intake Manifold
  • LS2 GTO Cam
  • Z06 Yellow Beehive Valvesprings
  • Aeromotive A1000 Fuel Pump
  • Aeromotive A1000 FPR
  • Aeromotive 100 micron filter
  • Earl’s Black Nylon braided lines / AN fittings.
  • Taurus 3.8 E-Fan

CHASSIS/SUSPENSION/BRAKES

  • R33 GTR Depowered Steering Rack
  • Cusco S14 RUCA
  • S14 steering column
  • S14 FLCA, Spindles
  • JDM S14 Swaybar
  • JDM S14 TC Buckets
  • S30 Front Subframe (Sandblasted)
  • R34 GTR rear subframe w/ axles, multilink & 5 lug hubs
  • Nismo GTR RLCA
  • 3.538 Q45 VLSD, Z32TT Axle & big spline 5 Lug rear hubs.
  • 10 point roll cage IN PROGRESS
  • 3”x3”x.125” Frame Rails IN PROGRESS
  • 1”x3”x.120” Mid Frame Rails IN PROGRESS
  • ZEDD Findings Floor Kit
  • ZEDD Findings Front Frame Rail Kit COLLECTING RUST
  • R34 GTR Subframe Mount IN PROGRESS
  • Custom laser-cut S30/S13 coilover camber plates.

EXTERIOR

  • OEM Hood, doors, hatch, all glass, trim and lights.

INTERIOR

  • 72’ 240Z Professionally Restored Dash w/ accessories
  • NRG Evo Black Steering Wheel

Most importantly, you have to have the gf who puts up with all your car addiction bs :smiley:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff286/Aaj2k5/Untitled.jpg

dude… wicked build, great job.

FFFFFF YAAAAAAAAAAAA

This is the best thread son ever had :smiley:

So much real car porn!

Love your project!

This car is my wet dream, I posted it on son before but everyone was like meh-ing because its a v8 and this and that (gtfo) its so bad ass and raaaaaaaaaaw as fuck:

Check all parts to see what it’s all about

Just for attempting the fight with this shit YOU ARE MY HEEEEEEEEEEEERO!

First off… Omg a wild pokemon wonders into your garage and you dont capture it?!

Sick setup, love the Chevy V8s, GL with the build.

Thanks boys!

Haha wild pokemon aka the shop mascot? “Lucky” was my payment for doing a dude’s brakes, it was around the shop for a good 4 months before the bastard drank coolant and died - pygmy goats = awesome pets.

Ahmed - that GT240 is dope - I thought about going gen 1 SBC or similar but Gen 3/4 is the way to go these days.

Got the motor torn apart already - sending it for a hot tank and magnaflux and I’ll get some motor build pics soon.

The Z is in good hands in Barrie still, the wait is def worth the end product.

Nah the old chevy block would be kinda heavy i would reckon… the newer gen are… newer and better :stuck_out_tongue: Nah the old chevy block would be kinda heavy i would reckon… the newer gen are… newer and better :stuck_out_tongue: That being said they do sound totally bad ass…

The whole point of that car is… well check their build it was wicked all the way, tubed front, and lots of lightweight parts. 305s front 335s rear. Sexy as hellhat being said they do sound bad ass… but the whole point of that car is… well check their build it was wicked all the way, tubed front, and lots of lightweight parts. 305s front 335s rear. Sexy as hell

o_O

Now I kinda wish this was already done so my car would be the main focus now haha…

that thing is so sicki dont even know where to start…

Car is scheduled to be back on Friday July 6th Ahmed :smiley:

Many pics to come on Friday night.

yes yes yes yes lol then my turn do it adam dooo itt :smiley: I will be getting the tilton pedals and similar fuel setup to you.

How much did the LQ9 cost u btw? T56 i guess around canada is 1500$… (stupid Canadian prices) but u were saying u were getting the droolingly awesome magnum t56 :P~~~

I wouldn’t even bother buying a used unknown condition t56 for $1500. Magnum T56 6 speed I’m looking at $2700+tax+shipping+duty.

I got hella deal on LQ9. Complete 50,000k long block with harness, ECM, all D585 coil packs, accessories and manifolds for $900. They are around the $2k mark for equivalent.

I’m going tilton triple floor mount once I’m done school (6 weeks :))

Fucking pumped for my car to be back.

ya my wet dream setup was also a magnum t56 haha… except i crave for the ls3… damn… just its so much $$$.

I’ve been looking for various pedal setups and it seems tilton is the only affordable worthwhile setup… there is a sale for a clutch/brake pedal setup for 250$ in the sales section… but i really dont wana deal with the stock gas pedal… ive been trying to find used race car parts sites and look for it used (The tripple pedal setup) but so far no luck… might go for a new setup cheapest i found was 380$+shipping…

I am pumped too… been loving this project for a while… and well i want it also done so adam can get going on my car of course :wink:

The LQ9 for 900 is a sick deal… and i would get it just at least temporarily as im obsessed with weight savings… are you going to have adam fab up the mount kit and push it as low and far back as possible?

I’m fabbing the lq9 mount and everything else on the car. I didn’t have a tube bender or tig when I sent Adam the car. I’m building a full hydraulic press/tube bender/shear/brake station with my bench grinder, vise, dril press and welder attached, and got a Miller tig.

It will be far enough back that it is considered a mid engined car. Low enough that a batwing or dry sump will still be above subframe.

I don’t know about legit tilton setups being affordable man lol the triple floor mount is in the $2000 range new. Wildwood floor mount is much more affordable but still like $700 iirc.

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=7428

Just talked to Adam, moving the pickup date to the 13th.

no man… the 600 series runs from 380 to 450 new… the 900 series which is ultra baller is 2000+ but eeeh… yea

I am not bothering with wilwood pedals as ive been reading everywhere that they are mushy and meh… the 600 series tiltons are a good bargain… the 900 series is the porn of pedals… from what ive read they feel like nothing else but lol we are not rich and even if i was id still second think myself spending 2k on pedals lol…

The only more baller thing ive seen is some AP racing pedals but… honestly who gives a damn. Look into the 600 series the ones you posted are the 900 series :stuck_out_tongue:

Add $100 for each of the three master cylinders on that 600 box. I’m keeping eye out for a used 900 series setup. I’ll rock a 600 until I find the right 900 deal.

well either way yes you’ll have to get the cylinders plus reservoirs and lines true so itll be a bit more than 380-450… then again some ppl will spend the 500$+ something on the chase bays booster delete + cabling… eh… so this looks reasonable then in comparison for what you’re actually getting…

It’s actually easier to find used cylinders for dirt cheap as some ppl swap out between different cylinders but… again i guess thatd be risky buying used… found tons of them, at least the lines and reservoirs used are worth it. Found some dirt cheap while researching.

The pedals on the other hand… still looking for some used 600 or 900… but i bet the 900 used would still go for 1000+ unless its some miracle sale :-/… and it only accepts those pivot cylinders the 77 series.

I’m the king of miracle deals, son :D.

I haven’t been researching this too much since its fairly far down the must buy list, but I should start watching now.

-_- you bastard lol… i wish i could find the fuel cell setup deal u got… damn it…